Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there,

I have some veiled eggs incubating in some perlite. I have been checking them about once every two weeks. Well today, i saw alot of tiny yellowish-red ants in the container. None of the eggs were open, and none of them seem infertile. I killed most of them with a moist paper towel, just wiping them off the sides and killing some in the substrate. I am really worried that the ants are looking for a suitable meal. There are still some around. Can anyone give me some advice on how to kill the ants without harming the eggs and preventing more from coming in? Thanks a bunch.

Anthony

Well, haven't heard this one before. There is a very detailed article on incubation, eggs, etc. on www.chameleonnews.com that might give you ideas about how to handle or treat eggs without damaging them. You might be able to float each egg for just long enough to get the ants off and then replace them. Not sure. Or, the author Bill Strand might have an idea for you. You can email him from that site...but he is occasionally on this forum too.

take eggs switch substrate to new substrate clean incubator then once done set eggs back in then set the incubator in a tuber warr container like 1/2 inch full of olive oil and leave it there pest cant crawl threw olive oil.

For giving u this info please read my post titled hhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeellllllllp please i am wondering how well hovabators work and all that good stuff read and answer thanks

take eggs switch substrate to new substrate clean incubator then once done set eggs back in then set the incubator in a tuber warr container like 1/2 inch full of olive oil and leave it there pest cant crawl threw olive oil.

For giving u this info please read my post titled hhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeellllllllp please i am wondering how well hovabators work and all that good stuff read and answer thanks

Sounds like you have already got some good responses. I would say gently move the eggs to a new substrate and put the whole container in a liquid that the ants cannot cross. Water is easy but evaporates. Oil won't evaporate. If you check it every two weeks then you should be able to maintain your "moat" quite easily.
Bill Strand

Surround the container with baby powder. not too much, but enought to create a small wall. Ants will almost NEvER walk on baby powder, they can't stand it. Just make sure to not put some everywhere... use a spoon to spread the powder around.

I hope it helps if you do try it!
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Gabriel - Montreal - Ding.
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Alright, i will clean out the container and uses baby powder, since its the easiest. Once again thanks a bunch!