Are black ants harmful???

[Anastasia 22]

Hello dear forum pals!
I guess several of coco coir bricks contained ants eggs (or ants). I changed the substrate two days ago, and today three rooms were full of black ants. I removed my tortoises and disinfect their enclosures. I soaked my guys to make sure they don't have anything on them.
My concern is if black ants could do any harm if they bit my babies....

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello dear forum pals!
I guess several of coco coir bricks contained ants eggs (or ants). I changed the substrate two days ago, and today three rooms were full of black ants. I removed my tortoises and disinfect their enclosures. I soaked my guys to make sure they don't have anything on them.
My concern is if black ants could do any harm if they bit my babies....

I guess any ants can do harm when swarm over the target. Black ants aren't especially aggressive unless you disturb the nest.

I doubt that eggs or live ants are from coir bricks (eggs need specific humidity, temperatures and etc. to stay alive). And when rehydrating bricks you definitely should have spotted them.

I have seen how some black ants just decide to build a new colony in the new place - thousands of them just go in a straight line from outside to a crack in the wall. Perhaps, that's what you see. Try to find their entrypoint (e.g. corner, window frame etc.).

 

[Anastasia 22]

Thank you, Alex!

 

[Maggie3fan]

I also had a problem with ants in the reptiles water and the birds water. So I bought a big bag of diatomaceous earth...the food grade, not commercial. In less than a month all the ants are gone. It's not harmful to pets wildlife or us. I put a small amount on the rug around the legs of the table holding the animals...anyway...I'm not writing too well these daze (sp) but I can say I use diatomaceous for a lot of things. I was given a kitten who evidently was covered in fleas and soon my house, the rugs, all 3 cats and me had bad fleas...it got rid of the fleas too. Frankly, I highly recommend it.
I also put a line of it all around my house...no ants, fleas or bugs in my house now...

 

[Anastasia 22]

Thank you, Maggie!
I will definitely take your advice!

 

[Anastasia 22]

I guess any ants can do harm when swarm over the target. Black ants aren't especially aggressive unless you disturb the nest.

I doubt that eggs or live ants are from coir bricks (eggs need specific humidity, temperatures and etc. to stay alive). And when rehydrating bricks you definitely should have spotted them.

I have seen how some black ants just decide to build a new colony in the new place - thousands of them just go in a straight line from outside to a crack in the wall. Perhaps, that's what you see. Try to find their entrypoint (e.g. corner, window frame etc.).

Probably it was soil in flower pots.... It could be a coincidence, that's why I thought it was coco coir. I threw everything that could be ant infested and this morning I didn't notice any ants. Hopefully they will not come back...