Buy an ant colony? Healthy ants for your ant farm

Ant Family XL: 25 to 30 active workers for your Gel Ant Farm

Are you looking for extra life and activity in your gel ant farm? This Ant Family XL consists of no fewer than 25 to 30 active Spanish workers. This ant species is active all year round and is therefore ideal for quickly digging an impressive tunnel system in our gel ant farms.

Includes physical full-colour manual

With your order, you will receive a physical, full-colour manual with clear instructions and helpful tips. This way, you'll know exactly how to best place and care for the ants for an optimal start to your gel ant farm.

Guarantee and quality from Mierenboerderij

We guarantee that our ants will dig in our gel products. If they don't, or if they don't survive the first two weeks (with proper care)? Then we will provide a free replacement.

Please note with other providers: Ants often unfortunately do not accept gel from other brands. The purchase of our ants for gel products outside our webshop is therefore at your own risk. We offer a 100% digging guarantee on all our own gel ant farms.

Shipping, packaging and storage

You will receive the ants safely packaged in a test tube via fast shipping. Upon receipt, you can keep the ant family in the tube for up to a week, but we advise placing them in the gel as soon as possible to prevent dehydration. Ants in a gel ant farm live on average a few months to longer than half a year.

The advantages at a glance:

• Extra activity: Large group of workers that quickly digs tunnels in the gel.
• Especially for gel ecosystems: Active workers that dig excellently in gel.
• Includes physical manual: Clear full-colour guide with instructions with your order.
• Unique digging guarantee: Assurance of a digging and active ant family.
• Carefully packaged: Safely delivered with fast shipping.

Start your gel ant farm today and order Ant Family XL (25-30 workers) from Mierenboerderij!

Ant Family L: 15 to 20 active worker ants for your Gel Ant Farm

Looking for the ideal inhabitants for your gel ant farm with a bit more activity? This Ant Family L consists of 15 to 20 active Spanish worker ants. This ant species is active all year round, making them perfectly suited for digging the most beautiful tunnel systems in our gel ant farms.

Includes physical full-colour manual

With your order, you will receive a physical, full-colour manual with clear instructions and helpful tips. This way, you'll know exactly how to best place and care for the ants for an optimal start to your gel ant farm.

Guarantee and quality from Antfarm

We guarantee that our ants will dig in our gel products. If they don't, or if they don't survive the first two weeks (with proper care)? Then we will provide a free replacement.

Please note with other providers: Ants unfortunately often do not accept gel from other brands. The purchase of our ants for gel products outside our webshop is therefore at your own risk. We offer a 100% digging guarantee on all our own gel ant farms.

Shipping, packaging and storage

You will receive the ants safely packaged in a test tube via fast shipping. Upon receipt, you can keep the ant family in the tube for up to a week, but we advise placing them in the gel as soon as possible to prevent dehydration. Ants in a gel ant farm live on average a few months to longer than half a year.

The advantages at a glance:

• Specifically for gel ecosystems: Active worker ants that excel at digging in gel.
• Includes physical manual: Clear full-colour guide with instructions with your order.
• Unique digging guarantee: Assurance of a digging and active ant family.
• Carefully packaged: Safely delivered with fast shipping.

Start your gel ant farm today and order Ant Family L (15-20 worker ants) from Antfarm!

Ant Family M: 10 to 15 active worker ants for your Gel Ant Farm

Looking for the ideal inhabitants for your gel ant farm? This Ant Family M consists of 10 to 15 active Spanish worker ants. This ant species is active all year round, making them perfectly suited for digging the most beautiful tunnel systems in our gel ant farms.

Includes physical full-colour manual

With your order, you will receive a physical, full-colour manual with clear instructions and helpful tips. This way, you'll know exactly how to best place and care for the ants for an optimal start to your gel ant farm.

Ant Farm Guarantee and Quality

We guarantee that our ants will dig in our gel products. If they don't, or if they don't survive the first two weeks (with proper care), we will provide a free replacement.

Note for other providers: Ants often do not accept gel from other brands. The purchase of our ants for gel products outside our webshop is therefore at your own risk. We offer a 100% digging guarantee on all our own gel ant farms.

Shipping, packaging, and storage

You will receive the ants safely packaged in a test tube via letterbox post. After receipt, you can keep the ant family in the tube for up to a week, but we advise placing them in the gel as soon as possible to prevent dehydration. Ants in a gel ant farm live on average a few months to more than half a year.

