Sugar Glider Community Calendar

Please click here to see larger view
Articles
More coming soon!!
Today's Birthdays
B1u3sky, StellaLuna
Member Spotlight
Hutch
Hutch
Belleville, IL
Posts: 1,482
Joined: November 2015
Show All Member Profiles 
Last 10 Posts
Gliders of the Round Table 10
by Feather. 03/27/24 07:04 PM
Logging in Problem
by Feather. 03/26/24 06:07 PM
Cloaca swollen?
by Hutch. 03/16/24 11:51 PM
Wheels, Toys, Toy supplies, pouches and more.
by Ladymagyver. 03/07/24 11:16 PM
Gliders of the Round Table 9
by Hutch. 03/07/24 10:52 PM
Stewie:" It's MY Mouse!"
by Hutch. 03/04/24 12:12 AM
2024 Sugar Glider Calendar and Cafe Press Store
by theresaw. 02/29/24 08:55 PM
Custom Cage Liners Machine Wash & Dry
by gr8pots. 02/27/24 04:23 PM
Google+

Facebook
Join Us On Facebook
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Safe ways to get rid of ants? #25717
08/26/04 04:00 PM
08/26/04 04:00 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



I have noticed within the last month or so my mom and I have been profusely complaining about these little tiny black ants that we all like to call "sugar ants"...well, I wish they'd stay off my sugar glider's food, at that! ...they come every summer and boy, are they a pest.

They are like white on rice with Kayla's food. I give it not fifteen minutes and I spy one or two trailing their buddies along headed to her food dish. She likes to eat several times throughout the night, so it causes a problem when I'm constantly battling them. I don't prefer for her to eat out of an ant ridden dish, naturally. Are there any SAFE methods at taking care of this problem? I've already "de-anted" my room as much as possible with a wet rag and a broom, but I won't take any chances with chemicals. My mom did suggest using white vinegar to wipe down my walls...and I read that some people like to put a kind of vinegar in the water bottles, so I didn't know if this would harm her. I haven't tried it - but I'd like to try something, anything, at least [that won't hurt her].

What have you tried in the past? I read a post on this a while back but running a search pulls up other posts with words having the word "ant" within it...so that was no good. Thanks in advance.

(To those who know me, sorry I haven't been around...we're moving to central FL soon, so I've been a busy bee packing. Kayla's coming along fantastically with her bonding, though.)

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Oh, yes, and I'm changing her bottom tray daily to prevent them from going in there, too. It doesn't seem to be the problem because it hasn't really helped the situation. There is nothing "sweet" or any food dishes in my room or remotely in her area that would be a 'hidden' or underlying cause to this...they are just thirsty and coming in from the windows. --sigh--

Last edited by FLKeysGlider; 08/26/04 04:03 PM.
Re: Safe ways to get rid of ants? [Re: ] #25718
08/26/04 04:13 PM
08/26/04 04:13 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Dryer sheets! Ants generally won't walk on dryer sheets, so if you can maybe put them under the cage (especially easy if it's on a stand w/ legs)... then hopefully they'll look for their meal elsewhere.

I've not had to do this myself, but I've been told it works wonderfully. Let me know if you try it.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

Re: Safe ways to get rid of ants? [Re: ] #25719
08/26/04 05:24 PM
08/26/04 05:24 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,049
Doniphan Mo
Carrie T Offline
Glider Addict
Carrie T  Offline
Glider Addict

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,049
Doniphan Mo
I can say I use this and it works <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dance.gif" alt="" /> Thank you Wanda for such a wonderful tip <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />

Re: Safe ways to get rid of ants? [Re: ] #25720
08/26/04 07:31 PM
08/26/04 07:31 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



So, should I line her cage with them? Her little food dish screws onto the bars of her cage. I do know in the past she has pulled up the paper towels from the tray and nibbled on it so I had to put a stop to that. Any tips on preventing this? I'm thinking I just need to make sure that she can't reach it no matter how hard she tries. Would it be silly to put dryer sheets on the wall area around her cage? The walk up the wall and legs to the stand of her cage. (Those buggers!) One last drill question...unscented? You mentioned they don't like to walk on it, so I imagine it's the texture not the scent! Thanks so much!

