a couple of ants.......

[Killjoy]

I have noticed a couple of ants running around inside my chameleons enclosure. i spot one every once and a while. there are not running rampid but they say where you see one there are many. This might be a stupid question considering these guys encounter many insects in the wild but can these ants cause any real issues that i should look out for?? how can i get rid of them. I live in long island and ants are a big pain in the a*s this time of the year. I clean out the cage VERY often and it is always kept immaculate so its not for lack of cleaning. I can only assume there are attracted to the live plants???? little advise please...............

 

[Texas Panther Man]

If they are the small black sugar ants i wouldnt be too worried. Just make sure you get all the poo and dead feeders out of his cage. That is what they are attracted to. If its fire ants thats a whole different story. Then its time to break down everything clean everything well and find where they are entering the house and cage. Take all reptiles out of the vicnity and exterminate. Let the fumes clear and set everything back up again. I know its a pain but fire ants can kill a cham.

 

[Elizadolots]

I recently had a bunch of ants get to the cages. I think they were after the water.

I think you should always try to find out where they are getting into your house and stop them at that point. If they're just the little black ants, then clean up as many as you can, then keep an eye on it and clean as you see them. Eventually, they'll be gone.

 

[Killjoy]

they are the little black ones. no fire ants by where i am. I have been battling the ant issue every summer for the last three years. i have tried everything to get rid of them. nothing works. they still come back every friggin summer. ugh so frustrating!!! but i am glad to hear they wont affect him too badly
thanks

 

[Cainschams]

If they are the small black sugar ants i wouldnt be too worried. Just make sure you get all the poo and dead feeders out of his cage. That is what they are attracted to. If its fire ants thats a whole different story. Then its time to break down everything clean everything well and find where they are entering the house and cage. Take all reptiles out of the vicnity and exterminate. Let the fumes clear and set everything back up again. I know its a pain but fire ants can kill a cham.

I agree if they are the small black ants its not a huge issue as long as there are not a ton in there. As TPM said, just keep the cage well cleaned they are after any "left overs". If they are the big army ants I would be worried. I have had those wipe out thousands of crickets in one night. Its a bummer when you order a ton and wake up in the morning to find just a few army ants taking what is left

You can always get the traps where the ants take what is inside back to the colony and kills them all off. I have not noticed any of my chameleons eat ants so I think you are safe there. At least I have been

 

[Killjoy]

thanks, i think they are harmless. i have to really watch the enclosure for about an hour before i find one. They are the real little black ones. i applied the ant traps throughout the house and yard again. hopefully they will stop getting in. "Ikran" doesnt pay them any attention, im not even sure he can see them cause they are so little. hes into bigger food items. thanks all

 

[DGray]

ants farm aphids

Also beware of ants on your live plants: they can be transporters of pests like aphids, scale, and mealybugs. They "farm" the insects and move them to new "pastures" on your plants.

Insecticidal soap is handy for vaporizing the hoards safely.

 

[mschultz]

Will this harm the Chameleon? I have a serious and issue. The ants come right through my windows!

 

[Wowbango]

Will this harm the Chameleon? I have a serious and issue. The ants come right through my windows!

I have been fighting ants over the past two weeks. It's such a pain. My superworm bin got infested and I had to toss them all as the ants started eating them. I have a few in my enclosure, but I just get rid of them as I see them and it slowly goes away. I also just ran my mistking for about 7 minutes, and it effectively drowned a lot of them, and gave Nigel a good shower too