The advantages at a glance:

• Specifically for gel ecosystems: Active worker ants that dig exceptionally well in gel.
• Includes physical manual: Clear full-colour guide with instructions with your order.
• Unique digging guarantee: Assurance of a digging and active ant family.
• Convenient letterbox post: You don't have to be home to receive it.

Start your gel ant farm today and order Ant Family M (10-15 worker ants) from Ant Farm now!

Myrmica rubra Ant Colony (2 Queens and 30+ Workers)

The Myrmica rubra, better known as the Common Red Ant, is an absolute classic and one of the most well-known native ant species. These ants are known for their striking red color, quick reactions, and fierce character. This established colony is extra special because it is polygynous: it contains no less than 2 egg-laying queens (gynes) with a nice group of 30 or more (30+) workers and the corresponding brood.

Multiple queens and rapid development

Because Myrmica rubra colonies accept multiple queens in one nest, egg production and colony growth can be incredibly fast. In Myrmica rubra, the queens are only slightly larger than the workers, which creates a beautiful, harmonious nest appearance. Please note that this species has a strong seasonal rhythm: in autumn and winter, brood production is somewhat lower, only to burst out at full capacity again in the warm spring!

Important: Moisture balance and care

Myrmica rubra is a fantastic and active species to keep, but it requires more attention than, for example, a Lasius niger or Messor barbarus. Dehydration is the biggest danger for these ants; they need a permanently moist nest area and an easily accessible outworld (arena) where fresh water and sugar/proteins are always available. Additionally, the red ant has a small stinger that it can use to sting when threatened (comparable to a mild nettle sting) — which adds extra excitement and dynamism to the hobby for the serious keeper!

Complete nutritional diet available for immediate order

Make caring for your colony easy from day one with our specially formulated feeding sets. The complete diet consists of a combination of sugar water, honeydew, and small insects (such as fruit flies) for the necessary proteins. Choose our Deluxe feeding set if you want to spoil the ants with extra feeding jelly, a dosing pipette, and a handy feeding tray!

Suitable habitats

Because these ants love moisture and digging, a **sand nest** is the absolute favorite for Myrmica rubra. Plaster nests are also suitable, provided the nest can be kept sufficiently moist. Connect the test tube directly to an outworld (arena) to allow them to forage optimally.

Please note: This ant colony is intended for sand and plaster nests. Are you looking for ants for a gel ant farm? Then choose our special Ant Family for Gel.

Packaging, shipping, and warranty conditions

You will receive the colony in a specially designed test tube with a water supply behind a cotton ball. Because an established colony of 30+ workers quickly needs space and food, we recommend connecting them to their new habitat within a few days of receipt.

Adjusted warranty conditions: We guarantee that the queens and workers will arrive alive and healthy. If, unfortunately, something is wrong upon receipt, please report it within 24 hours of receipt with clear photos to our customer service. Because the subsequent lifespan of this specific species is highly dependent on consistent, moist care by the keeper, the warranty expires after this initial receipt period. Are you unsure about the correct care? Feel free to contact us in advance for advice!

Myrmica rubra Specifications:

• Scientific name: Myrmica rubra
• Dutch name: Common Red Ant
• Difficulty: 2 (Moderate – requires a well-moisturized nest)
• Queen size: 5 - 6 mm
• Worker size: 4 - 5 mm
• Colony form: Polygynous (2 queens in this colony)
• Main food: Sugar/honey water and small insects (such as fruit flies)
• Recommended nest type: Sand (preferred) or Plaster (including moist arena)
• Hibernation: November to February (keep slightly cooler around 10°C - 15°C)

Ready for a fierce, active, and fascinating native ant species? Order your Myrmica rubra colony (2 queens and 30+ workers) today at Mierenboerderij!

Ant Colony Myrmica rubra (2 Queens and 90+ Workers)

The Myrmica rubra, better known as the common European Fire Ant, is an absolute classic and one of the best-known native ant species. These ants are known for their striking red color, quick reactions, and fierce character. This large colony is extra special because it is polygynous: it contains no fewer than 2 egg-laying queens (gynes) with a mighty group of more than 90 workers (90+) and the corresponding brood.

Multiple Queens and Rapid Development

Because Myrmica rubra colonies accept multiple queens in one nest, egg production and colony growth can proceed extremely quickly. With Myrmica rubra, the queens are only slightly larger than the workers, which creates a beautiful, harmonious nest appearance. Keep in mind that this species has a strong seasonal rhythm: in autumn and winter, brood production is somewhat lower, only to burst out at full capacity again in the warm spring!

