Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For those like Nikki who keep their Torts outside, how do you deal with ants and other inscets for that matter. I have noticed a few showing up in my enclosure and am wondering how to respond.

I live in Missouri, and my outdoor pen for my russians has ants in it. They live beneath the rocks and logs.

They seem to be inconspicuous except if I put a juicy food item in the pen. Then they will swarm on it, but never enough to bother the torts. When I kept box turtles, the fruits and canned dog food I left for them attracted lots of ants, enough that I quit keeping box turtles for their sake.

I live out of the range of the fire ant, so I don't worry that the ants will do anything more than annoy my animals.

how about a tortoise castle with river around it for your turtles (minature version of King Arthur's ...)

If you don't have Fire ants to deal with I wouldn't give it much thought.
I've got them in my outdoor pens and in my herp room (that really drives me nuts). I vacuum up the nests with a shop vac and that seems to keep it under control. I don't think it's worth the hazard to try and get rid of them.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

i know that ants are always in my cages 2 so i was glad that you brought this up i have been spraying viniger aaround and on my cages and the ant nests.
dont however lwt any of your tortoises get into a rubbermade with ants though because i recently had a tortoise die on mr from ants that ate her head off while she was alive in a little under 2 days