As an ant keeper, I’ve seen new keepers burst onto the ant scene each year, keen and eager to get started in their new hobby. It’s great to see such enthusiasm, but it’s also sad to see how quickly many get dejected by failures to the point where they soon disappear, never to be seen (at least in the ant keeping community) again.

Now, if you’ve been keeping ants for a while, you’ll know that there are a few basic rules to follow that can make all the difference when it comes to having a successful first season of ant keeping. I’m going to share with you all my top 5 tips that will help your ants thrive.

5. Catch your own queens: This depends on timing. Depending on where you are in the world and when your local ants have nuptial flights, you may be able to catch your own queens to start a colony. All you would need is some test tubes, a few cotton wool balls and some water. Start up is super cheap, super simple and you have the satisfaction of starting your colony right from the very beginning. If the timing is totally wrong, however, or you can’t find any flights near you, then finding a really good, reputable ant dealer is the best alternative. Ask other ant keepers who they use, check reviews, and, do your research!

4. Do your research: It goes without saying that the more knowledge you gain before jumping in, the better equipped you’ll be for the sometimes bumpy road ahead. At the very least, look into which species are easy to care for and suitable for beginners, and findout what their care needs are. Make sure you know how big the colonies of your chosen species are likely to grow, what they eat, what types of set ups they prefer and so on.

3. Start with native species: It’s a good idea to stick with native ants, at least at first, as they will be suited to your region and won’t need any heating or special set up. If you do end up with escapees or if you decide you cannot keep your colony any longer, then there will be no significant ecological impact on your surrounding environment as these ants would be species already found in your area.

2. Stay small: Don’t be in a rush to upgrade your colony’s nest. Contrary to care tips for most pets, ants actually love living in accommodation that’s a bit of a squish and a squeeze. Don’t upgrade your single queen with no workers colony to a size 2 nest. When experienced keepers advise you to keep your young colonies in a test tube until they reach about 20 workers (or more if it’s a small species), then pay attention to that! Countless colonies have failed because over-eager novice keepers (including myself) have given them spacious luxury nests that were simply too big for them. Keep it small.

1. Be patient: Patience is the single most important virtue in an ant keeper. Without it, you’ll be rushing into upgrading their nests, changing their setups too often and generally disturbing them. Impatience has probably been at the root of most cases in which new keepers have given up on ant keeping.

Ants are generally really hardy creatures. They are some of the most successful organisms on the planet and they want to succeed. However, not every new queen will go on to found a huge colony. The vast majority never even make it to lay eggs, and foundation is very much the hardest part of an ant colony’s life cycle. However, any stage can have its ups and downs and a wise ant keeper keeps a close eye on any changes within their set ups. By sticking to these rules, particularly as a beginner, you will be offering your ants the best care and will improve their chances of growing as a colony.