Important: Moisture Balance and Care

Myrmica rubra is a fantastic and active species to keep, but it requires a bit more attention than, for example, a Lasius niger or Messor barbarus. Dehydration is the greatest danger for these ants; they need a permanently moist nest area and an easily accessible outworld (arena) where fresh water and sugar/proteins are always available. In addition, the European Fire Ant has a small stinger with which it can sting when threatened (comparable to a mild nettle sting) — which adds extra excitement and dynamism to the hobby for the serious keeper!

Complete Nutritional Diet Available for Order

Make caring for your colony easy from day one with our specially formulated nutrition kits. The complete diet consists of a combination of sugar water, honeydew, and small insects (such as fruit flies) for the necessary proteins. Choose our Deluxe nutrition kit if you want to spoil the ants with extra nutrition jelly, a dosing pipette, and a handy feeding dish!

Suitable Habitats

Because these ants love moisture and digging, a **sand nest** is the absolute favorite for Myrmica rubra. Plaster nests are also suitable, provided the nest can be kept sufficiently moist. Connect the test tube directly to a spacious outworld (arena) to allow them to forage optimally.

Please note: This ant colony is intended for sand and plaster nests. Are you looking for ants for a gel ant farm? Then choose our special Ant Family for Gel.

Packaging, Shipping, and Warranty

You will receive the colony in one or more specially prepared test tubes with a water supply. Because a large colony of 90+ workers quickly needs space and food, we advise connecting them to their new habitat within a few days of receipt.

Modified warranty provision: We guarantee that the queens and workers will arrive alive and healthy. If, unfortunately, something is wrong upon receipt, please report it within 24 hours of receipt with clear photos to our customer service. Because the further lifespan of this specific species is highly dependent on constant, moist care by the keeper, the warranty expires after this initial reception period. Are you unsure about proper care? Feel free to contact us in advance for advice!

Myrmica rubra Specifications:

• Scientific name: Myrmica rubra
• Dutch name: Gewone Rode Steekmier (Common Red Stinging Ant)
• Difficulty: 2 (Medium – requires a well-moisturized nest)
• Queen size: 5 - 6 mm
• Worker size: 4 - 5 mm
• Colony type: Polygynous (2 queens in this colony)
• Main food: Sugar/honey water and small insects (such as fruit flies)
• Recommended nest type: Sand (preferred) or Plaster (including moist arena)
• Hibernation: November to February (keep slightly cooler around 10°C - 15°C)

Ready for a fierce, active, and fascinating native ant species? Order your Myrmica rubra colony (2 queens and 90+ workers) today at Mierenboerderij!

Ant Family XL

Hard-working ants

These worker ants come from Spain and are active all year round, making them very suitable for gel ant farms. This ant family with 25 to 30 worker ants is specially intended for our gel ant farms (Ant's Kingdom and Antquarium).

Other gel products

PLEASE NOTE: products from other suppliers prove to be ineffective or work poorly. The ants usually do not accept this gel. The purchase of our ants for these products is at your own risk. The products from our webshop are all suitable, we guarantee that.

Shipping, packaging and storage

You will receive the ants in a tube and we have a digital manual with information about, among other things, the placement of the ants. It is not possible to say in advance exactly how old the ants are and how long they will live in the gel. This depends on many factors. On average, they live in it for a few months to longer than half a year.

When purchasing only an ant family, we ship by letterbox box. The ant family can then be kept for up to a week. We do advise placing the ants as soon as possible (due to the risk of dehydration). Please contact us for longer storage tips.

Warranty and service

We guarantee that the ants will dig in the products we offer. If they don't, or if they all die within two weeks (with proper care/installation), we will provide free replacement.
 

Acromyrmex octospinosus (Leafcutter Ant / Parasol Ant) Colony

The Acromyrmex octospinosus is a fascinating Leafcutter Ant from Central and South America. Many enthusiasts become passionate about ants after seeing leafcutter ants carrying green leaves in zoos or museums – this includes the founder of Ant Farm, Jan-Peter Oudenampsen! It is therefore fantastic that we breed this species ourselves for hobbyists, museums, and specialist stores.

The perfect leafcutter ant for the hobbyist

What makes the Acromyrmex octospinosus so incredibly popular among ant keepers is their manageable colony size. While related Atta species grow into colossal colonies of hundreds of thousands of ants, a mature Acromyrmex colony reaches a maximum of a few thousand individuals. This makes this species excellent to keep and maintain at home, without quickly running out of space!

