Q: I went out to find some ants and I found 7 red harvester ants,one very big,another almost as big,and the rest smaller. All the small ants gather around the large one? Is this ant the queen?
A: We can't say for sure, but it could be since the queen is usually considerably larger than the other ants in the colony.
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Q: How many times can you reuse the gel before the food and moisture source runs out?
A: That would depend on how many ants were put into the AntWorks. Our best guess is that you could host three to four "generations" of ants in each AntWorks.
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Q: What happens to the ants when they have dug up all the tunnels they can in the gel and there is no more space for them to tunnel in the gel. what do they do to stay busy?
A: After the ants dig a system of tunnels, they simply use the AntWorks Gel as their home. They crawl around and eat.
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Q: Can harvester ants bite? If so does it hurt?
A: Harvester ants actually sting rather than bite, and yes, it will hurt.
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Q: i started a Ant farm with your product i added about 30 ants from a mound around the house. long story short the mound got pesticided by the lawn guy. i added a queen from another mound will they kill her?
A: Since contaminated ants have been in the gel, the habit itself is now also contaminated with the pesticide. Any new ants you put in could also die from the pesticide.
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Q: can you sell replacement gel please?
A: Unfortunately, we're not aware of a quality refill AntWorks Gel Refill that's available for purchase. We've seen one online, but it doesn't look quite the same and the user reviews are not positive.
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Q: If I put some sugar by the ants' hole would that motivate them to dig? My ants are from my woods.
A: You don't need to add anything to the gel. The gel is actually sugar-based and is sufficient as their water and food supply. If you add sugar or other foods to the AntWorks, it could cause mold to grow.
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Q: I felt stupid putting the ants in. When I poured them out, a few got on the table and I freaked out. What's the best way to put them in?
A: The ants we ordered arrived in a little tube with a small opening, which made it easy and quick to pour them into the AntWorks. You can see an example of this in the video. Once the ants are in the AntWorks, quickly put the lid back on. Ants can be pretty quick, so you'll just have to be quicker!
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Q: y r my ants wearing the gel like hula skirts?
A: Are your ants from Hawaii?
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Q: hhi, i bougt a habitat about 4 months ago but i havent got any ants but do i have to have a queen ant or just a worker ant. and also i havent got ants outside and i dont have the order form so where?
A: You do not need a queen ant. In fact, the manufacturer does not recommend capturing a queen ant. You can order ants using the order form on this page (this is where we purchased our ants) or search for other places online. You could also check with pet stores.
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Q: its been over 5 days and the ants havent started tunneling its like summer already why is this?
A: The length of time it takes the ants to tunnel depends on the type of ants and what stage of life they are in. The time can vary from a few days to a couple weeks.
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Q: I have had my ants for about 3 weeks now. They've dug about 5-6 tunnels, and just seem to be mulling around now. Are they really finished tunneling all together?
A: They might dig more tunnels or continue to make existing tunnels wider. Sometimes the ants like to dig and other times they just like to roam around.
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Q: can you put some water in the gel while ants are in there
A: You should not add water to the gel while your ants are inside. They could drown! The ants are able to survive solely off of the gel; they do not need any additional food or water.
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Q: Will The Ants Breed and make more?
A: It's not likely. You'd need a female, but the ants shipped from our ant supplier are all males. Of course, as we all know from Jurassic Park, life always finds a way...at least in the movies.
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Q: Can I add food, fruit or sugar to my and farm? It seems like they need some excitement from time to time.
A: The ants do not need any additional food. The gel is sugar-based and is their food and water source. Adding food to your AntWorks would likely cause molding, which would look gross and could harm the ants.
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Q: Hi, I am making my own ant farm and I'm waiting for the nuptial flight of the ants. They are cornfeild ants. Do you know what month that will happen?
A: Cornfield ants usually make their nuptial flight in the last half of August and early September.
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Q: what is the goo made out of
A: The Antworks gel is a blend created by NASA, made from a combination of seaweed extract, amino acids, sugars, and fungicide (to prevent mold). We're not sure of the exact proportions, but we know the ants love it.
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Q: Can the ants reproduce itself?
A: Only the queen ant will reproduce. It would be quite rare to catch a queen ant in the wild, as the ants protect her in the lowest and most secure chamber of the colony.
