Q: Pests

Answered by RischaLeClair on 4/24/2004, 2:32 pm

A: Pests

Hi Splitch,

Some people that have this problem have had success with putting their cage legs or food bowls in a very shallow bowl of plain water. Like a mote, so the ants can't get to the food. Another solution is to put a lamp near the cage and put a small bowl of soapy water under the light. The ants will be drawn to the light and die in the soapy water. (Just make sure the lamp's not too bright for the gliders' nocturnal eyes) Also, I've heard that grits can be sprinkled where there are ant problems and the ants will eat them and die. That sounds like a good solution to me, but I've never had this problem, so I can't say for sure. Other than that, the only solution I can think of that would be safe for the gliders is to spray around the windows and doors outside of your house.

I hope this helps. Good luck. :-)

-Rischa

> Wow, that's a tough one. What you are describing are Sugar
> Ants and I just have no idea. Let me do some research and I
> will try and find you an answer.
>
> > I have owned a pair of male sugar gliders for less than a
> > week, and I have run into a problem. I live in a rather
> old
> > house, where bugs can get in just about anywhere. We have
> > had problems with ants in the past, but got them under
> > control. Well the ants are back, drawn by the fruit, and
> > leadbeaters mix I leave out at night. They are small
> ants,
> > not even cable of biting a person as far as I can tell,
> but
> > their presence still worries me. My gliders seem to enjoy
> > licking them off of their bowls. And they don't flinch or
> > act like they're getting bit. Should I seek a way to get
> rid
> > of the ants? Or can the gliders handle them? If I do need
> to
> > get rid of them, how should I go about it? I haven't used
> > any pesticides since I've lived here so I doubt they are
> > contaminated. Any help would be wonderful.
> >
> > Thanks from a worried owner.
> >
>