Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ugh. I keep most of my kings on 2-3" of cypress mulch. I've found it works OK for keeping humidity and they seem to spend lots of time burrowing in it.

However, we've been having an ant problem since March...and today I found what looked a small nest in a Florida kings cage. It was back towards the heat, under his hide, about 1" into the substrate. I found it while spot cleaning. I emptied and bleached the cage. I'll be pulling the cypress out of everything else in the rack for now, on the theory that paper's less hospitable.

Anyone ever run into problems using ant traps in a snake room?

FWIW, the local name for these ants is "sugar ant." They're small, and if they bite I've never felt it. When I disturbed the nest they didn't seem to bother the snake any. But god I don't like them.
-----
We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

I had them pop up in a large Basilisk cage which had cypress mulch on the bottom. I don't see where ant bait would hurt since the snakes won't eat the ants but I don't really know. I think the problem with Cypress mulch is that it's left in the cage a lot longer than other substrates. This gives the ants ample time to settle in.
-----
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra