ANT ATTACK

[vberonics]

Today i took my 3 year old sulcata outside and a couple minutes later hes rubbing his arm against his face and as i take a closer look there are ants on his arm and neck, but most importantly his EYES. It was as if they were stuck on there and i did get them off in about 30 seconds but im not sure if he got hurt or not. There was two on each eye. some hard to get off and others easy rub. Heres a picture of his eyes 10 minutes later. (The red is NOT blood it’s strawberry residue haha) Just wanna make sure my baby is OKAY!!

 

[vberonics]

Today i took my 3 year old sulcata outside and a couple minutes later hes rubbing his arm against his face and as i take a closer look there are ants on his arm and neck, but most importantly his EYES. It was as if they were stuck on there and i did get them off in about 30 seconds but im not sure if he got hurt or not. There was two on each eye. some hard to get off and others easy rub. Heres a picture of his eyes 10 minutes later. (The red is NOT blood it’s strawberry residue haha) Just wanna make sure my baby is OKAY!!View attachment 358527

by the way as of right now he seems to be acting the same as usual. No changes in the way he walks or sees because i fed him the strawberry and he seemed to pick it up good.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

It's been my experience in the past that it was the tortoise food that attracted the ants in the first place.
Hay and greens won't attract them.
Strawberries will.
My battle with ants (fire ants) was a long one. But they're gone. And I work hard to not allow them to return. One of those ways is to not leave out anything that ants would like to eat.
I'm not sure if your issue was the strawberry. And Sulcata should not be eating them anyway.
It's just a theory

 

[wellington]

I don't know that regular ants are a problem but fire ants sure can be.
Using food grade diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of the tortoise enclosure should have to rid them. You can also use it in areas the tortoise can't get to it. It won't hurt him if he does, but you should do your best for that not to happen.

 

[vberonics]

It's been my experience in the past that it was the tortoise food that attracted the ants in the first place.
Hay and greens won't attract them.
Strawberries will.
My battle with ants (fire ants) was a long one. But they're gone. And I work hard to not allow them to return. One of those ways is to not leave out anything that ants would like to eat.
I'm not sure if your issue was the strawberry. And Sulcata should not be eating them anyway.
It's just a theory

i think he just accidentally walked into a new mountain because i gave him the strawberry after the incident, the strawberry wasnt near him or outside and this is the first time that ive had an ant situation with him and hopefully the last, THANK YOU for your feedback and can you please tell me more on how they’re not supposed to eat strawberries?? i had no idea is it bad?

 

[vberonics]

I don't know that regular ants are a problem but fire ants sure can be.
Using food grade diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of the tortoise enclosure should have to rid them. You can also use it in areas the tortoise can't get to it. It won't hurt him if he does, but you should do your best for that not to happen.

thank you i will look into that

 

[ZEROPILOT]

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Sulcata, like many other tortoises, are not able to digest fruit or to process sugar.
It's a common mistake.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

i think he just accidentally walked into a new mountain because i gave him the strawberry after the incident, the strawberry wasnt near him or outside and this is the first time that ive had an ant situation with him and hopefully the last, THANK YOU for your feedback and can you please tell me more on how they’re not supposed to eat strawberries?? i had no idea is it bad?

Are they biting/stinging ants?
Fire ants?
They'll need to be addressed if so.

 

[vberonics]

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

Sulcata, like many other tortoises, are not able to digest fruit or to process sugar.
It's a common mistake.

thank you!! will he be okay in the long run??

 

[ZEROPILOT]

thank you!! will he be okay in the long run??

From the bites? Yes.
But Fire ants can easily kill a tortoise if they can't escape.
They'd need to be removed.

 

[wellington]

thank you!! will he be okay in the long run??

From the strawberry yes, he should be, just don't give any more fruit. If fed consistently then possibly not.

 

[vberonics]

Are they biting/stinging ants?
Fire ants?
They'll need to be addressed if so.

i do know that they weren’t fire ants FOR SURE. but in regards to biting? i honestly have no idea i tried to get some on my finger to see but nothing.

 

[vberonics]

From the strawberry yes, he should be, just don't give any more fruit. If fed consistently then possibly not.

okay thank you i rarely give him strawberries

 

[ZEROPILOT]

i do know that they weren’t fire ants FOR SURE. but in regards to biting? i honestly have no idea i tried to get some on my finger to see but nothing.

Ok
That's very good news!

 

[Sarah2020]

I avoid anything sweet in the diet but particularly in the outside food bowl to avoid ants going all over the food. Clean and green and nothing sweet is the best approach.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I avoid anything sweet in the diet but particularly in the outside food bowl to avoid ants going all over the food. Clean and green and nothing sweet is the best approach.

Unfortunately REDFOOT eat at least 30% fruit
And much higher amounts in the summertime

 

[Sarah2020]

Unfortunately REDFOOT eat at least 30% fruit
And much higher amounts in the summertime

OK that explains the Fruit addition . As ants like sugar I guess it has to be in shallow water.

 

[vberonics]

I avoid anything sweet in the diet but particularly in the outside food bowl to avoid ants going all over the food. Clean and green and nothing sweet is the best approach.

thank you!!