Fire Ants in rack?

Yesterday morning I was pulling water dishes from the tubs to clean them and to my utter shock and horror, underneath the water bowl in Atlas' tub was a small nest of fire ants, little eggs and all!!! I immediately went to examine him and he seemed completely untouched (thank goodness) and I checked on the other snake in the same rack (only 2 of 6 slots have animals in them) and her tub was ant-free, so I figured I'd just clean and disinfect the one tub and that would be the end of it right?? Well, since then I've been checking like every few hours and just a bit ago I found a couple of ants under his water bowl!!

What can I do about this? I've had some issues with fire ants in my bathroom and kitchen for a few months now but it's only ever been a small amount here or there, and I've never seen them anywhere else in the apartment until now. Would treating the enclosure with provent-a-mite or another type of mite killer work to remove them and still be safe to the snakes? I would call maintenence but I know they'd get an exterminator and I'd have to find a place for the animals to stay while the apartment is spray treated, which is a hassle.

Btw here is a picture I managed to get of the ants. I assume the reason they were able to congregate like that without me noticing was because I fed and watered the snakes Tuesday night and had left them alone besides refilling water and checking for messes until Saturday morning, about 4 days later.

Any ideas appreciated, thanks!!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a012689436.jpg

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Yikes!:taz:

Ugh! When I lived in the desert, ants (not fire ants) got into a banded gecko cage after his mealworms primarily, but they killed him too. Only a couple of
ants were on him, I couldn't believe my eyes. Ants are scary, & relentless too.

I discovered a product (sold in CA) that both killed & repelled ants safely & effectively (supposed to be safe for pets, kids, kitchen etc- though I'm sure they
didn't mean "snakes" when they said "pets"). Anyway, it was a yummy smelling spray that contained wintergreen & rosemary oils. Killed them AND they didn't
return. Can't recall product name & couldn't find it afterward, but searching natural ways to kill ants may help you. There's a list of alternative things to try.
Such as https://homeguides.sfgate.com/recipe...ide-81790.html
You might also try using diatomaceous earth...also should be safe for snakes & all...read up (fast)

Good luck, let us know what helps? (I would think that 'PAM' would kill them too?)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Ugh! When I lived in the desert, ants (not fire ants) got into a banded gecko cage after his mealworms primarily, but they killed him too. Only a couple of
ants were on him, I couldn't believe my eyes. Ants are scary, & relentless too.

I discovered a product (sold in CA) that both killed & repelled ants safely & effectively (supposed to be safe for pets, kids, kitchen etc- though I'm sure they
didn't mean "snakes" when they said "pets"). Anyway, it was a yummy smelling spray that contained wintergreen & rosemary oils. Killed them AND they didn't
return. Can't recall product name & couldn't find it afterward, but searching natural ways to kill ants may help you. There's a list of alternative things to try.
Such as https://homeguides.sfgate.com/recipe...ide-81790.html
You might also try using diatomaceous earth...also should be safe for snakes & all...read up (fast)

Good luck, let us know what helps? (I would think that 'PAM' would kill them too?)

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Yikes! Thanks for the reference, I'll have to check out that recipe and see if it helps. Yeah I had read about diatomaceous earth but I was concerned if it would be harmful to the snakes or not? I'm worried about it getting in between their scales or in their heat pits or eyes. As of right now I have some reptile spray that I'm going to wipe the tub with, hopefully that will help in the meantime while I get some PAM and figure out some natural repellents to try.

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https://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-hom...e-ant-invasion

I think that DE (diatomaceous earth) works but probably not fast enough (esp. for FIRE ants! :O)

Afterthought on rosemary oil: to me it seems similar to cedar oil, which is an irritating "no-no" for snakes and the same probably true for wintergreen oil.

BUT, part of the battle with ants is to stop them where they come into your house or where they get into your cages...you don't necessarily have to put any
of these things into the snake's actual enclosure, but outside at the base where the ants climb in.* And apparently ants follow each other's scent-mark trails
so you want to disrupt that or they keep coming back. Have you ever noticed that if you kill ants & leave their bodies, the other ants will come & carry them
away (like overnight)? That also helps to discourage & teach them not to come back...yes, I've battled ants before. Thankfully not fire ants...And I also hate
to use any toxic pesticides.