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Q: Why do some people have different colors? And can you coose the color?
A: The only color available here at Vat19.com is blue. We feel it's more calming for the ants.
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Q: how long does shipping usually take?
A: If your order is placed before 2PM CST, we'll ship your package the same day (excluding weekends and holidays). How long the package takes to arrive depends on where you are located and which shipping method you choose. Use the green "Get Shipping Quote" link above to find out shipping costs and delivery times.
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Q: Hello,its the same person who asked you about the queen ant I found. My second biggest ant stays away from the bigger ant and faces the other direction. What is he doing? What is his role?
A: Sorry, we aren't experts in ant behavior, so we aren't sure what this ant is doing.
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Q: What specifically is the gel made from? I believe it can be remade using ingredients around the house.
A: The manufacturer will not disclose the recipe for the AntWorks gel.
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Q: Where can I buy replacement gel for my ant works illuminated container?
A: The AntWorks gel is not sold separately.
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Q: when you order ants what kind are they?
A: We ordered our ants from Life Studies and they were harvester ants. Scroll up for a link to the order form.
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Q: Is it true that ants attract other ants and if i have this product in my home i am going to have an ant problem.
A: There is no danger of your AntWorks attracting other ants.
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Q: my son's friend got a hold of the antfarm and poked a lot of holes in the gell, what should i do?
A: The holes are simply starting points for the ants to begin digging holes in the gel. We don't think a lot of holes should be a problem.
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Q: how much do the ants cost
A: Ants cost $3.50 if shipping to the United States (please note that Vat19.com does not sell ants). If you no longer have the ant order form included with your AntWorks set, you can print one off by clicking the "order form" link on this page. Or, you could catch your own ants or see if your local pet stores sells ants.
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Q: We love your ant farm. Can the blue gel be replaced once the ants have dug as many tunnels as they possibly can or do you have to buy a new kit?
A: Once the gel from the AntWorks has been dug up by the ants, it can't be replaced. You can always add more ants to an existing AntWorks who may add more tunnels or simply save it as a keepsake. If you wanted to watch a new network of tunnels being made from scratch, you would need to purchase a new Antworks.
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Q: The FAQ is incorrect regarding the sex of the ants. Ants are mostly sterile females with a few male "drones" whose existence is soley to service one or more fertile "queens", so you get females.
A: Thanks for the comments. This makes us glad we're not ants.
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Q: What will happen if you use jello? Will you get the same tunneling and eating process?
A: We haven't tried this, but we don't think it would work. The gel can remain intact after tunnels are dug, but we think Jell-O would collapse.
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Q: i have got around 20 fire ants. they dont seem to like to dig, the sit in a corner and 'sulk' should i get new ants ??
A: Putting fire ants in the AntWorks Habitat is not recommended. You could empty the fire ants out and put in harvester ants instead.
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Q: What are the black dots a the top of the antworks atfer the 14th day
A: You're looking at an ant graveyard. When ants die in the AntWorks, the others carry the bodies up to the top.
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Q: My and Just sit at the top in small groups and sit there for days on end not moving yet they are alive and have enough food and water
A: Sometimes it can take the ants a few days to start digging their tunnels. Keep in mind that you do not need to add any food or water to the AntWorks Habitat. The gel is a sufficient food and water source for them.
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Q: hy ive found by looking through your question and answers you have contradicted yourself quite a few times on the subject of queen ants can they go in the farm or not just a little confused
A: You could put a queen ant in the AntWorks, but it is not recommended because taking a queen ant away from the colony could be detrimental to the remainder of the colony and also to the queen. Neither Vat19 not the manufacturer have tried putting a queen in the AntWorks habitat, so we cannot say how much success you would have with a queen ant.
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Q: whats the chance that my ants will become self aware and super intelligent and eventually try to take over the world? i know a guy who knows a guy who had that happen, so i thought id ask
A: Approximately 1.25%.
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Q: can you add food like bees and wasps
A: We don't recommend it.
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Q: Shall I feed the gel to my cat? -She seems rather keen.
A: Even though the gel in the AntWorks is non-toxic, you should not feed it to your cat.
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Q: I have a green ant farm, and my teachers' son has a blue one. Does it mean that they're made of different minerals just because they're different colors.
A: The blue gel is made of the same ingredients as the green gel. The only difference is the color!
