Ant Farms

Ant farms stand to be one of the oldest modes by which people can effectively study ant colonies, typically given to children by parents in an effort impart lessons on the value of teamwork and cooperation upon them.

In 1998, a computer generated animated feature entitled Antz was released, bearing valuable moral lessons which ant farm keepers can readily relate to. Featuring the voice talents of Woody Allen, Sharon Stone and Gene Hackman, the movie focused on the world as seen through the eyes of ants, where survival is highly dependent on cooperation and teamwork.

Formally known as formicariums, ant farms are essentially a type of contained ecosystem designed to facilitate the easy studying and observation of ant colonies. Typically constructed out of transparent materials such as glass or plastic, they are available in different pet stores and similar venues, with variations that are designed to be child friendly, in the sense that they are built with safeguards that don’t make escape easy for ant colonies.

The first known commercial ant farm is recorded to have been around since 1929, but its patent as a product was filed by 1931. Since its first commercial variant came out, ant farms have been kept in different households, mostly maintained by kids whose interest in nature and the wonders of the world are inclined to let them key in on the natural wonders of the world.

With ants known for their tenacity to survive and their established loyalties to their colonies, ant farms have somewhat been branded as “a child’s first pet”, given their easy upkeep and value as a means of imparting important life-long lessons to young ant farm keepers.

 Ant Farms Video