*For example: if ants are getting onto a table, put a small bowl (plastic margarine tub works great) under each leg with some powdered remedy in it that
they must walk thru...that really works well! (they don't like walking thru 'cleanser w/ bleach' for example, also DE, salt, etc.)

It helps to figure out what the ants want from you & your place: sounds like they might want water? They often travel thru walls & under houses along the
plumbing pipes, so they end up in kitchen & bathrooms but it's not always for "food" or even water. The only time I get ants here (& yes, in my kitchen &
bathrooms) is after a lot of rain...they're looking for higher ground & following old trails along my pipes...they're so freaking annoying, but I think I've finally
re-trained them now. There's lots of ants in my yard (around my house) but I don't bother them outside, only if they come in. Around here, many of them
eat & break down the leaves...I know because I see them marching along carrying bits of leaves. Anyway, if it's been really dry where you are, the way they're
getting into your snake cage (humid?) & under the water bowl suggests to me that they want water...?

If those TRULY are fire ants then let me tell you this. Fire ants are the devil. And you can't kill the devil.

I HATE those things !!!!

I'm forever fighting huge mounds of them at the horse barn. And if you get lucky enough to get stung by them, OMG. Its like a electric shock and then comes pain and itching and a blister. And pain and itching for weeks.

Oh how I hate them.

I have yet to find anything, powerful or home made, that will kill them. Some stuff makes them move, though. To another area. Only to come back eventually.

I've had my entire horses side covered in huge welts from those @%@@#$%. I have had painful stings from them, 2 in my neck just recently. They are always worse (more mounds coming up) after a rain, so they may be looking for moisture, esp. since they are under your water dish.

You need to wait until they are back and then backtrack to see where they are coming from. They will form a "2 way highway". Follow it back to the point of entry in your house. Once far enough away from the reptile cage use this product.

Warning, it stinks like rotten cabbage. Truly disgusting. And I'm not convinced it kills the ants, I think they just move away from the stink, LOL. Either way, I always sprinkle it on a mound and they will be gone, only to return elsewhere, though. You could block their entry point with a bunch of it. Use a nose clip...

http://photos.imageevent.com/morgens...1549028220.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zina10

If those TRULY are fire ants then let me tell you this. Fire ants are the devil. And you can't kill the devil.

I HATE those things !!!!

I'm forever fighting huge mounds of them at the horse barn. And if you get lucky enough to get stung by them, OMG. Its like a electric shock and then comes pain and itching and a blister. And pain and itching for weeks.

Oh how I hate them.

I have yet to find anything, powerful or home made, that will kill them. Some stuff makes them move, though. To another area. Only to come back eventually.

I've had my entire horses side covered in huge welts from those @%@@#$%. I have had painful stings from them, 2 in my neck just recently. They are always worse (more mounds coming up) after a rain, so they may be looking for moisture, esp. since they are under your water dish.

You need to wait until they are back and then backtrack to see where they are coming from. They will form a "2 way highway". Follow it back to the point of entry in your house. Once far enough away from the reptile cage use this product.

Warning, it stinks like rotten cabbage. Truly disgusting. And I'm not convinced it kills the ants, I think they just move away from the stink, LOL. Either way, I always sprinkle it on a mound and they will be gone, only to return elsewhere, though. You could block their entry point with a bunch of it. Use a nose clip...

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...1549028220.jpg

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Fire ants are the devil! I actually love ants but hate when they attack! The worst is when it floods and u have a floating pile Climb on you! I’ve been bitten over a hundo times at once like that. I was scared of going into Anaphylactic shock

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Ugh! When I lived in the desert, ants (not fire ants) got into a banded gecko cage after his mealworms primarily, but they killed him too. Only a couple of
ants were on him, I couldn't believe my eyes. Ants are scary, & relentless too.