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Q: Wont the ants mate and make more ants?
A: The ants are all female, so they cannot mate. The only ones that can mate are the princess ants with wings and male ants that are very small and look like gnats, which are very rare to find because they are down where the queen ant is. Every few years, the queen will release eggs designated to become male ants. The male ants are only alive for a brief period of time, mate, and die.
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Q: when you say rinse out the habitat what will happen to the tunnels?
A: The tunnels should remain intact.
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Q: 2 of the ants died. It appears that they "buried" the ants in their gel boulder mound on the top of the habitat. After a week or so, it appears that those ants are molding. Should I take them out?
A: Yes, if the ants are on top of the gel and easy to access, you can take them out.
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Q: My ants wont make tunnels. They are just on the surface, and look like they are sleeping. I know for a fact ants don't sleep. When I gently tap on the container, they move for a second, then nothing.
A: It can take the ants a few days to start tunneling. There isn't a way to force the ants to dig, so you'll have to be patient.
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Q: what is in the gel?
A: Basically, the gel is made from agar (ground up seaweed), gelatin, water, sugar, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. The gel contains all of nutrients and vitamins the ants need to live a healthy life.
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Q: We melted our gel & a small bit of water in the microwave.It had evaporated. Then we added it back to the farm. It's ready for new ants. How long will the nutrients last doing this?
A: You should not microwave the AntWorks gel and the manufacturer has never tested this.
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Q: How often should I take the lid off to let air in for the ants?
A: About once a week you should let some air in for just a few seconds.
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Q: I have a queen in my ant farm along with some workers and another colonies eggs and all they do is sit in a corner and look at the eggs! They have been there for two days! Are they going to tunnel?
A: It can take the ants a few days to begin tunneling.
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Q: Is there anywhere we can get the gel for this ant farm?
A: The gel for the AntWorks is not sold separately.
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Q: what sort of light should the ant farm be placed in during daylight hours?
A: The AntWorks Ant Habitat should not be kept in direct sunlight as this may cause the gel to dry up.
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Q: My son poked to many holes on the gel and destroyed the original shape. Is there any way to put the gel in its original form?
A: Not that we know of. However, even if the gel has taken a beating from your son, we're sure your ants will still find the AntWorks to be quite hospitable.
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Q: is ther anyway to get a queen without catching 1
A: We're not aware of any other ways to get queens.
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Q: can any species of ants be used say i got random ants in my yard and put them in would they prosper and do they need to be of the same colony to avoid a feud.
A: Honestly, we're not experts in ant cultural studies. Ants are kind of tough to figure out, given that they don't run around flashing little ant gang signs and wearing tiny red and blue bandannas to express their affiliations. It's possible that certain ants would not do well together, but we suspect that if you find ants hanging out together (peacefully) in the wild, they'd probably get along well in the AntWorks, too.
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Q: Does the ant works ant farm gel mold?
A: Under normal usage conditions, that shouldn't be a problem.
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Q: Would it be better if i made my own ant farm or would it be better if i buy one
A: If it were us, we'd buy one.
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Q: if i took out a spoon and started eating it like pudding would i get sick and throw up and would it taste good or bad?
A: AntWorks gel is non-toxic, but we can't guarantee that it won't make you want to vomit. We don't recommend eating it, as pudding and Jell-o are both cheaper and tastier.
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Q: Do you have these Ant Gel Farms in Larger sizes?
A: No, the AntWorks you see above is the only size that we carry.
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Q: I only have 5 worker ants. Will they take longer to make tunnels? They just started chewing the edges of the holes.
A: Since there are just 5 ants doing the work, it will probably take them longer to dig a deep tunnel than if there were 15-20 ants working.
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Q: Since I have a guinea pig in my room, if the ants were to escape would they bite him? If they do what should I do?
A: The ants might bite it. It might leave some little red marks, but it should be OK. You could always call a vet to be sure.
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Q: how many holes do we put in the gel
A: The holes are used to create starting points for the ants. Based on our experience, we recommend putting 3-4 holes in your AntWorks.
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Q: do you sell replacement gell
A: Vat19 does not sell replacement gel for the AntWorks.
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Q: The ants aren't tunnelling...they are just milling around on top of the gel. I put them in 48 hours ago. What's up?
A: Sometimes, the ants will spend the first few days milling around as they consider the feng shui implications of their tunneling plans. Be patient, as they will eventually start tunneling. If you haven't already, be sure to poke a few holes in the top to help them get started. We've provided a picture above so you can see what we mean.
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Q: How do I keep the ants from crawling out the air holes?
A: The air holes are very very tiny and no ant should be able to fit through it. Ants don't need very much air to live, so the air holes are can be quite small.
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Q: Do you send in Romania? i want to pay using PayPal. Thank you
A: Yes, we ship worldwide, and we do accept PayPal.
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Q: what happen it the ant died
A: If an ant dies, the other ants will typically bring it up to the surface. Ants don't have a very long lifespan, so once all of the ants have died, you can clean out the habitat with water and then put new ants in. They'll continue to add to the existing tunnel system.
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Q: u mentiond that it takes at least a couple of days 4 the ants 2 start digging.mine startd digging within a couple of hrs, they wer done with the 1st tunnel 12:00 afternoon the next day.is this normal?
A: The time it takes ants to begin digging can vary, so quick-working ants are neither normal or abnormal!
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Q: what if, for example, ants dug tunnels and all died, do i have to buy a whole new antworks farm? that would be annoying.
A: No, you can simply rinse out the AntWorks and reintroduce a new group of ants. It's likely, though, that the new group will not dig as quickly as the first.
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Q: Does the different color gel and different color lights affect the ants in any way if so which color do you recommend?
A: The color of the gel and light does not make a difference to the ants. Aside from the color, the gel is the same.
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Q: Are you allowed to copy the ant order form in the booklet to get more ants after the first ants have died?
A: Yes, and we have provided a copy of the ant order form on this page.
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Q: If you poke the holes slanted will that affect the way that they travel? Will that make them not want to tunnel?
A: The ants make tunnels in various directions. Just because the hole started off vertical does not mean that they will continue to dig down in a straight line.
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Q: Where is the cheapest place online to buy live harvester ants for my gell ant farm in large numbers like 50 ants?75?100?
A: We haven't done a lot of ant shopping, but we purchased our ants from Life Studies. There's a link to an order form near the middle of this page.
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Q: Can you burn tha ant with with the included magnifiying glas for fun ?
A: That's mean! We have not tried this and never will.
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Q: How do you get the dead ants out of the tunnels? They were not carried to the top by their "friends" and now ALL of them are dead with some still in the tunnels. Thank you!
A: If all of the ants are dead, you can rinse out the habitat with water. You could then put new ants inside and they'll continue to add to the existing tunnel system.
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Q: whenever i got my ants, they all somehow had green hair, and they lookd cool! but they smelled alot how do i get rid of the smell? also they wer sleeping but when i poked at them they wouldnt wake up.
A: We've never heard of green, smelly ants. If your ants won't wake up, they might be hibernating.
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Q: hey i have recently purchased antworks and im struggling to collect my own ants from my garden which im extremely keen to do as it adds to the fun have you any tips to help me catch these little fellas
A: We aren't ant-catching experts, but maybe you could lure them into a container by putting a little bit of food in there. You do not need to put food in the AntWorks habitat though; just transfer the ants.
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Q: Would it put bad bacteria on the gel if you touched the top of the gel before the ants were inserted because they eventually eat the gel?
A: If you had bacteria on your finger when you touched the gel, then that bacteria could transfer to the gel.
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Q: I live in the UK so it's possible for me to buy queen ants, would they actually be able to survive and maintain a colony in the gel?
A: While the AntWorks habitat was not made with queen ants in mind, the manufacturer thinks that the colony would probably be able to survive.
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Q: are the properties of ant gel similar to the properties of agar?
A: The AntWorks gel is patented and the formula is kept secret.
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Q: i want to make the holes bigger in the ant farm but everytime i do all of the ants race to the top how do i do it
A: You are just going to have to be quicker than the ants or wait for a time when they are not near the surface.
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Q: what do you do with the dead ones?
A: If an ant dies in the AntWorks, the other ants will typically bring the body to the top of the farm. Once all of the ants have expired, you can simply wash out the AntWorks and re-use with a new generation of ants.
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Q: How would you capture your own ants?
A: Using a tube or a jar should be pretty easy. You could use food or sugar water as bait.
