General Care Discussion :: Ants?

[AllisonChains]

I snuck in and was watching Izzy literally falling asleep half on and half off of her dock (it was too cute) and I saw an ant crawling on her dock near the back of it.

I haven't seen one before and there aren't any in the room that she is in, yet I know he had to have come from somewhere, but where?

She basks more towards the back of the dock, but I would assume that if there were more and had maybe bitten her she wouldn't go up there?

[SpotsMama]

Ants around any other kind of creature (except an anteater) are bad news. If you just saw one, then you'll probably never know where it came from or how it got in there. It could have been on some food, or maybe it just got lost and crawled in from outside. If you see more of them, then you should stop them before they cause trouble for your girl.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Agreed with spotsmama.

Also, some history for you about turtles eating ants: when I first got Sheba 18 yrs ago, there were stories going around about how people used to feed dried ants to their pet turtles & how this is very bad for the turtle (turtles became malnourished & then died from eating only ants). Ants have a chemical in their bodies that is actually harmful for your turtle (it's the same chemical that makes your skin burn when an ant bites you).

So I recommend getting rid of the ant problem.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Also, not all species of ant bite and I can't imagine them managing to even phase a turtle, with their skin being how it is. I think it would be more of a nuisance than anything else. Is your turtle tank near a window? Do you live in an apartment building? Do you have a lot of open doors? All of these are means that a single ant could get in.

[mat012]

I would get some ant traps to set around just in case. The indoor bait works has always worked well for us. We often get ants (you are in TX too so I assume you might have the same issues) when it is hot and dry. They come in for the water. Some summers they have been very bad in the bathroom - even in the sink and bathtub drains (ickkk). They may be drawn to the tank and its water. Around here the ants that get in tend to be carpenter ants - not the fire ants thank goodness. They also like our dry cat food so we have had to bring the bins inside. I would assume that if you have seen one there are more. I hate chemicals and would be green in all situations, but since we moved down here I do not tolerate the bugs! And after 13 years of fooling with em I have not more guilt or shame (haha)

[SpotsMama]

I too have no affection for ants. Ant baits are good for inside as long as your dogs/cats/children won't get into them. For outside, we use instant grits...yes, the same thing people in the South eat for breakfast. Sprinkle some dry instant grits on and around the ant mound. Ants eat it and when it gets moist inside and swells, it explodes the ants. Not a pretty tought, but it really does work and is 100% harmless to vertabretes. It may take several applications to eliminate a mound.

[joeybsmooth]

That is cool Mama. About the blowing up ants. I have some outside and I will try that.

So do I like put water on it after I but the grits on the mound?

[mat012]

Spotsmama, does this work on the fire ants? I assume you want them to consume it dry.

I have to admit we have a maintenance program with a bug company. So we dont have the issue like we have had in the past with the fire ants. This sounds like a great way to control between treatments. I have tried diatomaceous earth with some success, but since we have had the kids I dont want the mounds cropping up. The spray the company uses is "supposed" to be earth and family, pet friendly. My kids are allergic to the ant bites so it is worth it to prevent the giant welts.

[AllisonChains]

I haven't seen another ant, but to answer your questions Gremlin - the tank isn't near a window. It is in my daughters room on the opposite wall of the window. We have a house and because we DO live in Houston, I am very careful about the doors... and not just because of the ants getting in. If I'm not quick enough we will have June bugs, a lizard or a gecko and a whole throng of mosquito's!

Mat - I remember living in West Texas, Odessa/Midland, and having that ant problem. I don't so much have that particular problem down here, but I have the mounds of fire ants in the yard. I am on top of killing the little bastards everyday! I will say that what I saw in the tank was a little carpenter ant, though.

I haven't seen any other ants at all in the house, but I will still keep an eye out.

[mat012]

Too funny. I loved your comment about the open door. I am in College Station and we too have the june bugs, geckos - flying things everywhere. I like the geckos though - they eat bugs

[TheComputerGremlin]

joeybsmooth, no, don't put water on it. The ants consume the grits and when they take in water, it expands in their bellies and their bellies blow up, causing death.

[AllisonChains]

...it sounds horrible, but I would pay good money to see the little bastards explode.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Wow, spotsmama, thanks for the tip about the grits! If I have a problem in the future, I will definitely try that since I like to be as "green" as possible too.

[SpotsMama]

I first heard about grits on this site a couple of years ago. In Texas, of course, we have our choice of ants, including the ubiquitous fire ant.
We have to treat a few mounds in our yard early in the season but then we don't have any problems after that. I love it that Spot can crawl around in the back yard without worrying about either ant bites or pesticides.