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This is pretty much the same thing that happened to a leopard gecko I hatched. The only difference is the baby dropped her tail and was curled up in the water dish when I found her...but she died the next day regardless.


Getting some silicone to seal up any cracks around windows and floorboards will also help keep away future infestations after getting rid of the buggers.
Ants are so frustrating.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danger noodles

Fire ants are the devil! I actually love ants but hate when they attack! The worst is when it floods and u have a floating pile Climb on you! I’ve been bitten over a hundo times at once like that. I was scared of going into Anaphylactic shock

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I seriously can't even imagine being bitten over a hundred times by fire ants. I'm not sure I could stand it. I reached into a hay bale once and about 10 or so got on my hand. Those @$%@ all wait to sting at the same time, so that more of them are on you when they do that. They all stung at once. I thought my hand got electrocuted, its literally like a shock and then comes the pain. Then the itch. Its a painful itch though. And your skin and nerves just jump. You can't stop yourself from tearing up your skin.

Its truly horrible.

When I see a bug or other animal swarmed by fire ants I just can't watch. I think that has to be the most awful death. And I absolutely believe they kill calves and other animals. There aren't many animals I hate more then those dang things.

Well Spiders. I don't like spiders much at all. Ok. I fear them and run away screaming. But I still hate fire ants even more.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Armiyana

This is pretty much the same thing that happened to a leopard gecko I hatched. The only difference is the baby dropped her tail and was curled up in the water dish when I found her...but she died the next day regardless.


Getting some silicone to seal up any cracks around windows and floorboards will also help keep away future infestations after getting rid of the buggers.
Ants are so frustrating.

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Oh that is so sad! :tears: My banded gecko was an adult, & a local desert (SoCal) native. It doesn't seem like a few ants could harm a gecko that's so much bigger, and
especially native to the same area as the ants? I didn't think they were fire ants, but I had all kinds there so I can't really say. At the time, I'd not had any run-ins with
fire ants until much later, when one got in my shoe & "educated me". :O

The outside of the building needs to be treated to stop them from coming in. I would call maintenance and make plans to take my snakes elsewhere for a day or so.

My fiance is from from Southern Texas as his parents always say 'the only way to keep fire ants out of your yard (and house by proxy) was to pour a 3 inch slab of concrete over your entire property...and your neighbors as well'.

His cousins' kid was almost killed at the play ground after falling into the sand box and disturbing a nest. The both ended up in the hospital for a few days.

I don't know that it would work - but I've used large saucers of soapy water to keep the black kitchen ants out of my enclosures. I used the plastic 10" drip pans for potted plants and set one under each leg of the table. Keeping the water soapy breaks the surface tension so the ants can't 'walk' on it. You just have to make sure the dishes don't dry out. It certainly won't stop them from coming into your home, but it may keep them away from your animals until you can find a way to stop them

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crowfingers

My fiance is from from Southern Texas as his parents always say 'the only way to keep fire ants out of your yard (and house by proxy) was to pour a 3 inch slab of concrete over your entire property...and your neighbors as well'.

His cousins' kid was almost killed at the play ground after falling into the sand box and disturbing a nest. The both ended up in the hospital for a few days.

I don't know that it would work - but I've used large saucers of soapy water to keep the black kitchen ants out of my enclosures. I used the plastic 10" drip pans for potted plants and set one under each leg of the table. Keeping the water soapy breaks the surface tension so the ants can't 'walk' on it. You just have to make sure the dishes don't dry out. It certainly won't stop them from coming into your home, but it may keep them away from your animals until you can find a way to stop them

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This is the first reason I've heard of that would make Texas a questionable place to live. At least here in the Great White North, the 10 month freeze kills 99% of the bugs!

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Originally Posted by MR Snakes

This is the first reason I've heard of that would make Texas a questionable place to live. At least here in the Great White North, the 10 month freeze kills 99% of the bugs!

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10 month freeze ???

I would never come out of hibernation..