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Q: Do you think we could put Termites in the ant farm? My son has a school project on them.
A: It's believed that there are approximately 4000 different species of termites, so we certainly can't speak for the suitability of all of them, but it's not something we would recommend. The toy is designed for ants and we can't be sure that termites would tunnel in the gel (or that they'd be healthy in it).
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Q: What are the bubble-ish...bubbles at the top?
A: Actually, those aren't bubbles. They're tiny gel "boulders" that the ants have dug out of the habitat.
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Q: is it normal if your ants turn neon green with purple stripes?
A: Methinks your imagination is running wild.
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Q: Could you place Driver ants into the ant farm? Would you recommend it?
A: Driver ants (aka army ants) are more difficult to find and catch, but if you can find them and catch them, then go ahead. The only ants that are not recommended are fire ants because they aren't safe to catch and are very small.
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Q: In the video you say that ants like the shade, so do the LED lights in the base make the ants uncomfortable?
A: LED light (which emits very low heat) doesn't bother the ants. Direct sunlight is what bothers them because it can get too hot and they can die. The ants will actually tunnel down to the lights and spend more time near them. When comparing ant activity in a non-illuminated AntWorks to the Illuminated AntWorks, the ants in the Illuminated are more active.
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Q: where can i get the ants?
A: If you need to buy live ants, just scroll up to the picture of the ants in a tube and click on the order form link that's directly below.
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Q: What types of ants are found in CA? I'm not really an ant guy, but this is... awesome.
A: There are about 200 species of ants found in California. Some of the most common include the Argentine ant, pharaoh ant, southern fire ant, red imported fire ant, velvety tree ant, and carpenter ant.
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Q: Where can you buy more gel?
A: The gel for the AntWorks Gel Ant Habitat is not sold separately.
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Q: Do wild ants take longer to tunnel, because they just sit in one corner walking around?
A: Different types of ants might take longer to tunnel, and some might not tunnel at all. This is why harvester ants are recommended.
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Q: What is the world record for an ant living in an ant farm?
A: Most ants will live a few months in the AntWorks. We aren't aware of a world record.
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Q: If I were to put nail polish or sharpy marker on one of the back of my ants to track it would it die quicker than the other ants?
A: We consulted our manufacturer and they aren't sure what would happen if you mark an ant with nail polish or permanent market. It would be difficult to do and it could possibly kill the ant.
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Q: can the ant gel be melted when heated, and will it re-solidify when cooled?
A: You should not melt the AntWorks gel.
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Q: is there any way to get my ants to travel in the holes cause i only have 5 out of the ten i had now
A: You can't force the ants to dig or crawl around in the tunnels. They just go wherever they want to go!
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Q: ants are dead and gel is tunneled...can I just purchase more ants and put in old gel...you said rinse with water...doe you mean rinse the gel?
A: Yes, just rinse out the gel and your AntWorks should be ready for more ants.
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Q: Is it ok to leave dead ants in the antworks
A: The living ants will usually bring the dead ants up to the surface and they can be easily removed. Who wants dead ants crowding up the tunnel space, right? Although it is a little gross to leave dead ants in there, you don't HAVE to remove them.
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Q: is it true that the blue stuff is made from corn chips and mercury?
A: The gel's recipe is a secret, so we don't know the exact ingredients, but we highly doubt that it contains any corn chips.
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Q: the top half inch of the gel is a little bit cloudy. its not like random spots near the top that are cloudy, its just a layer of cloudy gel beneath the surface. is this normal?
A: Having a cloudy layer is not normal. Some areas of gel might appear lighter as the ants tunnel, but it should not be cloudy. Without seeing it, we can't say for sure what is going on. If you see a layer of bits of gel on top of the gel's surface (as you'll see in our photos), that is normal and is simply gel from the tunnels that has to be displaced somewhere.
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Q: Is it OK to leave the light on, or is it better to leave it on? Do the ants care?
A: Yes, it is OK to leave the light on. The ants like the light.
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Q: My ants are not digging. They found a gap between gel and wall of antworks and hardly move at all and it's been 3 weeks! Do I need different ants? are they depressed?! What can I do?!
A: In the winter, ants hibernate and go dormant. When the weather warms up, the ants will become more active.
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Q: I noticed that my ants have been able to do a little bit of damage to the rubber seal on the lid...if they keep up like this, will they be able to escape?
A: We have never heard of any Great Escapes from the AntWorks.
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Q: I gathered many ants and everytime I put in a few, they die within a few minutes...this was a newly purchased farm. What's up?
A: Pesticides or fertilizer can get on the ants. This might not be all that harmful in the open outdoors, but once they are enclosed inside the farm, it gases them and they die. Rinse out the inside of the AntWorks container with water and order ants or collect them from an area that is free from pesticides and fertilizer, such as a wooded area.
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Q: Hi, I want to buy this ant farm for my son for his 6th Birthday. He is interested to see the life of the whole ants' colony including the queen ant and the workers. Is it possible?
A: Unfortunately, we can't guarantee any methods for finding or purchasing queen ants.
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Q: also would jello work for antworks if i added extra sugar and some antibacterial
A: We don't recommend it. The AntWorks gel is specially formulated to provide a good home for your ants. Jello, while delicious, is not designed to meet an ant's unique nutritional needs. It also won't do well at room temperature once they start digging tunnels.
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Q: Is there a site where I can learn to make the gel myself?
A: We're not aware of any sites that offer steps for making your own gel.
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Q: What is the shiping and handling if you ship to canada
A: To get a shipping quote for your location, you can click the "Get Shipping Quote" button on any product page.
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Q: I love your product. Our family has enjoyed it enormously. But the ants all died on the same day. No obvious reason, temp change, pollution, etc. Is this normal?should I replace gel before adding more
A: If you collected your own ants, the ants might have had small amounts of pesticide on them already. In open air, it probably wouldn't be toxic enough for them to die quickly. In a closed container, the toxicity is magnified. It is not necessary to replace the gel. You can rinse out the gel several times with regular tap water. You can wipe off the top of the gel with a wet napkin or cloth if the ants have not dug tunnels yet. If you bought your ants, contact your supplier to see if they have had any recent issues with their ants.
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Q: Why do the ants eat the gel anyway i mean if i had to eat a weird food i would not really eat it .
A: The gel is their food source and is full of nutrients, so they eat it!
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Q: Are the ants disturbed by the base light since they usually live in a dark atmosphere?
A: The ants actually like the light coming from the base and will tunnel down towards it.
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Q: O.k. I've had my ant works for some time now and my gel stuff is like shrinking, but i have not used it yet. I put some ants in there and they don't dig they just crawl between the glass and the gel.
A: The gel will condense somewhat. Having space between the gel and the side of the AntWorks container actually gives them more space to start their digging.
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Q: How many ants do you think I should put in my blue gell ant farm? Is 100 too much? What about 60?
A: The manufacturer recommends putting 20-25 ants in the AntWorks Habitat. Sixty or 100 ants would be too many.
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Q: Does Antwork farms sell queen harvester ants? Or do they know where we could acquire one?
A: It is illegal to sell and ship a queen ant, so the manufacturer of the AntWorks does not sell them and neither should anyone else.
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Q: can i leave the light on? all the time?
A: Leaving the light that comes with the AntWorks turned on at all times will not harm the ants.
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Q: My ants are just bundled up in the corner. i have poked 4 holes in the top of the gel to get them started. what am i doing wrong?
A: You're not doing anything wrong. It can take a few days for your ants to start digging into the gel of the AntWorks.
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Q: Does the ant tube come with a queen.
A: As far as we know, the ant tubes do not come with queens. It may vary by package, though. Since we don't package and sell the ants, though, you'd need to contact the ant company to be certain.
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Q: Can i raise ants are around my garden? Or should i just buy it from the provider. How long does the ants you buy last? 1-3 month? Or was that just garden ants?
A: Most ant species will last about 1-3 months, including those you may dig up around the garden. Some species will last longer, but you'd need to do a little research to figure out what type of ants are in your area. You can definitely use ants that you harvest on your own, though.
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Q: Is there some place to purchase replacement jell?
A: The AntWorks gel is not sold separately.
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Q: Hi!! I´m from Sweden and I have a question. Because I live in Sweden I can´t get new ants in the winter. How should i do?! Can I order some or...?
A: Vat19 does not sell ants. We ordered our ants from Life Studies rather than capturing them from the wild.
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Q: If I start to feel guilty and want to let my ants go free, will they be accepted back into their old colony?
