Bug Bombing

[Thomas_Hung]

I tried the search, but found nothing... so, Is it safe to bug bomb my house with my fish in it?

[jenBLKAROWANA]

Abosolutley not! Do not do this your self...Try calling an exterminator, they have products that are safe...I have had my house sprayed for carpenter ants, and the fish were fine...He did however, not spray in the room with the fish, just to take a precautionary measures, but he did spray the rest of the house...I would get expert advise first!

Jen

[Thomas_Hung]

Abosolutley not! Do not do this your self...Try calling an exterminator, they have products that are safe...I have had my house sprayed for carpenter ants, and the fish were fine...He did however, not spray in the room with the fish, just to take a precautionary measures, but he did spray the rest of the house...I would get expert advise first!

Jen


Well we have a pretty big spider problem, and I have fish tanks in nearly every room of the house! I have been looking around at other forums and have heard people using plastic bags or blankets to cover the tanks to protect their fish with no problems...

[repair]

when I was a kid my dad used a bug bomb and I lost all but my pleco. I agreee that a pro is the way to go but if you decide to do it your self cover the tank with plastic and shut off ALL filters and air pumps. I would shut the door to the rooms with fish in them and use a base board spray in those rooms.

You could also call the numbers on the back of the products and ask about use with fish.

I just want to say if you can afford the pro it's worth it..... if the bugs don't go away they come back for little or no extra money.

[repair]

I think spiders can be delt with by using a liquid spay that would only go where you sprayed it.

try calling these people. http://www.ortho.com/

[Thomas_Hung]

I think spiders can be delt with by using a liquid spay that would only go where you sprayed it.

try calling these people. http://www.ortho.com/


I just want these bastards dead, I was already scared to death of spiders before moving here but now I have to deal with these crazy Hobo ****ers.... :WHOA:

I have killed so many of these things that its making me paranoid to sleep in this house!!

[Thomas_Hung]

I've heard about using sticky traps like fly paper for catching these things, has anybody ever tried these? As this could be a safer alternative for my fish than bombing the place.

[guppy]

I have never used the strips. A pyritheum based oil spry on all floor seams, wall joins , plumbing and power in entrances and window/door openings should help a lot, it is fairly safe for vertebrates and is not an aresol, Camphor moth balls in all dark spots will also help.

[Springtyme]

Whoa whoa whoa.... hold up

I worked for an exterminator for 2 years so lemme give you the scoop and skinny...

Spiders are a B!TCH to get rid of. In order for any type of chemical to work on spiders it needs to get on their body, not just their legs. The chemical will NOT magically seep up their legs and into their bloodstream and kill them. Nor are they like roaches where they are always in groups and one will take it back to the nest and kill all the others off.

No, my friend, you are pretty much up the creek without a paddle...

However, here is what you can do if you absolutely INSIST on bombing or treating with any type of aerosol product:

1 - Make sure ALL your filters on ALL your fish tanks are off (not just the ones in whatever room you are treating) and make sure you cover the tank with plastic so that NOTHING can get through. Do **NOT** use a blanket, as it's still porous. Yes, plastic is porous too but not NEARLY as much as a blanket.

2 - Treat immediately after the prepping of the tanks

3 - Do **NOT** uncover or turn on the filters to any of your tanks until at LEAST 20 minutes has passed and all chemical has settled.

Of course common sense comes into play here.
- Make sure your apartment/house is well ventilated
- By ventilated I mean doors/windows open and fans *IN* the doors or windows
- Don't have a fan in the middle of the room. It could potentially blow chemical under the plastic covering your tank(s)

**I am not bound in any legal way shape or form if something should go wrong. No suing me for giving you information. This is my disclaimer. That is all**

[Springtyme]

Maybe I should also add to the common sense list... when you do uncover the plastic from your tanks, again, make sure the fans are NOT blowing on you/the tank(s) and becareful how you pull the plastic off so you don't accidentlly get some in/on any of your tank or equipment. Aerosols can turn into a liquid if gathered in one area so just becareful. If you have any questions, send me a PM and I can refer you to someone who can hopefully give ya at least a break on price (for a professional)...

[guppy]

I agree with using a professional, spiders are a pain, esp. wandering ones like hobos because they don,t hang around in one spot. The pyritheum and camphor don,t kill spiders unless you spray it on them or bounce a moth ball off their heads but they do seem to avoid both. It has been awhile but I was our disease vector control officer for Camp Edwards korea in 1981 so I ended up doing a lot of pest control, mainly rats and roaches though.

