Ants Online is a noticeboard, not an endorsement
Ants Online does not verify identity, ownership, species, condition or legality; does not hold money; and does not guarantee any seller, listing, shipment or transaction. An email-verification badge only confirms control of an email address.
You are responsible for doing your own checks and deciding whether to proceed. If another member scams you or a transaction goes wrong, report it to us so we can consider moderation, but Ants Online cannot recover money or settle the dispute for you.
Before you contact a seller
Read the whole listing and ask for current, specific information about the species or item, condition, colony size, brood, location, care history and proposed handover. Keep early conversations inside Ants Online so there is a useful record.
- Treat unusually low prices, pressure, inconsistent details and requests for urgent payment as warning signs.
- Ask for current photos or a video and check whether descriptions and images match.
- Remember that an established account or verified email is not proof that a person is trustworthy.
Payments and deposits
Confirm the person, animal or item, destination rules and handover arrangements first. Use a payment method with an appropriate dispute process where one is available.
Never share banking passwords, one-time codes or identity documents in messages. Ants Online does not provide escrow, buyer protection or a payment guarantee.
Plan a safe handover
Use a well-lit public place when practical. Keep your home address private until it is genuinely required. Check the container or item before leaving and make sure both people agree on what was supplied.
Australian-only trade, live ants and movement
Ants Online is for transactions within Australia only. Do not use it to arrange international imports or exports. State and territory rules vary by species and location, and interstate movement may be restricted.
The buyer and seller are each responsible for checking collection, possession, movement, biosecurity, wildlife and animal-welfare requirements before agreeing to a transaction. Do not release captive ants or unwanted colonies into the environment.
- Avoid shipping during dangerous temperatures or long service delays.
- Use species-appropriate ventilation, hydration and escape protection.
- Do not list a species when you cannot provide a credible identification.
Report a concern
Use the report control on a listing or message if you suspect a scam, prohibited activity, harassment, misleading species information or an animal-welfare concern. For immediate danger, suspected crime or an urgent wildlife or biosecurity risk, contact the relevant authority rather than waiting for site moderation.