A: Ants usually last longer in the AntWorks habitat than they would in the wild. Although the gel does not contaminate the ants, we cannot predict how the ants would do if released back into the wild.
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Q: the gell in my container separated from the side of the container and when i put my ants inside of the container they all went to the separation and most of them haven't really moved since are they dead
A: The ants can still tunnel from the sides of the gel. The living ants might move the dead ants up to the top. Or, you can remove the dead ants yourself.
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Q: If I were to add a queen to my AntWorks Ant Farm, then they'd be able to reproduce. How long, approx., do you think that little colony would be able to survive before it ate through its food supply?
A: Since it is against federal law to ship a queen ant, our manufacturer has not tried this and does not know. A queen ant typically won't survive very long outside of its natural habitat. It is not recommend that you capture a queen ant because by taking the queen ant from its colony, you will essentially destroy that colony's ecosystem.
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Q: can you also sell queen ants with workers>? it would be awsome if i got a queen and workers, so i can have more time and fun watching your product
A: We're sorry, but we don't sell the ants and we can't vouch for the specifics of what the ant providers are able to offer.
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Q: Why can't we buy gel refills?
A: Gel refills are not available from the manufacturer.
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Q: How many ants should I put in the ant farm to begin with?
A: The manufacturer recommends putting 15-20 ants inside the Antworks.
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Q: why does it cost so much?
A: The AntWorks gel is a secret recipe and is the food source for the ants. With a regular ant habitat, you'd have to spend money on food to feed them and deal with mold, smells, and other grossness.
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Q: i have had the ant works for about 1 to 2 days with the ants in and they have not yet tunneled what should i do.
A: You'll have to wait a little bit longer. It can take them a few days to get acclimated to their new environment and start tunneling. It took our ants 3 days.
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Q: How did NASA use the gel? Emergency food supply?
A: They were studying how ants live and tunnel in places with different gravitational forces.
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Q: I am a collector of insects so naturally when I find a product of such high quality I try it out. I decided to try it out on my own ants, and the queen died within half a day and the drones still lived,y?
A: We can't say for sure why the queen ant died. Queen ants should not be captured and the AntWorks habitat is not intended for queen ants. If ants from different colonies are put inside the habitat, the ants might fight each other and possibly kill the queen.
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Q: Will the ants come in your mailbox or a package after you order them
A: We can't guarantee what your ants will be sent in, as we don't actually sell them, but we received ours in a small tube that was delivered to our mailbox.
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Q: There is mold growing in the gel and we don't have any ants in it yet! What should I do?
A: Please call us at 1-800-476-1991 so we can look up your order information and help you.
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Q: I have a carpenter queen ant and it has mated. I put it in the antworks. Will it began tunneling and making and creting a colony?
A: We can't say how a queen ant would act in the AntWorks. We have not captured a queen ant and neither has the manufacturer.
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Q: can i add a queen ant?
A: Technically, you could add a queen ant to the AntWorks. However, we do not recommend capturing a queen ant.
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Q: Where can I find replacement gel for my antfarm?
A: Vat19 does not sell replacement gel for the AntWorks Illuminated Ant Habitat. We don't know of a specific store that sells the gel separately.
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Q: Are the ant you order healthy
A: Yes, the ants you can order with the order form are healthy.
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Q: This product is amazing, but how do you get the ants inside, without them crawling out?
A: Our ants arrived in a little tube (see the photo above), so we simply emptied them out on top of the gel and then quickly closed the lid so they didn't have a chance to escape.
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Q: Is putting another colonies eggs in my habitat with my queen and worker ants ok?
A: We can't predict what the ants will do to the eggs. They eggs might be OK but the other ants might eat them.
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Q: How do you think your product rates with a regular old sand farm from 1 to 10?
A: 11.
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Q: Would you recommend taking this type of ant farm to a rave? The LED light looks very promising.
A: The LED light is awesome but should not be substituted for a glow stick.
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Q: How warm do we need to keep the ant farm? It is cold here in New England and the house temperature is probably about 64 degrees...the ants don't seem to be doing much, and we've had them for 10 days.
A: One tip is to keep the ants in a relatively dim or dark area. We're not 100% sure about temperature, but our guess is that a warmer temperature would help increase their activity.
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