Singapore, Oct 3 (AFP/APP):Ants scurry around in transparent boxes stacked outside a Singaporean store that is tapping into an unlikely but growing local trend of keeping the six-legged creatures as pets. John Ye says he became fascinated with the “altruistic, compassionate” creepy-crawlies after receiving some as a gift from his brother-in-law. The 41-year-old eventually ditched a job in electronics distribution to open “Just Ants” in January and cater to fellow enthusiasts. “I wish to have a place where people can gather and share insights, and share their ant-keeping journey,” Ye told AFP.  The shop sells ant farms along with specialist equipment, including mini handheld vacuums for catching the insects, tiny feeding dishes and mealworms used as feed. It was forced to close for a period due to a coronavirus lockdown earlier this year but has reopened since restrictions were eased, and business is picking up. It stocks 30 to 40 species, sourced from ant-keeper friends or collected by Ye and his team around Singapore.  Catching the creatures is no easy task. It is usually only possible during so-called “nuptial flights” — when new queens and winged male ants take to the air in the hope of finding a mate. Pets … Continue reading Singaporean ‘ant-repreneur’ sells tiny six-legged pets