Ants

[goReptiles]

So I found a few ants the other day around the racks. and at least triple that today. I put ant pad things (like the roach hotels but for ants) around an under5 the racks. is there anything else that I can do so that I don't have a swarm of ants within the next few days.

 

[thekooliest]

That sounds really bad, but I have no clue how to fix the problem. I wish you luck

 

[LizMarie]

Oh jesus wish i can help you. I think you need to find where the ants are coming from.. is there a small hole in the wall or something, are they next to a window? I had an ant issue and I live on the 3rd floor! Then I noticed it was coming through a crack in an old pipe that I was able to seal.

 

[LeapinLizards]

This has been a bad ants year for us in the NW. I have a friend down in Southern California that went away for a weekend, and returned to find her baby gecko killed by ants Good luck getting rid of them. We have always used Terro (I think that's how you spell it) spray, but you have to be careful where you spray it!

 

[rcobourn]

Vaseline makes a good barrier for ants. If your racks are sitting directly on the floor it can be tricky to get a barrier all the way around. If they are on feet or rollers, you can just give those a good lathering.

You should also get some bait traps, which will eventually kill the colony the ants are coming from... this is the best long term fix. If you just block out the hole they are coming through, they'll likely find another.

 

[daveim]

Maybe the geckos will eat the ants...

 

[AntMan612]

I placed Terro(TM) Ant Baits (made with Borax in a sugar gel) in the ant trails, replacing them for the next couple of days when the bait would run out. They never went far beyond the trap(s). The number of ants slowly dwindled to none over the 2 day period, apparently because it killed the colony. I also added an ant barrier using cinnamon and bay leaves(which are supposed to be irritants), but I don't think it was really necessary.

AntMan hates ANTS!

p.s. Be sure to kill the "scouts" as soon as you see them.

 

[leonut]

one way i've used is pouring a bit of dry gritz or red peper on the ground where they are coming from. seems to work.

 

[daveim]

they follow the scent trails left by others, so if you could erase those scent trails... Maybe try rubbing habanero over the trails:devil::fireman:

 

[hoppslover]

I had ants this year upstairs. Thank God not in the basement. I put out bait traps but it didn't seem like the ants were even interested. I have heard try corn starch. I was told they will eat it and carry it back to the colony but they cant digest it and it will kill them. No idea if it works or not but am gonna try it next spring if they come back.

 

[David Loftin]

Ants are the Devil, specifically Argentine Ants in our area. I have had so much stress over the past year due to Ant Invasions. We have lost a few geckos due to ant invasions.

The way that we have been ant free for the past 8 months or so.. is due to our spraying of Provent a Mite or BK II. We sprayed every single crack in our apartment, around all of the windows doors.. basically everywhere. We have not had any ant problems since. I highly suggest doing this. It has worked for years for us, you just have to be thorough about it. If you decide on doing this.. take all of your reptiles, feeders and any other animals out of that room. Spray and let air out for 24 hours. You do not need to air out that long... I just prefer being extra cautious. After that you can bring everything back in and you should be in the clear for at least a year.

 

[goReptiles]

Hm.. thanks guys. I'll have to figure something out. I think i've about gotten rid of them, but I found a few today on lunch. I've been manually killing what I can see in addition to the bait traps i have under one rack and inbetween the 2, and of course in the closet. I'm not sure where they are coming, as they seem to start in the middle of the area.

 

[daveim]

If you put hot sauce or peppers over the tracks, it would "overload" the ants' smell receptors, which would kill them.

 

[RepBex]

Ew god i hate ants they are the only animal i cannot stand they are just so evil

i use boiling water or ant spray fly spray also works

 

[Geck-O]

Well, I have a very very simple way. I have this same problem with my praying mantids. Put all the legs of the table you are keeping your gecko(s) on into a pan of water. Saves you from buying anything.

 

[RepBex]

surly the legs will rot and the water will smell ?

 

[rcobourn]

Well, I have a very very simple way. I have this same problem with my praying mantids. Put all the legs of the table you are keeping your gecko(s) on into a pan of water. Saves you from buying anything.

That doesn't work in Arizona. Water evaporates too fast.

 

[Geck-O]

@RepBex:Use plastic legs. Then it won't rot.

@rcobourn:Add a little water every day maybe?

 

[goReptiles]

If you put hot sauce or peppers over the tracks, it would "overload" the ants' smell receptors, which would kill them.

That would be great, except I'm pretty sure my dog would lick it all up. Ha. if it smells she eats it... Heck, if it doesn't smell, she eats it. May try it anyway... May just teach the dog not to eat everything in sight while I'm trying to get rid of ants.

 

[Geck-O]

That would be great, except I'm pretty sure my dog would lick it all up. Ha. if it smells she eats it... Heck, if it doesn't smell, she eats it. May try it anyway... May just teach the dog not to eat everything in sight while I'm trying to get rid of ants.

This could be a good thing. Teach her to eat the ants. My dog eats mosquitoes and flies.