Simviation Forums

German children are marching to pet shops to follow a pricey new trend for ant-breeding, German insect dealer Martin Sebesta said on Tuesday.
After the creatures were showcased as pets at a German agricultural fair last month, the self-proclaimed "ant fanatic" has had so much interest from children and students at his Berlin store that he plans to open two new shops.
"Children love them because they can observe a mini-world. Every member of the colony has a different job to do, some collect food, others defend the queen," said Sebesta, who sells at least two colonies per day at around $126 each.
"They are easy to look after, eat household scraps and can live up to 30 years," said Sebesta, whose most expensive ants cost $1,764 per colony of up to 20 ants.
The biggest species he offers is from Southeast Asia and grows up to around two inches while others are barely visible, said the 28-year-old, who has been selling ants on the Internet since February 2000. He said most people preferred to come to his shop to handle the ants before buying them online.
"It could just be a phase but I hope not," he said.

Man oh man...........I feel sorry for you britts living on the same side of the ocean as this kind of nonsense.  I'm glad I have an ocean over there; it's placement is perfect.

Hell, wait a minute!!! Everybody get a shovel! This is the way we can fund our flight simming.  All of us Americans have those little black ants running around our yards; get them!  We'll call them Stna's; we can be like the French with Evian!!!  We can even send them some some Carpenter ants with wooden cages.

The good news is that if you want to put an end to this stupid concept, all you have to do is start selling the heck out of your own ants and saturate the market!  LOL

The good news is that if you want to put an end to this stupid concept, all you have to do is start selling the heck out of your own ants and saturate the market!  LOL

Exactly!

..."Children love them because they can observe a mini-world. Every member of the colony has a different job to do,...."

Sounds a bit like on-line flight simming... ...?

"They are easy to look after, eat household scraps, and can live up to 30 years", said Sebesta...

...I've got news for you, Sebesta! The ones in my garden live for thirty seconds after I have emptied my kettle of boiling water over them... ...!

LOL...!

Cheers all... ...!

Paul.

P.S. Dave. Where do you find all these little gems... ...?

thanks for the nice little insult,cvrt7.62.  ::)

hell,ants would be the perfect pets for me. you don't have to care about them,just throw some bio waste into their box once in a while. just perfect! now i know where to go when i'm in berlin the next time (ILA?).

What an expensive hobby

And tell me, what exactly do you get out of it

Maybe shaking the tank.

What an expensive hobby

And tell me, what exactly do you get out of it

...stung... ...?

(Physically and money-wise)... ...!

LOL...!

Paul.

I had one of those plastic green ant farms when I was a kid.  2'nd day I had it I broke it in my lap.  Of course they had sent me the ants from Mexico that sting........that felt real great.  F**king things. I made sure each of them became one with the carpet and the bottom of my shoe.

[quote]I had one of those plastic green ant farms when I was a kid.

i think u guys got the wrong idea here, it could be a fascinating hobby one that could be very interesting.  i have guppies and i tell you ants are probably more exciting.  it sounds expensive give that you can get ants outta ur backyard, but at least you get properly set up and get the right advice about it.  Money has been made out of some stupider things before . . .