Hey y'all, I keep seeing these little buggers wandering around inside some of my cages. I went to the vet yesterday and the one whose cage seems most targeted has pinworms. I got her from petco, so I'm not surprised, but is there a possible connection? Are either ants, crickets, or mealworms carriers of pinworms? And I thought I heard somewhere that carpenter ants do produce some sort of toxic substance. I will say Pepper took a bite of one once, and spit that sucker out fast!! (She's usually got a VERY good appetite) Why are they attracted to my cages, and how do I get rid of them? Anyway, info please, anyone else have this problem?
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1.0 Leopard gecko from JL
0.4 Normal/Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko (Beatrice, Goldie, Freckles, Pepper)
0.1 Nearly Paternless Leopard Gecko (Brite)
0.1 TBD Leopard Gecko (Rainbow)
0.0.1 Tang Nearly Paternless (Peaches)
0.0.2 Corn Snakes (One snow, One red albino)
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carpenter ants in my cages!
Replies (5)
Carpenter ants produce an acid, which is pretty toxic, since it is what they use for defense as much as killing other bugs. The best way to keep them out is to put out traps near the cages that would entice the ants there instead, or, I think putting a nasty substance like vaseline around the lid of the cage so they avoid going near it. I could be wrong, but I believe these work really well. Also, you could try just cleaning the glass, if you have a glass aquarium, since they won't have anything to walk on when trying to climb it.
As to the acid.. I think it is a phosphoric acid...
It is Formic acid and will not harm your lizards in any way.
I haven't had any ants near my cages, but the ants started coming into my house so I called the people who spray for bugs and they came out and put this stuff down, it's a gel, around the baseboards and stuff, and I haven't see another ant. It's been about 3 months since they did it so it's working pretty well, and it only cost me $28.00 to have done.
Thanks, guys and gals. I will try some ant traps I guess. Spike, do you remember the name of the stuff? I don't want any spray stuff b/c obviously I need to maintain other insects in my apartment.
-----
1.0 Leopard gecko from JL
0.4 Normal/Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko (Beatrice, Goldie, Freckles, Pepper)
0.1 Nearly Paternless Leopard Gecko (Brite)
0.1 TBD Leopard Gecko (Rainbow)
0.0.1 Tang Nearly Paternless (Peaches)
0.0.2 Corn Snakes (One snow, One red albino)