Thanks for all of the advice you guys!! Its honestly really helpful because I've done quite a bit of Google searching and have only found like 3 different relevant hits for getting rid of ants in a reptiles enclosure haha. Also sorry for being late to reply to this thread, its finals week and I just finished my first two exams. I know, it's a great time to be dealing with ants in the enclosures lol

@Bogertrophis Thanks for all of the info!! I think you're right that the ants are seeking water, although it hasnt really been dry lately. We tend to have pretty wet winters here, but I always find them near water faucets and they seem to be focusing the water bowl in the tub so I dont know what else to think besides that they are seeking water. The last several times I've checked the tubs I haven't found any ants, so I hope that means the worst is over. I still ordered some PAM and I'm planning on ordering some diatomaceous earth to sprinkle around the base of the rack in case I see any more ants. If I find any more, my plan is to wipe out the insides of the tub with the reptile mite spray I have on hand and use paper towel substrate until I'm sure they're gone for good (or until the PAM comes in). Although I have a feeling they may somehow be coming in through my stovetop. I always see them crawling on my stovetop-- so much so that yes I've even done the whole corpse warning thing before, standing there smashing them tediously one by one with a napkin and leaving their bodies for their brethren to find... ugggh. It actually worked pretty well though, as I haven't seen them there in a good bit. Which is nice, since I hate seeing them crawling around while I'm preparing food.

@zina10 I hate these ants too!! I live in south Texas and they're just everywhere, and Danger Noodles is right that they ball up into big writhing masses when it floods... gotta be careful walking through rainwater at night. Its terrible that your horses have had to deal with them like that, it's always awful when I see them on animals... theyre incredibly aggressive little creatures. My dogs have gotten into them before and it's not easy to get them off. Anyways, I appreciate the advice with the ant killer product! But since I have small dogs in my apartment as well as the snakes, I'm afraid if I put any product on the floor that they will get into it, especially if it's super smelly like you say it is... but I will definitely keep it in mind if I keep finding ants. I may just have to move the animals for a day or so like bcr229 suggested

@Crowfingers @MR Snakes Its honestly just insane what fire ants can do to a person. I had a similar experience as a young kid in New Orleans, where I grew up. Got my legs bit up terribly and also took a trip to the hospital... those bugs are no joke, and I was relatively lucky I didnt have a worse reaction. Yeah dont move south if you cant tolerate fire ants because they're everywhere not just in TX but all across the south

Again thanks everyone for your advice, I'll update as things progress :)

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Re finding ants on your stove: they might be following pipes in the wall, but those might also be a different KIND of ants, maybe ones that like greasy food crumbs?
I know when I lived in CA desert, my house was built on different kinds of ant colonies that took turns scouting & then invading, so you can't assume they all want
the same thing from you...:rolleyes:

Gee, what awful timing for you! :( Not like ants are EVER convenient...

If some are after water, I wonder if you could give them a decoy bowl of (spiked) water? something they'd get to BEFORE needing to invade your snakes. I think
I saw some remedy suggested about making a solution of water, borax & ?, then soaking cotton balls in it & leaving them around for the ants to sip from? I dunno?

But you're definitely in all our thoughts, & hoping you'll find some effective & non-toxic ways to repel them. I don't think it's possible to get totally rid of them?

Many years ago I used to be a beekeeper and the ants would get into the hives and eat the honey. To solve the problem I used a metal table with four thin legs. I put each leg in a small pail of water and put mineral oil in the water to keep it from evaporating. It created a barrier that the ants couldn't get around.

:carrot:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cchardwick

Many years ago I used to be a beekeeper and the ants would get into the hives and eat the honey. To solve the problem I used a metal table with four thin legs. I put each leg in a small pail of water and put mineral oil in the water to keep it from evaporating. It created a barrier that the ants couldn't get around.

:carrot:

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The beekeeper stat is fascinating !!

You should post a thread telling us a bit about it !!
All the facts and background ..

We could then pose you some questions or queries ..


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by zina10

10 month freeze ???

I would never come out of hibernation..

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I'd say something......but I won't.........:snake::snake::snake: