Using Boric Acid to kill Ants in the Tarantula Room

[CitizenNumber9]

Hi All,

I've been having a bit of an ant problem in the room where I keep my T's. I've barely got it under control enough to keep my T's safe (I've already had a MM P. murinus get destroyed by the little terrorists ) by putting vasaline around the edges of every shelf that has tarantulas or feeders on it (repels but doesn't kill). The ant's are so bad that if a stray piece of food or even a mealworm or something falls to the floor, it is covered with ants within and hour or two. Not only that, but these are FIRE ANTS. My dilemma is obvious: what to use that will kill ants and let the T's survive?

I've been searching and read that boric acid could be my solution. I'm thinking of both mixing it with chicken food and laying it down as bait or just straight up laying it on the floor all around the edge of the room (floors are hardwood). My question is: What are the chances that this stuff will make it to my T's? I know they are low but I will be placing it directly under the shelves that they are kept on. What do you guys think?

Thanks!

 

[dredrickt]

If you've repelled them using Vaseline around all of your enclosures and shelves, its probably not all that likely. However, it is still a risk...and to be honest, one I probably wouldn't take inside my T room, but that's just me. I would spray the perimeter of the house first, but avoid door ways where people can track it in. If its possible to trace down the colony, that would be your best chance of eradicating them, though I know tracing down ant colonies can be ridiculously hard. I have seen ants crawl up from the crawl space through return ducts or up them (vents near the floor that pull air -not supply- to be recirculated). Maybe put Vaseline around your return air duct if its on or near the floor?

 

[Python]

There are ant baits that you an broadcast around your yard that will attract the ants and eventually kill the colony. They aren't likely to bring it in and, being a bait, it will attract them to the yard and away from your house. I would try that first. Granular baits can be gotten fairly inexpensively from Walmart or your local hardware store or feed store. Hope this helps. Keep us posted

 

[skippydude]

Borax used properly is the safest way to eradicate ants http://boraxantkiller.com/step-by-step-instructions/

 

[pyro fiend]

i myself use food grade diatomacious earth. i keep it outside my windows and in the cracks on the window sill [old house and nothing lines up anymore lol] typically i have a ton of "sugar ants" all over the house.. sense i started DE the only bug in the house i didnt personally bring in is an occasional moth or junebug

 

[PeaceBee]

I've used Terro ant baits with awesome results. They're inexpensive and do the trick (haven't used them on fire ants, though).

 

[Jones0911]

Hi All,

I've been having a bit of an ant problem in the room where I keep my T's. I've barely got it under control enough to keep my T's safe (I've already had a MM P. murinus get destroyed by the little terrorists ) by putting vasaline around the edges of every shelf that has tarantulas or feeders on it (repels but doesn't kill). The ant's are so bad that if a stray piece of food or even a mealworm or something falls to the floor, it is covered with ants within and hour or two. Not only that, but these are FIRE ANTS. My dilemma is obvious: what to use that will kill ants and let the T's survive?

I've been searching and read that boric acid could be my solution. I'm thinking of both mixing it with chicken food and laying it down as bait or just straight up laying it on the floor all around the edge of the room (floors are hardwood). My question is: What are the chances that this stuff will make it to my T's? I know they are low but I will be placing it directly under the shelves that they are kept on. What do you guys think?

Thanks!

I've heard if you put down uncooked grits they'll take it back to the queen it'll expend in her stomach as well as theirs and they should all die off

 

[Cavedweller]

I've used Terro ant baits with awesome results. They're inexpensive and do the trick (haven't used them on fire ants, though).

I've got Terro out right now, it's about 7' from my bugs and there's been no trouble at all.

 

[viper69]

Tero is a brand name that has boric acid in it. Diatomaceous earth ( Actually made of diatoms) kills ants by cutting them open literally. It's not a poison and is safe to humans and other large animals. It won't kill the colony etc.

Id look into borax myself.

 

[xirxes]

I've used Terro ant baits with awesome results. They're inexpensive and do the trick (haven't used them on fire ants, though).

Use these. Save the room. Nothing on this planet works faster and safer. 20+ personal experiences.

 

[CitizenNumber9]

Thanks for all of the replies! I'm tempted to use every single one of these haha.... I will have to go with the Terro and grits most likely. I was also told that cinnamon is an excellent repell-ant. (Hahah get it? ) I'll let you guys know what happens!

---------- Post added 08-18-2014 at 01:43 PM ----------

New question: Which Terro product do you recommend? Liquid bait, dust, indoor, outdoor.....so many to choose from!

 

[Python]

I sell liquid Terro but I have no idea how much it would take to kill a whole colony of fire ants. It is a bait so they will seek it out and voluntarily share it amongst the colony thus spreading the poison throughout. I don't know how well grits work. I don't think they expand enough to cause the ants to explode. Corn is a common feed in its dry form and I would think it would swell more in a goat, pig or even a duck but I sell literally tons of dried corn for feed and no one has thus far reported any animal explosions. I don't know what other effect it could possibly have. Good luck with the ants, let us know what works

 

[CitizenNumber9]

I ended up getting the granules to spread around the perimeter of the house, liquid bait to use indoors and dust for the kitchen (mostly for other pests we are having issues with. Gotta love the south!). The dust is supposed to kill on contact but isn't limited to ants so it will be used in rooms away from the T's. Everything is estimated to arrive on Wednesday, so I'll keep everyone updated on how it works. Thanks!

 

[AshleyBond]

I've heard if you put down uncooked grits they'll take it back to the queen it'll expend in her stomach as well as theirs and they should all die off

Will uncooked gritz work for roaches? That's what I'm having a problem with haha

 

[CitizenNumber9]

Will uncooked gritz work for roaches? That's what I'm having a problem with haha

That's what I bought the dust for! If it works, I'll let you know

 

[AshleyBond]

That's what I bought the dust for! If it works, I'll let you know

Awesome thanks! I live in an apartment. My bedroom doubles as my tarantula room and I'm having touble breaking the egg cycle from the roaches breeding. I'll clear them all out and withing a couple weeks they'll be back

 

[CitizenNumber9]

Awesome thanks! I live in an apartment. My bedroom doubles as my tarantula room and I'm having touble breaking the egg cycle from the roaches breeding. I'll clear them all out and withing a couple weeks they'll be back

The roaches I have are in the kitchen I don't know if I would trust the dust in the T room (also my bedroom :sarcasm: ) because it says that it is effective against spiders. Plus, since it is "kill on contact", it is probably pretty potent. However, combat gel works pretty well for roaches if you don't have too many. You put it on the base boards and stuff, they eat it, and die. I would try that before the dust