This holiday season, why not surprise your loved ones with a gift that’s both educational and mesmerizing—an ant farm! Watching ants build tunnels, forage, and interact is a fascinating experience for all ages, making it a perfect gift for curious minds.
Ant Farm Christmas Ornament
Gifting ants can be a unique and exciting way to share the joys of ant-keeping with friends or family members. However, live animals—no matter how small—require care and preparation. To ensure your gift is both thoughtful and responsible, here’s what you should consider before gifting ants.
When Is It Okay to Gift Ants?
Ants, like any pet, should only be given to someone who has expressed sustained interest in keeping them and has researched what it entails. Gifting ants to an unsuspecting person is not recommended, as it places them in an unprepared position of responsibility.
If the recipient has shown interest, gifting ants can be a great idea! Consider starting them with an Ant Colony Voucher, which allows them to redeem a colony when they're ready. This avoids the risks of winter shipping delays and gives them time to prepare their setup.
Winter themed ant foraging area
For an introduction to ant care, encourage them to check out this Beginner’s Guide to Ant-Keeping.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Gifting Ants
1. Are they ready for the responsibility?
Ensure the recipient is fully aware of what ant-keeping involves, including proper habitat setup, feeding, and temperature requirements. For children, confirm that their parents are on board, as they’ll often be the ones assisting with care.
Check out our Ant Colony Checklist to help them understand what’s involved.
2. Do they have the necessary supplies?
Ant-keeping requires preparation. If you're gifting ants, consider pairing them with a starter kit, which includes a formicarium (ant habitat), food, and instructions. Instead of an ant colony, opt for an Ant Colony Voucher so they can redeem their ants when their setup is complete.
Ant Colony Voucher
3. Consider the timing and season.
Ant colonies in temperate regions often hibernate during the winter months, making this time of year less ideal for starting a colony. During hibernation, some ants require cool, undisturbed conditions and minimal care, which might not be exciting or suitable for new keepers. Gifting a voucher allows the recipient to redeem their ants in spring or summer, when colonies are active and thriving.
For details on seasonal care, share the Guide to Ant Hibernation. Alternatively, use our guides to filter colonies which are active year round.
4. Provide resources for learning.
Encourage your recipient to do research on ant keeping. We provide a wide range of guides on ants in captivity, stories about ants in the wild, and even our FREE ant nature study. Learning about species-specific care and ant behavior will help them feel confident in their new hobby.
Why Responsible Gifting Matters
Ant-keeping is a rewarding hobby, but it’s also a responsibility. When gifting ants, the goal is to set the recipient up for success—ensuring the ants thrive and the new ant-keeper is confident and prepared.
By taking the season, preparation, and readiness of the recipient into account, gifting ants can be a joyful experience for everyone involved.