Help! Sugar ants?!

[GotButterflies]

Here is what I would do. As you are moving the sub you are going to remove the ants. The sugar ants should be on the upper layers. Leave the sub that has crabs as long as you don't see any ants moving. Be careful not to cave tunnels. Go slow.

[KayedeeLove<3]

I've already got all the stuff to do the switch tomorrow! Might as well follow through now and wait for the molters to come up from the old tank. I'm not even positive there is a molter but if there is it will be a waiting game. But I've read about bugs completely eating crabs out of their shell while molting. How far down can the ants get?

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[Rawrgeous]

I know I'm late to the party- but I got ants about a year ago. There were several hundred, but I got most of them out by scooping my first few layers of sub off. It truly depends on how bad the infestation is, and whether they have a colony established or not. Something to keep in mind: ants don't like vinegar, so spraying your window ledges/ entry ways is a good way to stop them from coming in the house. Another thing that is helpful is to put a ring of vaseline on your tank lip, as this will prevent more from getting in. Once more can't get into the tank you can get ant houses to keep in your home, and the ants won't be able to bring the poison back into the tank. I didn't end up having to excavate, I just lost my first 2 inches. There were a few stragglers but they died out after a week or so. If you can only offer dry non sweet foods for a bit I would. If there is a queen in there, then it gets slightly more complicated. But. if you are doing regular tank maintenance and you just found them, you may get away with just scooping the top layers, so you don't have to worry about your molters. Isopods wouldn't eat them, but they would be competition for stragglers since they would eat some of the extra food. I hope this helps! Good luck!

[KayedeeLove<3]

Ty rawrgeous maybe I can keep some of the bottom layers of sub after I transfer my last crab! I went and bought all new sub. I can't believe the price of sand has doubled in 1 year!

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[PinchersAndShells]

I don't know if this has already been established, but if the ants are burrowing I think a deep clean may be necessary. Make sure you look for hills before cleaning, as I have had a back ant wander in my 'tat before with no friends.
Edit - I also agree that they won't bury very far, so not a 100% deep clean, more like a 50%.

[hprmom]

Sounds like you have a handle on it. Do look for the point of entry to the house. Whenever I find ants the hubs makes me wait until he gets home so we can follow the trail and take care of it at the source! We have recurring issues with tiny red ants around our back doors (so many dead at first I thought they were piles of dirt!), and always have tiny black ones wandering the floor far from any windows or doors for no apparent reason... but none ever in the tank, so I stopped freaking out. . However, I'm. Ow going to check my food storage in the cabinet underneath and make sure it's all sealed!


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[KayedeeLove<3]

Well this is actually where I'm starting too worry!! I've got all fresh stuff and will transfer all my up crabs then take the top few layers of sub out and discard. How do I safely prevent them from coming into my fresh tank? I have loose seals at front and back door! There is no trail of ants because they live in the tank!

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[GotButterflies]

That makes me think you put something in there with them in it. I had a trail with mine. Those type of ants love bark, branches. Maybe you brought in eggs. You will be fine Kaydee, don't stress. Don't use top layers of sub. Bake all wood before putting in new tank. Rinse everything well! You got this! Have confidence


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[KayedeeLove<3]

See the only real piece of wood is cork round that I've had for over a yr. I just don't know how to prevent them from getting in the new tank. I guess a well fitting lid.

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[KayedeeLove<3]

Arsenal



I hate to do this he's so peaceful!


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[KayedeeLove<3]

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[Rawrgeous]

Well this is actually where I'm starting too worry!! I've got all fresh stuff and will transfer all my up crabs then take the top few layers of sub out and discard. How do I safely prevent them from coming into my fresh tank? I have loose seals at front and back door! There is no trail of ants because they live in the tank!

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If you have a ring of vaseline on the tank they can't climb through it.

[GotButterflies]

Well this is actually where I'm starting too worry!! I've got all fresh stuff and will transfer all my up crabs then take the top few layers of sub out and discard. How do I safely prevent them from coming into my fresh tank? I have loose seals at front and back door! There is no trail of ants because they live in the tank!

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If you have a ring of vaseline on the tank they can't climb through it.

The vaseline didn't work when I had sugar ants...

[KayedeeLove<3]

I have two 1/4 in openings at either end of my make shift lid. I'll have to do that or add some kind of seal until my glass versa top comes in! Got the new (empty) tank and stand in place! I have to say she washed up nicely! I'm very impressed with how much thicker the glass is too! I went from a 55 to 65 and the difference is crazy. Sometimes when they take the leap of Destiny from the shell shack and smack the glass i think they will crack it. Not this tank!

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[KayedeeLove<3]

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