^^^^ I meant line her cage TRAY with them..not her cage.

Last edited by FLKeysGlider; 08/26/04 07:32 PM.
Re: Safe ways to get rid of ants? [Re: ] #25721
08/27/04 12:09 AM
08/27/04 12:09 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



salt works like a charm because they wont walk on it because it cut their feet just make a circle on the ground around the cage and your gliders cage will be ant free.

Re: Safe ways to get rid of ants? [Re: ] #25722
08/27/04 09:20 AM
08/27/04 09:20 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Im also a south florida person and ants can be a problem every once in a while specially after some big rains.... We used vasoline. We wiped a ring of vasoline around the legs to the cage and the ants couldnt or would go over it... You just have to make sure the fur-butts dont lick it up .... We caught our suggies licking the vasoline (they're cute, but not the brightest creatures) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shakehead.gif" alt="" /> . Hope this helps


Frank

Re: Safe ways to get rid of ants? [Re: ] #25723
08/27/04 09:57 AM
08/27/04 09:57 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



All of these are good suggestions.

I would suggest going to an organic supermarket if you have one nearby. They often have non-toxic bug sprays and ant traps that won't harm your suggie. I got some great organic air freshener from my organic supermarket. It's safe to spray right by Emmit's cage.

Re: Safe ways to get rid of ants? [Re: ] #25724
08/27/04 11:16 AM
08/27/04 11:16 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Hmm... not sure about scented or unscented... I think Wanda just uses regular Bounce sheets... I'll ask her though <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I would put them not in the tray, but under the cage on the floor. It might take most of a box to cover the whole floor down there.

Re: Safe ways to get rid of ants? [Re: ] #25725
08/27/04 11:26 AM
08/27/04 11:26 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Wow, dryer sheets, really??? We have just been putting the cage legs in water, but latley the ants have outsmarted us. ..
--Kat

Re: Safe ways to get rid of ants? [Re: ] #25726
08/27/04 12:10 PM
08/27/04 12:10 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



I was using the water technique--putting the cage legs in bowls of water but after 3 months the ants found a way around <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worried2.gif" alt="" />.

I've tried the dryer sheets and it work wonders. Don't use them anymore because their scent is too strong for me and I suffer from allergies. Also, some of those nasty ants don't mind walking on the dryer sheets..so you'll need to change them periodically.

Some natural pesticides for ants:
  • sprinkle talcum powder in the area of entry
  • lemon juice and peelings
  • damp coffee grounds
  • chalk
  • vinegar
  • cayenne pepper
  • citric extracts
  • cinnamon
  • bone meal
  • apple cider vinegar


You can try with the different natural options but some of them are just repellents and will not kill them.


You can use a mixture of boric acid as a last resort but this is toxic to pets.
cornmeal - my grandmother used it; sprinkle around the area and ants will take it back to their nest. When they drink water it will react with the cornmeal and enlarge their tummy killing the ant <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ohwell.gif" alt="" />

Good Luck!

Re: Safe ways to get rid of ants? [Re: ] #25727
08/27/04 01:57 PM
08/27/04 01:57 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



THNX!!! (Did you try unscented??)

Re: Safe ways to get rid of ants? [Re: ] #25728
08/30/04 12:52 AM
08/30/04 12:52 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Back again...wow, I thank all of you for the suggestions! I'm trying my best to keep them away and tomorrow will sift through all of the wonderful ideas and experiment around. I've spent the majority of my night battling the flying ants that insist on coming in through a tiny hole in the corner of my window frame. I have wasted an entire paper towel roll on killing them (I have no choice)...and tomorrow will head out to some store in town, any I can find, that may have organic insect spray. I mainly need the spray for the window problem, as I'm having a hard time sleeping b/c I want to stay up and make sure no more come into my room. Unfortunately, I have a lot of trees outside my window and it's been rainy on and off lately so they are on a rampage. Thanks again, everyone, I appreciate your help! (Kayla does, too, she's running in her wheel right now not paying any mind to the sugar ants who want her BML!)

