Sugar Glider Tips How to Get Rid of Ants

Due to a sugar glider’s diet, it is not uncommon for you to have a problem with ants once in a while.  You definitely NEVER want to use any type of harmful chemical to get rid of them as you don’t want to risk the sugar gliders inadvertently ingesting any.

I actually had a "nest" of ants living inside the framework of one of my cages.  They started out by just visiting the cages at first but after awhile they settled in to stay.

Here's what I did to get rid of them:
1. if able take the cages outside and hose them down. make sure you squirt water into any little holes in the framework and let it fill up so the ants/eggs will be washed out. let the cage dry thoroughly in the hot sun.  As the cage heats up from the sun any ants will leave and bring larva/eggs with them.

2. once back inside be sure to always vacuum under your cages well and keep the cage immaculate. Be sure to clean the trays under the cages every day or every other day, if there is no food source they will go away. Unfortunately the food dishes will attract them so hopefully step #4 will help with that. It seemed to help in my house.

3. if ants are crawling up from the floor get fly paper and wrap a small piece around each leg (obviously outside the cage down on the legs where gliders can not get stuck in it) but the ants will get stuck on it.  Some have recommended using dryer sheets under the legs as a deterrent, but that didn’t stop them in my house!  I also need to caution you!  You need to be very careful with the fly paper and make sure the gliders NEVER come into contact with it.  I needed to use it for only a short time till the ants were gone, then I removed it.  If the sugar gliders get caught in it, it will be very disastrous!!!

4. sprinkle lemon grass and dried euc leaves in the bottom of the tray of the cage. The ants dont seem to like it much and it helps to deter them.  Plus it makes the cages smell nice!  You can find them by clicking here for lemon grass and here for eucalyptus.

Once I did all this I havent had a problem with them coming back!

Hope this helps.   To read an article I wrote about an organic method to rid your house of fleas, check this out "Organic Flea Control"

Sugar Glider Tips How to Get Rid of Ants Article added 5-12-10