>Why the fuck would you want to keep Ants?

Because they're superior to any other type of Insect or Arachnid.

>So how do I get started?

If you're European just go here:

http://www.antstore.net/shop/index.php?language=en&&;

http://www.ants-kalytta.com/home.php?language=en

http://www.world-of-ants.com/en/ants.html

You can get pretty much anything you need from the shops above.

If you're American or live in any other parts of the world you'll need to build your Formicarium yourself and also catch a Queen yourself.

This is best done by identifying the species near you and then check online for their nuptial flight period.

If you can't catch a queen yourself you can check here though:

http://antscanada.com/live-queens-for-sale

Scroll down and look for a GAN farmer near you.

>So I got me some ants now what?

See:
http://www.antstore.net/shop/images/info/Care%20Instructions%20for%20ants.pdf

>What species are good for beginners?

Lasius spec.
Camponotus spec.
Aphaenogaster spec.
Messor spec.
Formica spec.
Pogonomyrmex spec.

>What are species I should avoid as a beginner?

Myrmecia spec.
Atta spec.
Acromyrmex spec.
Pachycondyla spec.
Odontomachus spec.
Pseudomyrmex spec.
Ectatomma spec.
Paraponera spec.
Oecophylla spec.
Rhytidoponera spec.
Solenopsis spec. (Fire ants)

Generally avoid Ponerinae as they're very hard to keep and need a lot of care same goes with Leafcutters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponerinae

>Waah Waah why do my ants need so long to build a colony?

Patience faggot it can take up to a year till you get a bigger colony going.

Just feed your ants a lot,keep their nest moist and warm and you should be good.

If you have any Questions post ITT,I'll try to answer them,but we all know /an/ is pretty slow.