Re: Safe ways to get rid of ants? [Re: ] #25729
08/30/04 01:50 AM
08/30/04 01:50 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



The best way and natural way to get rid of ANY ant problem is to use cornmeal. Find out where they are coming in and sprinkle the cornmeal on that area and they will all die even the hive. I believe it works on Fire Ants too. Ants are after all ants. They cannot digest the cornmeal swells too fast in their system and the worker ants carry it to the hive where the rest consume it and they all die. So try it let me know.

Arklady

Re: Safe ways to get rid of ants? [Re: ] #25730
08/30/04 05:26 AM
08/30/04 05:26 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" /> [:"magenta"] hi kelly! yes, try the cornmeal. i want to find out whether they make any noise when they pop. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif" alt="" /> do you suppose they sound like corn popping? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />[/]

Re: Safe ways to get rid of ants? [Re: ] #25731
09/08/04 09:29 PM
09/08/04 09:29 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,532
Andover, Ohio
petsugargliders Offline
Glider Slave
petsugargliders  Offline
Glider Slave

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,532
Andover, Ohio
Wow...Those are some great suggestions...I think I am going to try the dryer sheets tomorrow...we get ants really bad two times a year...I really hope that one of these natural ways will work for us!! Thanks everyone!


Jennifer Chandler
Owned by sugar gliders for over 14 years
Pet Sugar Gliders
Re: Safe ways to get rid of ants? [Re: ] #25732
09/09/04 07:52 PM
09/09/04 07:52 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,697
Phoenix, AZ
SugarBaby22 Offline
Serious Glideritis
SugarBaby22  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,697
Phoenix, AZ
I agree! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yelclap.gif" alt="" /> Thanks for the great natural ways!!! I get ants every summer, never really on the glider cages but they like to come creeping into windows and other places in the house, ants are just <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" /> !


Linda

Moderated by  Feather, KarenE, Ladymagyver 

Sugar Glider Help Page



Please click above to see how you can help!!

Moon
CURRENT MOON
Who's Online Now
0 registered members (), 388 guests, and 86 spiders.
Key: , , Owner, Admin
Newest Members
Mellefrl, klowvrrr, gracefulguardian, KiyokoTheDoll, Hazelneko
7324 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums132
Topics10,374
Posts159,160
posts in the last 24hrs0
Members7,324
Most Online2,693
Jan 2nd, 2020
Last 10 New Topics
Logging in Problem
by Anonymous. 03/24/24 11:43 AM
Gliders of the Round Table 10
by Hutch. 03/07/24 10:50 PM
Cloaca swollen?
by Mellefrl. 03/04/24 02:39 PM
2024 Sugar Glider Calendar and Cafe Press Store
by theresaw. 08/15/23 02:37 PM
Stewie:" It's MY Mouse!"
by Ladymagyver. 05/25/21 09:57 AM
Gliders of the Round Table 9
by Hutch. 02/12/19 11:35 PM
Custom Cage Liners Machine Wash & Dry
by gr8pots. 06/03/14 10:25 AM
Popular Topics(Views)
849,555 TEXAS
679,070 OHIO
487,141 OKLAHOMA
432,147 UTAH
321,667 NORTH CAROLINA
Supported Browser
This site was tested and is best viewed in Google Chrome & Mozilla FireFox



Firefox 3

Download your copy today!!!
Home Forums Links Sitemap Vets Breeders Sounds Contact Us Names Rules & Policies

GliderCENTRAL
©1998-2024
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software
(Release build 20180918)
Page Time: 0.039s Queries: 14 (0.013s) Memory: 1.3508 MB (Peak: 1.5923 MB) Zlib enabled. Server Time: 2024-03-28 12:54:09 UTC