Quick answer. A good ant starter kit has four parts: a small nest the size of a founding colony, a foraging area so you can feed without opening the nest, a humidity system you can refill from outside, and escape-proof connections between the two. What you don't need when starting out is a large ant nest: a queen with twenty workers in a huge nest gets stressed and grows worse. At AntMaster the 3D Starter Kit costs €19.99 and the Terra V2 Starter Kit, €26.99; both are designed for queens and micro-colonies. If your colony already has more than fifty workers, the natural next step is the Terra M V2 Kit, at €64.99. And the colony can be free: native species cost €0.
What a starter kit should include
- A small nest. For a founding colony, the snugger the better. Extra space fills up with waste and uncontrolled humidity.
- A foraging area. It's where the food goes and where the ants dump their waste. Without one you'll end up opening the nest every week.
- A humidity system you can refill from outside. Being able to add water without uncovering anything is the difference between keeping the colony calm and disturbing it every few days.
- Escape-proof connections. Screws, gates and gate locks. Escapes are the number one problem of the first year.
- Clear instructions. Knowing when to move the colony and how much water to add is worth as much as the equipment.
AntMaster starter kits compared
| Kit | For which colony | What's included | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3D Starter Kit | Queen or micro-colony | 3D module with chambers in relief, mini 3D foraging area and screw connections, in matte PLA and acrylic | €19.99 |
| Terra V2 Starter Kit | Queen or micro-colony | Queen nest with antifungal plaster, mini foraging area, connector, mini feeder, opaque cover, 2 gate locks and 8 softpads | €26.99 |
| M 3D Kit | Small or medium colony | M 3D module, M 3D foraging area, connector, external feeder, 8 gate locks and 8 softpads, in matte PLA and acrylic; 22 × 11 × 12 cm overall | €43.99 |
| Terra M V2 Kit | Small or medium colony | Terra M ant nest with antifungal plaster, removable Terra foraging area and expandable modular system | €64.99 |
| L 3D Kit | Medium or advanced colony | L 3D module, L 3D foraging area, 2 connectors, 12 gate locks, 8 softpads and Allen key; 22 × 22 × 12 cm overall | €74.99 |
| Terra M Vertical Kit | Small or medium colony | Vertical Terra M module with antifungal plaster, Terra M foraging area, L-connection, legs, 60 ml AntDew nectar, 5 ml feeder, feeding dish and 8 gate locks; 30 × 15 cm | €75.99 |
| Terra L V2 Kit | Advanced small or medium colony | Terra L module with antifungal plaster and dual humidity system, Terra L foraging area, 2 connectors, external feeder, magnetic dish, 12 gate locks and 250 ml AntDew nectar | €105.99 |
| Terra L Vertical Kit | Medium or large colony | Terra L Vertical module, vertical Terra L foraging area, 2 L-connectors, external feeder, magnetic dish, 12 gate locks, 6 plugs and 250 ml AntDew nectar | €119.99 |
All AntMaster kits expand with the same screws and escape-proof gates, so the starter kit is not thrown away when the colony grows: it becomes the brood area of a larger setup. Both starter kits are in the Starter kits collection.
The most common mistake: buying too big
Almost everyone wants the biggest, most beautiful ant nest on day one. The problem is that a founding colony in a big nest doesn't use it: it stays in one chamber, the rest builds up humidity and mould, and on top of that it's much harder to keep an eye on the queen. Here the cheap option and the sensible one are the same: start small and expand when the colony asks for it. With a modular system, expanding means connecting another module, not buying everything again.
Gel and sand kits: why not
Gel ant farms sold as toys don't come with a queen, and without a queen the colony can't renew itself: what you're buying is a group of workers that will die within weeks. Gel doesn't feed them properly in the long run either. Sand kits have a different problem: the tunnels collapse and you can't control humidity. If you want a colony that lasts for years, you need a queen and a nest with adjustable humidity.
How much does it really cost to start?
With the 3D Starter Kit at €19.99 and a native queen at €0, getting started costs less than people expect; you only need to add shipping, which is free on orders over €75 to mainland Spain. The bigger spend comes later, when the colony grows and it's time to expand with larger modules and foraging areas.
Frequently asked questions
Does the kit include the ants?
No, but you can add a native queen or colony for €0 from the Free Ants collection in the same order.
How long will a starter kit last me?
It depends on the species. With Messor barbarus, between six months and a year; with Camponotus, much longer, because they grow slowly.
3D or Terra?
The 3D has a sculpted, more naturalistic interior and is slightly cheaper. The Terra uses antifungal plaster, which spreads humidity more gradually. Both expand with the same connection system.
What else do I need?
Not much: tweezers, a water sprayer and seeds or food depending on the species. Most accessories are bought when you need them, not before.
Which species should I put in the kit?
We explain it in the guide which ant to choose to get started.
Last updated: October 4, 2026.