Pest control

[Hodgo08]

So to my dismay today my housemate told me our apartment was getting sprayed for bugs in a couple weeks time. I told him I didn't really like the idea since the chemicals used are designed to kill things not to dissimilar to fish but he just shrugged it off.
Since the conversation I have done a bit of reading about what can be done to make such an extermination safer but was wondering what you guys thought would be the best option? I'm sure boarding the fish at my LFS would be an option but I think it would be quite stressful for the fish.
Your thoughts?
Thanks Chris.

 

[macvsog23]

I would assume you’re talking either bed bugs or cockroaches
There are several ways to deal with these "Invasions" that are harmless to fish
One is to heat treat all items of furniture, this involves putting items in a "Tent" and "cooking them" safe and easy but needs room to be done.
The second way is crushed glass; glass is prepared as a fine powder and is placed across known runs the glass enters the joints of the insects and cuts the internal flesh causing death by loss of body fluid.
Once either of these have been completed successfully a good house keeping regime is important.
The most eco friendly way is to introduce a predator to keep the “pest” under control.
A group of Lizards’ or a cat? Allowed to roam free these will destroy most “Pests”

Any treatment that involves air born chemicals is going to cause problems to fish.

 

[Hodgo08]

Hey, thanks for your input.
You were right about the roaches although I don't consider it as an outbreak that requires 'control'.
If it was up to me it wouldn't be happening but it is the building strata (management) that are having the pest control done and I can only assume that it will be airborne chemical warfare as they have told us to be out of the apartment between such and such times. Some sites suggest covering the tanks, filters and any equipment and food in heavy sheet but I can't imagine this will be 100% successful.

 

[dan1801a]

I am a Eviro Officer and deal with this all the time, Spraying or smoking for Roaches is not the best way to deal with them.

The best way is to bait with Goliath/Maxforce Gel Baits.
This is best practice for them talk to your pest control technician, pest control should be precise and target the specific species and not effect the environment ie your fish pets or anything else.

If you have them they do need to be treated the ones you can see they will be many more as they dislike light. Turn lights on quick and see them scurry away !! Plus they carry alot of disease.

 

[wullie]

Hi,
If i were you i would contact the Pest Control Company and let them know you keep tropical fish in your house because the chemicals we use kill fish like clicking your fingers :yes: we are not allowed to use near waterway's, burn's, drains ect, just because it is lethal to fish ect :whistle: if they are going to use bait thats fine but there's a lot of COWBOY'S about just watch, and if they say just throw a blanket over the tank :dk: look for the sixshooter round his waist :whistle:
ATB
Wullie.

 

[Brengun]

Spraying for cockroaches will also kill frogs and gheckos so we just lay the old cocky baits if they increase in too much of a number, otherwise we just live with them.
Spiders if venomous are spot sprayed with a surface spray or just plain squished.
Its not like a cockroach carrys the black plague or has a venomous bite or anything.

 

[Breamlegend]

Baits are best. There is no pesticide spray of any type in my home.

 

[Mooo]

Baits are best. There is no pesticide spray of any type in my home.

Ditto...