Ants Alive

I decided I wanted to try a little science experiment and try out an ant farm.

The Antworks and Habitat is a gel based on a 2003 NASA Space Shuttle experiment to study animal life in space and test how ants successfully tunnel in microgravity. This space-age gel serves as both habitat and nutrition for the ants.

The Antworks box contained a couple of addresses for buying the ants, since you have to buy them separately.

I sent an email to:
rocknreptile@juno.com, Guy Rock, Rock-N-Reptile
but they never responded so I am guessing they are out of business.

But AntsAlive responded the next day to my email:

Yes.  You can order using the certificate.

John Wilcock
Life Studies, LLC
info@antsalive.com

Get Ants, Ant Habitats, Supplies, and Learn about Ants at: AntsAlive.com

So I ordered through them, mailed the check on June 4th, 2011
and received the ants on June 20th, 2011

9 of the ants were dead, but the day they arrived it was over 100 degrees,
and the day before it was just as hot,
so I am guessing that 100 plus degree heat does not help the ants stay alive.

Probably should have ordered a little earlier when it was cooler.

Still had 16 live ants, which seems to be enough to watch.

The blue jell ant farm I had was about 2 years old,

I read somewhere that the ants could fall down the side, which I didn't understand at all, until I put the ants in, then I realized that the jell had actually pulled away from the side, and it was very possible that the ants could fall down the side and get stuck.

I should have pushed the jell down with my fingers before putting the ants in the ant farm to try and get it pushed back against the sides again.

To order ants send your check to:
Life Studies, LLC 490 S. 400 W. Hurricane, UT 84737

Right now they sell 30 ants for $4.95

http://www.antsalive.com/antssupplies.htm

they also sell refill jell for $8.50 it comes in blue, red, and green colors.