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Ant Keeping 101: Feeding, Hydration, and Handling Summer Break

Introduction: The Question Every Teacher Asks

One of the most common questions educators ask before starting a classroom ant project is:

“What happens to the ants on weekends… or over summer break?”

It’s a fair concern. Teachers are busy, school schedules are unpredictable, and no one wants to take on a classroom project that becomes a burden.

The good news is that ants are one of the easiest classroom organisms to maintain. With the right setup, they handle weekends, holidays, and even long summer breaks with very little intervention.

Weekly Maintenance: The 5-Minute Routine

Unlike traditional classroom pets, ants require minimal ongoing care—especially when housed in a professional formicarium.

Hydration

Ants do not need daily water bowls.

A properly designed formicarium uses:

  • An external hydration system or water tower

  • Slow, controlled moisture release

In most classroom environments, hydration only needs to be refilled once every 1–2 weeks. This consistency is far more forgiving than daily watering schedules.

Feeding

Most beginner-friendly ant species thrive on a simple diet:

  • Sugars (sugar water or nectar)

  • Protein (small insects or liquid protein)

Feeding 2–3 times per week is sufficient. Ant colonies can easily skip a weekend without any negative effects, making them ideal for the school schedule.

Handling Summer Break: Three Easy Options

When the school year ends, teachers have several low-stress ways to keep their colony healthy.

Option 1: Take the Colony Home

Modular ANT SHACK setups are designed to be:

  • Lightweight

  • Portable

  • Easy to transport

Many teachers simply take the main hub home for the summer and return it in the fall. Maintenance at home is no different than during the school year and takes just minutes per week.

Option 2: The “Classroom Ambassador”

Another popular option is assigning the colony to a responsible student, with parental permission.

This approach:

  • Rewards student responsibility

  • Encourages independent scientific observation

  • Builds long-term engagement

For many students, caring for a real ant colony over the summer is a transformative experience—and often sparks lifelong interest in science.

Option 3: Low-Temperature Hibernation (Species-Dependent)

Some ant species naturally slow their metabolism during cooler periods.

Depending on:

  • Species

  • Colony size

  • Time of year

Colonies can be placed in a cool, stable environment (such as a wine cooler or temperature-controlled space). This significantly reduces activity and care requirements for several weeks.

This option should always be species-appropriate, but when used correctly, it allows for near-zero maintenance during extended breaks.

Why Ants Fit the School Calendar So Well

Ants are uniquely suited to classroom life because they:

  • Don’t require daily care

  • Tolerate quiet weekends

  • Recover easily from short feeding gaps

  • Can be safely moved when needed

This flexibility removes one of the biggest barriers teachers face when choosing a living science project.

Conclusion: A Classroom Organism That Works With You

Ant colonies fit the school schedule—not the other way around.

They don’t mind weekends, they adapt well to breaks, and with portable setups, summer maintenance is simple and stress-free. With minimal weekly care, teachers can maintain a thriving colony year after year.

Support Your Classroom with ANT SHACK

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👉 Learn more about the ANT SHACK Education Program and permanent educator discounts here:
https://www.ant-shack.com/pages/educational-discounts

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