Would you let your child have an ant for a pet? Not a problem, right? Now, how much are you willing to pay for an ant farm? We bet nothing approaching four or five figures.
A starter kit ant farm can reach that amount though at Just Ants in Singapore. And John Ye, the man behind the unusual pet shop, says the business has been picking up since July 2020.
According to South China Morning Post (SCMP), Ye put up Just Ants this February. The store sells "30 species of ants sold in starter kit ant farms, or formicarium, which include ants and a queen."
The starter kit's price ranges from SG$13.90 (Php495.75) up to SG$300 (Php10,699.65).
Ants for pets in Singapore
SCMP says Ye was raising ants as a hobby and decided to put up the pet shop to show how ants are amazing creatures. In a Reuters video, Ye says, "I'm trying to change the misconception, and educate, you know, young people, children, that actually ants are very enriching.
"They are so important in the ecosystem, they are actually here for a reason. And then if we could actually just learn from the humble ant, there are so many things that the ant could teach us, like perseverance, being headstrong."
Ye says in the video that he sources the ants locally finding them around Singapore after rainstorms.
Most people just want to get rid of them, but ants have become the primary business for an entrepreneur who is selling them as pets in Singapore https://t.co/BkLaGF9bcl pic.twitter.com/eniOV9PgOA
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 14, 2020ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWParents in Singapore are buying though as shown on the pet shop's Instagram account. The photos and videos on its Just Ants' Instagram will fascinate kids (and adults) no end, especially those who are already into critters and bugs.
We are not surprised a child will want to bring home an ant farm after seeing these insects at work. And we think the idea of live worms as food — that's what Just Ants feed them — will really make them ask mom and dad if they can have one.
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