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PICTURE OF THE WEEK: Ants New Popular Pet

Most people are happy living with their pet dogs or cats. Sometimes you hear about more unusual pets, such as snakes or ferrets. But would you want to come home to an ant colony every day? Well, children in Germany have found a new passion--pet ants.

German insect dealer Martin Sebesta never thought his ant farms would become so popular with children when he showcased his ants as pets at a German agricultural fair last month. They have become so popular that he plans to open two new stores.

These ant colonies don't come cheap either. Sebesta sells about two each day at an average price of $126 each. The most expensive ants cost $1,764 per colony of up to 20 ants.

Sebesta says children love the colonies because they look at the ants at work in their own mini-world. Each ant has a different job; some gather food, some defend the queen, etc. It's a lot like people working in our world!

Also, the colonies are easy to care for. The ants eat household scraps, and they can live up to 30 years. That's a long time!

Sebesta sells a variety of ants ranging from large two-inch ants from Southeast Asia to ants that are so tiny they are barely visible.

--Written by Amanda Tassin

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