Spraying for pests...

[h3h]

So I have one of those big name companies coming to spray for pests next week. I've just seen a few sugar ants running around here. I want to get the whole, or almost the whole house treated...So the question is what should I do with my snakes? I'm sure the pesticides can't be good for the snakes. They are in a rack system. I was thinking about moving the rack into the bathroom for 24-48hours, and not having them spray in there. Do I need to do this, or does anyone have a better idea?

- h3

[mark24]

I would put em in the bathroom or in your room (if you have room)

[Rogue628]

Do you have anyone who could possibly house them for a couple of days? That would be best. Last year I had a friend who bombed his place for ants and fleas and I kept all his animals (including his cats) for a couple of days for him. We decided it wasn't worth the possible risks to his snakes.

[h3h]

I don't have anyone who lives close enough that would watch my snakes...Even though there is no way they could get out of their enclosures. As I'm sure we all know there is no middle ground with snakes, either you love them or you hate them for the most part. Wish I could find more Herpers in my area.

- h3

[shaunyboy]

Do you have anyone who could possibly house them for a couple of days? That would be best. Last year I had a friend who bombed his place for ants and fleas and I kept all his animals (including his cats) for a couple of days for him. We decided it wasn't worth the possible risks to his snakes.

^^^^^
this if possible

snakes can be very sensitive to chemicals

i've heard of cases where even a certain type of air freshenerm,can cause neurological issues,even death

for peace of mind i would ask a friend to look after your reptiles,until the house is clear of fumes

cheers shaun

[Wildside]

Cancel the big name company and go buy some glue traps instead. It's almost fall the ants will march out soon enough.

[h3h]

Well, the only chance I'd have of moving the snakes is maybe to my sisters house, and she doesn't have a lot of room. If she would even go for it (and I doubt it) the best she'd probably let me do is bring over the tubs and put the tops on, stack them in a corner, no heating element....

I do live in SWFL so the ambient air would probably sustain them, but I am too nervous to remove the heat for days at a time...I appreciate the responses, but I might just go with what Wildside has suggested...Wait it out a couple months, and see what happens...But again I live in Florida and when it rains it pours, and the ants seek cover. When it is cold (Florida cold that is) they seek cover. And that cover is in my home. :no:

So my concern is that by not doing anything now, I will be exacerbating the situation. This morning I found 2-3 of them in my Balls cage. So now I'm on an even higher alert...These sugar ants cannot cause any harm to a snake, at least without significant numbers, right?

Wildside you said to buy glue traps, but that wont actually solve the problem just keep the problem quarantine from the snakes/wherever I put them. No?

Does anyone know of a solution I could spray not harmful to
the snakes? Vinegar and water or something?? I really appreciate your responses.

- h3

[Lankyrob]

If you can find the nest we use a full kettle of boiling water poured into the centre of the nest - this usually kills the quueen and any survivors will move to a different nest hopefully further from thehouse.

[Aanayab1]

I had pest issues when I first moved in my current home. I care for Dart/arrow frogs, saltwater fish and a moray eel, cats, a dog and my nieces(crazy little monkeys)... So chemically treating my house was in no way, shape or form a possibility. Search the web for natural pest control and you will be amazed at what works. I use chewing tobacco(full pouch) soaked in a 5 gal bucket of water, then use a garden chemical sprayer thing that attaches to my water hose and spray my yard 2x's a week. It kills fleas, ticks and ants. I also re-caulked my windows and doors. Put weather stripping in gaps of doors and windows. Try to follow where the ants are coming in and caulk the hole(s), then any other possible places you can find. Make it a monthly or bi-weekly chore to pullout your stove, dishwasher and fridge to clean. You will be surprised at how many crumbs and scraps you find each time, I've been doing it the last year and I still don't know how it all gets there... Caulking along baseboards and cabinets will help as well. I can not remember the exact mix but cooking rice in honey water then leaving to dry worked on my ants some how; I read it some where online and when the dried rice is expanded by the moisture in the ants it kills them. Just be persistent with your effort and online search and you will find ways to stop the pests.

Antonio

[h3h]

I use chewing tobacco(full pouch) soaked in a 5 gal bucket of water, then use a garden chemical sprayer thing that attaches to my water hose and spray my yard 2x's a week. It kills fleas, ticks and ants.

Antonio

Really? Does the water turn brown? Could this be used inside a house without staining or causing an acrid smell?

- h3

[Aanayab1]

Yea it works well. The water does turn dark nasty brown though. I would assume it would stain but I can not say I've ever got it on me without it being diluted when sprayed from hose. It does seem to wash out of my work jeans I wear but that is not the full strength stuff. It smells bad after about a week but until then it just kinda smells of weird pipe tobacco.

Antonio

[lalanz]

Diatomaceous earth aka d.e. (food grade) will work. You can sprinkle it in your house , grass, and even on your dogs and cats to kill fleas.It kills anything with an exoskeleton. I don't know about it being harmful to reptiles , but its fossilized phytoplankton, if it doesn't harm mammals I wouldnt imagine so. Double check to be sure, just be careful cos d.e. can bother your lungs. You can contact a pool store or Walmart and ask more about it, our pool store guy told us, and no more fleas :) and less spiders :)
Good luck!

[h3h]

Thanks for your suggestion, I did some research on this stuff, and it seems about 50/50 on whether people concur on its effectiveness. At this time my pest control is at a stand still, but I may look farther into this product. If I decide to try it I will re-bump this thread to describe it's effectiveness in my situation. Thanks again.

- h3