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

I think several guys/gals are right : You should cover your tank. I suggest a tarp and duct tape. Or a tarp large enough to reach the floor. How tight you need to seal it also depends on if you have a covered tank or if your tank is open.

I also think several guys/gals here are paranoid . Turning off the filters is unnecessary and only puts your fish at risk. Regardless of the filter type, it just circulates your water. That has nothing to do with ambient air. Bubblers are a different story: Turn them off. Since you will cover your tank with a tarp, the movement of the water surface does not have any effect on insectizide deposit.

I have tried glue traps successfully. Especially Brown Recluse will pile up on them, since they prey on their own kind. There are also special insecticides on the market for scorpions and spiders. Use those if spiders are your only problem.

Happy fishkeeping,

HarleyK

[Springtyme]

Harley,

Paranoid about aerosol getting into your filter and into your water? Are you trying to tell me that no air from the outside world touches the water that goes into and out of your filter? I think not. If you didn't read it the first time I said it, I worked for a MAJOR pest control company for 2 years. Turning off your filters were the instructions DIRECLTY from the manufacturer of the products. They dont want to be responsible for killing off someone's $5000 saltwater tank and I can't say I blame them.

If you don't believe me, call your local major pest control company, say you have a problem with spiders and ask them about preperation for your fish tanks. let me know what they say, cause honestly, I'm curious if anyone else does it besides us.

[repair]

Howdy,

I think several guys/gals are right : You should cover your tank. I suggest a tarp and duct tape. Or a tarp large enough to reach the floor. How tight you need to seal it also depends on if you have a covered tank or if your tank is open.

I also think several guys/gals here are paranoid . Turning off the filters is unnecessary and only puts your fish at risk. Regardless of the filter type, it just circulates your water. That has nothing to do with ambient air. Bubblers are a different story: Turn them off. Since you will cover your tank with a tarp, the movement of the water surface does not have any effect on insectizide deposit.

I have tried glue traps successfully. Especially Brown Recluse will pile up on them, since they prey on their own kind. There are also special insecticides on the market for scorpions and spiders. Use those if spiders are your only problem.

Happy fishkeeping,

HarleyK

Think about this...what do your over the back filters do? they put massive amounts of your water in touch with the air so you can reoxigenate it.... if you leave them running it will put the posion in the air into your tank...... think about it...if this was not true you could stay in the house while they were spraying.

Better to be safe than sorry....... remember....... "sorry don't put thumbs back on"- Homer simpson

[craig]

Get a couple of tokay geckos from the local pet store.Let them go in one room at a time.There shouldn't be many spiders left.Also you should try and find out where the spiders are coming from. Then kill the source,and try to prevent them from getting in your house.

[repair]

maybe they live by the Harry Potter forest :ROFL:

[darkemotion]

don't use that ortho stuff I bought 2 bottles of home defense max and sprayed it near my outdoor trash cans and indoor but I still see flies and spiders I really don't know what up with that...

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

If your filters are in contact with the outside air, then you should check for a leak. They pump the water out of the tank, back into the tank. If you cover the tank with a tarp & duct tape, how in the world can pesticide get in contact with the water? Note: If you have filter basins, cover those, too.. But leave them running.

Furthermore: It does not matter if the surface moves or not: The deposit depends on the area. Think snow: It doesn't matter if you turn the filter off (i.e. don't plow your driveway) or leave it running (i.e. plow every minute while it's snowing): At the end of the day, you will have the same amount of snow in front of your house: Either on a pile or covering the driveway.

And since it's all covered with a tarp anyhow ... (i.e. no snow on a covered driveway)

I am not trying to discredit your experience as exterminator, SpringTyme. But common sense can only lead to the conclusion I drew above. They have to print these warnings on the containers, out of the same reason why they have to write ridiculous warnings on everything: Because people love to sue in this country. Don't put your cat in the microwave. Coffe is hot. Don't spray insecticide into your fishtank.

A tarp does the job. Get a big one, reaching to the floor, as I said above. And duct tape. Even Repair's over-the-back filters are covered. Leave the filters running. Bubblers off. Peace

HarleyK

[larry2074]

I have bombed my entire house every summer for the past 5 years and never have lost a fish. Turn off all filters and cover all of your tanks with a thick blanket. Make sure you completly cover the top of the tank and all filters. Do the same for any wet/dry filters. I have used to all purpose bombs from the local grocery store.
Let me Know if you have any other questions.

[Hasi]

I think Springtimes advice should be greatly appreciated here as she has the most experience in this case

[Thomas_Hung]

I think I will avoid the bombing and just go crazy on these bastards with traps and a massive all out attack!! I think one bit me last night :swear: