antquarium. The Antquarium gel and habitat was developed in 2000 by NASA to study animal behavior under zero gravity in space. Now families can watch the ants in their own home as they eat the gel and tunnel through it to create a unique environment. Ants are not included in the purchase of an Antquarium but are readily available through the website listed on the box. The average lifespan for the ants is around 7 months.