Tortoises and fire ants

[Seaborne]

Hello--

I live in Houston and would eventually like to have some Hermann's tortoises...I'm here to learn and am in no hurry. I'd really appreciate thoughts about keeping them safely outside--can it be done in this climate? And fire ants are a huge issue here; how do I handle them effectively? TIA!

 

[Tom]

Start practicing now and find what works in your area for your ants.

I've had good success here using Amdro ant granules. I pour a little pile right on the ants entrance tunnel. They clear it within a duple hours and pull it right down into their burrow with the queen and the rest of the colony. It is fine to use it inside tortoise enclosures too, when that time comes for you, but block access to the granules, or remove the tortoise from the enclosure until the ants carry the granules away.

Check these out for current, accurate care info. Pet stores are full of misinformation and dangerous products, so use caution there.
Russian and Hermanns care is similar if not the same:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Lucky that you can deal with the ants before you have a tortoise.
I use chemicals outside and away from my pens. My tortoises no longer roam the whole yard and I use baits inside of old mayonaise jars with holes punched in the lid inside the pens. They are semi water proof and let the ants in and out without the tortoises being in any danger.
It is MUCH easier to keep them away than to get rid of them once they have established an area.

 

[Pearly]

Hi, I'm in Austin area and dealing with similar problem. I'm trying Orange Oil (diluted per label instructions) pour directly into the ant hill, and Horticultural Molasses all over and around perimeter. I've been told by an old Texan farmer that this method has been used for decades. I'm trying it out in my tortoise garden

 

[Gillian M]

Sorry, cannot help you with the issue of ants, but I can say:

A very warm welcome to the forum!

 

[Seaborne]

Thank you all! I appreciate the help.
--
Robyn