Ants and a well meaning husband

[TribbleWhisperer]

*this is whining and waiting for potential fallout, what's done is done sadly, hopefully it's not terrible*

Slept in today which was glorious, but when I walked into the living room I could smell bug spray and had a panic attack. My husband said ants had gotten into the G. pulchra enclosure, so he moved all the Ts out of the room and sprayed. He didn't want to wake me up because I've been working like crazy, can't be mad at that! I'm trying to get my oldest through college with little to no debt so it's been a rat race.

He knows now not to do that but I'm not freaking out. Well, im freaking out but just internally lol. I bought some Fluon to put on the outside of the enclosures as it's supposed to stop ants from being able to climb but it won't be here until Tuesday. Getting bait traps later today.

Pulchra enclosure got dumped and cleaned out. New substrate but I need to get new decor today, currently just cork to hide under. The other 2 Ts moved out before spraying are a P. irminia and C. versicolor sling, both pre molt. I really hope they'll be okay. Would damage from spraying be immediately apparent or something that happens over the next few days?

Wish me luck, say a prayer, light a candle I can use all the good vibes!

 

[cold blood]

in the future, keep some food grade diatomatious earth around.....you can simply sprinkle some around the enclosures to keep the ants away (and kill them) without using any dangerous pesticides.

Its so disappointing in our society where the earth's health is always stressed, yet most people jump right to pesticides and spray them with reckless abandon at the drop of a hat.

 

[TribbleWhisperer]

I do have some of that! I use it in our flower beds and used it around the ferret cages because their food would attract fire ants. They were on a rug though so I knew it would stay where it was placed. Do you just do a border around the enclosures? These slings are going to be under heavy ant guard if they make it!

I hear you on the sprays. I'm doing the most here to avoid them and the one time I'm not present ><

 

[cold blood]

You can sprinkle some around the enclosures and at the base of the .....table... or whatever they are sitting on.

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

in the future, keep some food grade diatomatious earth around.....you can simply sprinkle some around the enclosures to keep the ants away (and kill them) without using any dangerous pesticides.

Its so disappointing in our society where the earth's health is always stressed, yet most people jump right to pesticides and spray them with reckless abandon at the drop of a hat.

I would like to know more on your reasoning on how using diatomaceous earth around tarantula enclosures is less dangerous than the use of chemical pesticides. To me it is just as dangerous, if not more so, because diatomaceous earth is a powder and can easily travel. With liquid chemical pesticides, except in aerosol form, the location of the pesticide is better controlled and due to its slight viscosity doesn't travel unless you are walking around in it before it dries. I have plenty of experience with using chemical pesticides in my home, both aerosols from the grocery store and professionally applied by a pest management company, and never had any concerns because my tarantula collection and their supplies are in a different room with closed door. I would never use the stuff in the same room as my collection of course, but I would also never use diatomaceous earth in my spider room either.

When applied, does diatomaceous earth stay where you put it?
How do you prevent the dust from being kicked up in the air when walking around the room, moving enclosures around, or even when the air conditioning kicks on?

 

[cold blood]

When applied, does diatomaceous earth stay where you put it?

yes

How do you prevent the dust from being kicked up in the air when walking around the room, moving enclosures around, or even when the air conditioning kicks on?

Its too dense, it doesnt get blown around....now if you blew on it hard it would, but its not getting blown around because your AC or heat turned on. JME

For it to be a danger to the t, you would literally need to put it inside the t enclosure.

 

[l4nsky]

Its so disappointing in our society where the earth's health is always stressed, yet most people jump right to pesticides and spray them with reckless abandon at the drop of a hat.

Path of least resistance I'm afraid. When I had an ant issue last spring, it was VERY tempting to just throw a few Terro Liquid ant baits out and be done with it, but a cursory search here revealed a thread on the strain on native species of ants from invasives and without being adept enough to ID the species, I opted to atleast try a non-pesticide method first which thankfully worked.

Nowadays, I'm a big proponent of an ounce of prevention over a pound of cure for pests like ants. All my tarantulas are on metal racks and I keep several vaseline barriers on the uprights and power cords to further isolate them from any ant invaders.

 

[thedragonslapper]

I worry about ants too, though mainly in the warm months. I keep a barrier of cinnamon on the floor (I have hard wood flooring) all around the base of the shelving my Ts live on specifically for ants. Yea it looks weird but it protects my Ts without resorting to nasty, hazardous chemicals. For good measure there’s also Vaseline smeared heavily on all the legs.