How are others handling FIRE Ants around outdoor enclosures?

mushmouth26

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2013
Messages
170
Location (City and/or State)
Texas
I keep getting nest in and around the enclosure. I am afraid I am going to go out there and find one of the torts swarmed with them.
 

DeanS

SULCATA OASIS
10 Year Member!
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
4,407
Location (City and/or State)
SoCal
I'd say move the torts inside until you get it remedied! Try dried grits around the opening of the hill! I also have a GREAT fix that worked when I lived in FL. 1 cup sugar 2 cups boiling water and 2 TBSP of Borax...stir together until it cools. Put the mixture right on top of the mound in a peanut butter lid...it takes a few days...but it's permanent!
 

Saleama

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2013
Messages
1,501
Location (City and/or State)
Irving Texas
I spread DE over my entire yard, tortoise garden and any ant hill I find. Did it a year and a half ago and they never came back.
 

mushmouth26

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2013
Messages
170
Location (City and/or State)
Texas
I spread DE over my entire yard, tortoise garden and any ant hill I find. Did it a year and a half ago and they never came back.

Im going to assume DE stands for diatomaceous earth?
 

Saleama

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2013
Messages
1,501
Location (City and/or State)
Irving Texas
Im going to assume DE stands for diatomaceous earth?
Yes. Works like a charm. I also use it indoors in my tortoise tables and box turtle tanks for fruit flys. I don't like to use anything with poison in or around my tortoise habitats.
 

tortoise5643

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2013
Messages
462
I use vinegar. I take my torts out and pour it all in the cage especially where I have seen ants then after about 45 minutes I put them back. This remedy has never failed me.
 

Katherine

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2011
Messages
794
I too use diatomaceous earth; but also always remove the torts from the enclosure until the ants are gone. Not worth the risk; I hate fire ants.
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
Moderator
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 16, 2014
Messages
28,938
Location (City and/or State)
South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
I rotate pens when I have to, to do battle. I also spray the perimeters of the pens. (Outside) and have started a regimen of D/E but due to the rainy season, haven't seen any results worth mentioning. I've never heard about that Borax fix before. Ill have to give it a try. I used a product called "Cease fire" more then four years ago, and I haven't seen a fire ant since. Seriously. I read that the fire ant population has declined in Florida. At any rate, I still have the "Big headed" ants, but they don't bite much if at all. However, I still keep them in check. They look very similar and I don't like to take chances. Remove them and rotate the pens.
 

Carol S

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Messages
2,721
Location (City and/or State)
Alta Loma, CA
Make sure the diatomaceous earth is FOOD GRADE and NOT the kind used for swimming pool filters.
 

New Posts

Top