Fascinating fungus farming and division of labor

Like other parasol ants, these ants do not eat the leaves directly. They use the greenery as a substrate for their own underground fungal garden. In the nest, you see a beautiful division of labor: from larger workers who cut and transport the leaf, to small 'gardener workers' who care for the fungus and prepare it as food for the colony.

Only available for pickup at our showroom (Apeldoorn)

Because leafcutter ants are very sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and humidity (and depend on a healthy fungus), we do not ship these ants by mail. The colony can only be picked up by appointment at our showroom in Apeldoorn. During pickup, we take ample time to provide you with personal advice on ideal climate control, suitable leaf types, and fungus care.

Care and climatic requirements

Keeping Acromyrmex octospinosus requires dedication and experience. The colony requires a constant temperature (23°C - 28°C) and extremely high humidity (95% - 99%) around the fungus chamber. For food, they accept a wide range of fresh leaves (such as blackberry, rose, and oak leaves).

Acromyrmex octospinosus Specifications:

• Scientific name: Acromyrmex octospinosus
• Dutch name: Bladsnijdersmier / Parasolmier (Leafcutter Ant / Parasol Ant)
• Difficulty: 3 (Professional / Advanced – requires specific climate control)
• Queen size: approx. 13 mm
• Worker size: 5 - 12 mm (Nice variation between Minors, Mediors, and Majors)
• Colony form: Monogyn (1 queen per nest)
• Food: Various types of fresh leaves (blackberry, rose, oak, etc.) to support the fungus
• Humidity: 95% - 99% (Specifically for the fungus chamber)
• Temperature: 23°C - 28°C (Constant)
• Hibernation: None
• Distribution: Central and South America
• Delivery: Includes active fungus culture. Only available for pickup in Apeldoorn!

Do you want to bring the ultimate leafcutter experience into your home with a manageable colony size? Contact us or order directly to schedule your pickup appointment in Apeldoorn!

Atta cephalotes Ant Colony (Leafcutter Ant / Parasol Ant)

The Atta cephalotes (South American Leafcutter Ant) is, without a doubt, the most iconic and impressive ant species in the world. Many enthusiasts first became passionate about ants after seeing this fantastic species hauling pieces of green leaf in a zoo or museum. This also applies to the founder of Mierenboerderij, Jan-Peter Oudenampsen! It is therefore a great source of pride that we breed and offer this special species ourselves for experienced hobbyists, zoos, museums, and specialist shops.

Unique behavior: The underground fungus garden

Leafcutter ants do not eat the cut leaves themselves but use the greenery as raw material to cultivate their own food: a specific fungus. Within the colony, you can observe a fascinating division of labor. Large workers and impressive Majors (soldiers) venture out to cut and transport leaves, while smaller workers in the nest chew the leaves into pulp to feed and care for the fungus garden.

Available for pick-up exclusively at our showroom (Apeldoorn)

Because an Atta colony is very sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and humidity (and depends on a healthy fungus), we do not ship these ants by mail. The colony can only be picked up by appointment at our showroom in Apeldoorn. During pick-up, we take ample time to provide you with personal advice on ideal climate control, suitable leaf types, and fungus care.

Care and climatic requirements

Keeping leafcutter ants is a wonderful challenge that requires precision and professional dedication. The colony requires a constant high temperature (23°C - 28°C) and extremely high humidity (95% - 99%) around the fungus. As food, they accept a wide range of fresh leaves (such as blackberry leaves, rose leaves, and oak leaves).

Atta cephalotes Specifications:

• Scientific name: Atta cephalotes
• Dutch name: Bladsnijdersmier / Parasolmier (Leafcutter Ant / Parasol Ant)
• Difficulty: 3 (Professional / Advanced – requires specific climate control)
• Queen size: 25 - 30 mm (Giant)
• Worker size: 3 - 15 mm (Extreme variation from very small 'gardeners' to enormous soldiers)
• Colony type: Monogynous (1 queen per nest)
• Diet: Various types of fresh leaves (blackberry, rose, oak etc.) to support the fungus
• Humidity: 95% - 99% (Specific to the fungus chamber)
• Temperature: 23°C - 28°C (Constant)
• Hibernation: None
• Distribution: Central and South America
• Delivery: Includes active fungus culture. Available for pick-up in Apeldoorn only!

Do you dream of experiencing the most fascinating ant species in the world up close? Contact us or order directly to schedule your pick-up appointment in Apeldoorn!