Natural or artificial setup - which is better?

In a natural  set-up, we create a small ecosystem: soil, plants, stones, maybe even moss. The ants dig their own nest, behave more naturally and the whole thing looks like a living terrarium. This not only looks beautiful, but also corresponds to the animals' natural environment.

However, this form of ant-keeping comes with its challenges:

• You can rarely see inside the nest - diagnoses, checks or emergency interventions are difficult.
• Particularly sensitive species can suffer from hidden problems: Mite infestation, undetected queen loss due to rank fights, or mold in the nest area.
• It becomes more difficult to regulate temperature, humidity or access to food.

On the other hand, there is keeping with an artificial nest, as is also used in my store: An outworld with an attached nest that is made of plaster, acrylic, cork or similar materials. In the outworld itself, a non-burrowable substrate is used - e.g. dry sand, clay or plaster - so that the ants live exclusively in their intended nest.

This has many advantages:

• The nest is clearly visible and you can easily observe the brood, queen and colony development.
• Cleaning and inspection are easier.
• Ideal for beginners or more sensitive species.

Unfortunately, the visual appearance is often neglected. Many artificial setups look sterile or bare - decorative elements appear unnatural or artificial. To change this, I have developed a simple method that makes aesthetically pleasing outworlds possible - without sacrificing functionality.

Instructions: Natural look for artificial ant outworlds

With this method you can create a setup that looks like real soil but offers the practical advantages of an artificial structure. You will need:

Materials:

• Plaster or mortar
• Water
• Dry substrate (sand, clay, soil - depending on the desired look)
• Mineral pigments (e.g. iron oxide in brown, red or yellow)
• Decoration: stones, twigs, gravel
• Soft brush, spoon or spatula if necessary

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Preparation of the outworld:
Plan the layout. The entrances should be drilled and tubes inserted. Think about height differences, positions for decorations and leave space for watering and feeding stations. You can lay out the decorations for testing - but remove them again later.

2. Test layout and dismantle:
Now remove everything except for the larger stones. You can deliberately incorporate these into the structure.

3. Prepare the casting mixture:
First mix all the solid components: Plaster or mortar, pigments, sand/clay, coarse particles for texture if necessary. Then add water - the mixture should be malleable but not liquid.

4. Pour into the outworld:
Spread the mixture with a spoon or spatula, create shapes, hills and depressions. Work quickly - the material starts to harden fast.

5. Add decoration:

Now press larger stones, branches or gravel into the still damp material.

6. Sprinkle on dry substrate:
Sprinkle your dry substrate generously onto the surface. It will easily bond with the moist mixture and provide a natural texture.

7. Let it cure:
Now it's time to wait. Depending on the material, this can take several hours. Only when everything is completely dry can you continue.

8. Remove excess substrate:
Carefully tilt the outworld to pour out the loose material. Use a soft brush to remove the rest. You can reuse the excess substrate for the next project.

The result

You will have a stable, non-diggable surface that looks like real forest floor or savannah - depending on how you have designed it. From this point onwards, you can go wild with additional decorations: small twigs, moss, plastic plants or real dried plants - depending on your taste.

Conclusion

This method combines the best of both worlds:

• Controllable, clean housing thanks to artificial nest and outworld
• Natural look thanks to clever design

This is the ideal solution, especially for holders who don't want to compromise on aesthetics - and a real eye-catcher on any desk.

If you are looking for suitable nest modules, outworlds or accessories, please take a look at my store. All products have been designed, tested and optimized by myself to meet the needs of ant keeping.