Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 5 adult box turtles and have had them for about 6 years now. They are outside in a 12 x 12 habitat and have been perfectly healthy for all 6 years. My favorite girl, Lizzy, appears to be sick today. She has been soaking in her water all afternoon and gets back in if you take her out. I'm in NC and it's getting a little chilly at night (enough that she should not be in the water at night). Anyway, I was wondering if ants are harmful to box turtles? I noticed a large ant hill in their enclosure today and Lizzy is a hog. She will eat anything and a lot of anything. I just wonder if the ants have something to do with her not looking well. Does anyone know if ants are harmful??

Are they fire ants? I'd bring the turtle indoors until you eradicate them.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

>>Are they fire ants?

That was my question. We have harvester ants on our property, they don't do anything but mind their own business and gather food all day. I don't worry about them but fire ants would be a different story. :-x
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PHRatz

I don't think they are fire ants. The are red, but they are not large at all like I would think fire ants would be. They are very small and do not seem to be bothering the turtles. I have seen the turtles eat ants before though, so I was worried Lizzy may have eaten too many of these, since the ant hill is right there.

After further thought, i don't really think it's the ants. She just seems sick. She is still in the water this morning. She is eating though.

>>I don't think they are fire ants. The are red, but they are not large at all like I would think fire ants would be.

Fire ants are pretty small; their size belies their painful bites/stings. I get attacked by them on a regular basis here in TX.

An easy way to see if they're fire ants is to topple a mound. If what appears to be MILLIONS of ants swarm all over your feet and cause burning sensations and boils which last for a week, then they're fire ants! Seriously though, they are VERY defensive of their mounds.

Do some internet-sleuthing for Solenopsis invicta.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Does she have any ant bites on her? She may be soaking for relief.
Stephanie

During some really hot dry days last summer, one of my boxies was being attacked by ants. They actually bit into him and stayed clinging to him, presumably sucking blood?

Anyway, he quickly figured out if'n he stay in his soaking bowl, he could drown the little suckers right off of him!

Pretty smart huh? That's my boy! lol
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0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
0.1.0 Australian shepard
2.2.0 chickens
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband