TenyTinyKaz Posted June 5, 2013 Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 Ok that is it, I have been putting up with these disgusting cockroaches long enough, when I got out of bed this morning one of them crawled into where I was sleeping!!!!! :sick: (this resulted in me screaming, running away and refusing to reenter the bedroom to get dressed for work, my partner had to find my work clothes, check them thouroghly and bring them to the bathroom for me to get dressed, I was then late to work :facepalm: ) I want to get some insect bombs for the house, I have used these before but that was when I was "between tanks". I now have two four foot tanks and I have put off bombing the house as I'm sure it will kill everything. Is there anyway I can seal the tanks for a day while I bomb the house? Will sealing the tanks with something work? Glad wrap maybe? I can't put up with these roaches anymore I just don't know what to do! Please help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calculator Posted June 5, 2013 Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 I would personally suggest not to use them around your tanks, but if you must I would put a thick blanket/sheet over the tank to stop the toxins getting to the water, and do a big water change after the bombing to make sure that the fish are safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M@. Posted June 5, 2013 Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 I would have thought gladwrap would work better than a blanket if you were going to go ahead with it? ie: something that wont 'breathe' or let gasses through. turn your air pump off also so its not pumping any gass into the water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted June 5, 2013 Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 Yip, gladwrap will work and like m@ said, turn the airpump off if you are running one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TenyTinyKaz Posted June 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 Thanks everyone, I have also been told about gel baits for cockroaches, looked them up, they look pretty good so I will give this a try and get back to you on how it goes. Could be a much safer way to kill the little buggers without hurting my fish. Plan B will be what you have all said, turn air pumps and filters off, plastic wrap the tank, duct tape blankets over everything then bomb and water change afterwards. I will also remove all other equipment from the house completely. I'm certainly interested to see how this gel bait works, won't be as instant but I'll let you all know how it goes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexyay Posted June 5, 2013 Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 When we insect bombed the house (fleas, ugh), we stuck a rubbish bag over the tank (might be a bit small for a 4ft) and taped it over. Fish were OK - did a water change after and all went fine. I'd recommend it as a last resort, the house smelled after quite a bit & have to be careful with kitchen stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TenyTinyKaz Posted June 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 the house smelled after quite a bit & have to be careful with kitchen stuff. Yeah last time I bombed a house it did smell a bit, I had just bought a rather expensive toothbrush and forgot to put that away, had to throw it out damn! Very interested to see how these baits work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 I think I would still gladwrap or make sure the tank is tightly sealed with gel baits. I would hate to think something would fall in your tank and poison your fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TenyTinyKaz Posted June 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 I think I would still gladwrap or make sure the tank is tightly sealed with gel baits. I would hate to think something would fall in your tank and poison your fish. :iag: You just can't be too careful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 If they are the American ones they can be a challenge to get rid of. The insecticide will kill the live insects but the eggs being carried by females will not and they will hatch in a few weeks. You will need to treat again to kill them after they hatch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunbird73 Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 I use masking tape and polythene garden bags and tape over the lids to ensure airtightness. And then a blanket over the top for good measure. I don't turn off filters tho, if the canister filter is in a sealed cupboard with sealed pipes going into the tank ie. a closed system, I don't see the point in risking my filter bacteria by turning it off. But I do very carefully seal the cupboard and around the pipes with masking tape/ polythene. I have done it a few times and it has been a bit random, sometimes all ok, but once 3 tanks out of 4 were fine, so there is still a risk even when you take care. The other option is to set up a tank in the garage and move the most precious/valuable fish out there for a couple of weeks while bombing. (I have done this too). FYI - We have also lived in a rental once with a terrible german cockroach problem. The sticky traps did nothing, and we eventually got in a professional to treat the house. It worked well and they stayed gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbiefishcpl Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 Also don't forget to air you house thoroughly afterwards.................this will help get rid of the smell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TenyTinyKaz Posted June 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 I don't have a garage so no option to move the fish out of the house. The stuff I'm looking at trying isn't a "sticky trap" is a gel that they eat and take back to the nest, also once the roach dies from it when any surviving roaches eat the dead ones they will die as well. It is from a comercial cleaning and pest control place and specifically designed for roaches so I have hopes. The other advantage of this option for me is that the house is split in two and I live in one half so I can bomb my half of the house as much as I want but if my neighbours don't bomb as well the roaches will eventually just move back in. I'm going to try this option first although not as instant as bombs I think I should have some level of success. I'm also going to do the outdoor barrier spray stuff thing (technical term that lol). I'm certainly interested in how this will go, I'll let you know Thanks for all the help guys, I now have a plan A and a plan B so that is great And yes if I have to resort to bombs I will certainly be checking the weather to make sure I can leave the house wide open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disgustipated Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 where'd you get the gel stuff from? i've been looking for something like this. the ant stuff works well, where they take it back to the nest. was hoping there'd be something like it for roaches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovmoller Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 I'm also going to do the outdoor barrier spray stuff thing (technical term that lol). I have used this before with great success. I used to live in a flat where lots of cockroaches came in from outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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