Ant Hotel: What It Is and Which One to Choose

An ant hotel is a home for your ants, made to keep them and watch them up close. You see the queen, the brood and the workers at work, without disturbing them. In this blog you will learn what an ant hotel is, which types there are and how to choose the right one.

What is an ant hotel?

An ant hotel usually consists of a nest with chambers and tunnels and a see-through side, so you can look inside. The tunnels are already shaped: the ants do not dig themselves, they simply move in. You do not give food and water inside the nest itself, but in a separate outworld connected to the nest. That way you can feed without disturbing the colony. Ant hotels are often used in schools, but more and more people keep one at home as well.

Ant hotel, ant farm or formicarium?

These words are used side by side and basically mean the same thing: a home to keep ants in. The classic ant farm of the past was a flat box filled with sand. Today's ant hotels are much better and come in all kinds of materials, each with its own pros and cons. Read more in our posts about the ant farm and the formicarium.

Which types are there?

• Test tube: the ideal starting place for a young queen.

• Ytong nest: made of aerated concrete, holds moisture well and lasts a long time.

• 3D-printed nest: can be made in all kinds of shapes and is easy to look into.

• Gypsum nest: holds moisture well, but quality depends a lot on how it is made.

• Acrylic nest: very clear to look into, but you need to keep a closer eye on humidity.

At Esthetic Ants we sell Ytong nests, 3D-printed mesh nests, the 3D-printed Avalon nest and the Nano Nest, plus acrylic outworlds. Our US store also sells gypsum nests, made by partners such as Empire of Ants.

Why do you need a real ant hotel?

Ants need a dark, moist place with tunnels and chambers. In an ordinary glass jar or a terrarium without a nest, that does not work well: moisture is hard to control and the ants have too much light and space. A good ant hotel solves this. It has a dark nest area, a separate outworld for food and water, and a material that helps with moisture. That way you get a healthy colony that behaves naturally.

Which ant hotel suits a beginner?

Just starting out? Then a complete set is the easiest, because you do not have to put anything together yourself. The All-In-One Test Tube Outworld Small Set has everything you need for a young colony. Do you already have a slightly bigger colony, or do you want something that lasts a long time straight away? Then the Founding Ytong Nest + Outworld Starting Set is a good choice.

What to look for when choosing

Choose a size that fits your colony as it is now, with a bit of room to grow. An ant hotel that is far too big actually works badly: the ants feel unsafe in all that empty space and keep carrying their brood back and forth. Also think about escapes. Small species such as Lasius niger get through very small gaps. Make sure everything fits well and use an anti-escape barrier, as explained in how to prevent your ants from escaping. Still not sure which ant to choose? Read which ant species to choose for your first ant farm.

Caring for your ant hotel

• Food and water: always provide water and feed regularly, both sugar and protein. Put it in a small dish in the outworld. Read more in what do ants eat?

• Keep it clean: remove leftovers and waste before they start to mould.

• Temperature: never put your ant hotel in the sun and avoid big swings in temperature.

• Moisture: keep the nest moist enough for your species. Hydrate one side of the nest and look where the ants keep their brood, that tells you a lot.

• Watching: check now and then how the queen and the brood are doing, but do not disturb them too often.

• Patience: a colony does not grow in one day. Give them peace and time.

Buying an ant hotel

At Esthetic Ants you will find ant hotels in all kinds of types and sizes, for beginners and for experienced ant keepers, and we are happy to help you with advice. Want to know more about ants as pets? Read our blog about keeping ants as pets or have a look at all our products. Living in the United States? Read where to buy ant farms and equipment in the USA.