Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Will anyone suggest some solutions to the persistent ants that invade my tortoise pens and home? I have atleast 3 types, tiny little Pharoe types and Argentine and 1/4" red thorax and legs with dark heads and abdomens Harvester types. I have put out boric acid laced syrup and also commerial product with borax but they are not working fast and the ants seem indifferent to it. I raise bugs for my lizards so I must be careful with aerosols etc. Suggestions are much appreciated. Thankyou, Vic

Go to your local Home Depot and buy a product called "Amdro" or "Andro". It is an ant poison that you can sprinkle around the outside of your pen. Or you can put it in the pen very carefully if you can find the old fashioned red bricks that have holes in them. Put a little bit in the holes so the tortoise can't reach it. The ants think this is food and take it back to their colony, thus killing off the whole colony. Works great, I've used it for years!
Beth

poisens are often harmful to the tortoises since they go into the soil and often get into any of the plants in the enclousier

the poisens are fine for the outside of the house but for the tortoise pen i use diatiamicous earth on the top it seems 2 hinder more ants from comeing in ( not the existing colonies )

for the existing colonies the best bet is to get a bunch of BOILING water and dump it all over the cage ( after removeing all that you can ) to kill the ants inside

but rember that there is no perfect way to kill ants and to check on them often so they dont kill ur torts

mincus