Buy the next room, not the final one.

Tube, then either Scout, then Trailhead for early feeding or Founder for a larger nest. Homestead comes later. Buy the space the colony needs, not the final size on day one.

The founding stage is the test tube. Water comes from the test tube and cotton, $6. See founding.

The Scout V1, $24, takes the tube once the first workers are out. It is the first nest. See the beginner page.

When the Scout fills, move to the Founder, $42. When the Founder fills, the Homestead, $64 (coming January 1), is the larger nest.

The moving guide shows each crossing.

Add an outworld when workers need a foraging area. The Frontier S, $34 (coming January 1), pairs with the Founder and the Frontier L, $52 (coming January 1), with the Homestead. See outworlds.

Buy the Four Corners, $96 (coming March 1), only if you have four colonies. It is not a bigger nest for one.

A nest that is too big is hard to keep damp and hard to feed. A small colony in a large space has damp spots it cannot defend and food it cannot find.

The watering guide shows how much work damp is. Buy the next room, not the final one. See every size on the formicarium page, or by species.