Using a fogger around aquariums

A. Nonymous

A. Nonymous

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Feb 4, 2008
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Somehow my bedroom has recently been infested with ants. They're crawling all over my desk for some reason and I'm not entirely sure why. I went and bought some foggers to get rid of them, but I'm now a bit scared to use them. There's a scary warning about covering your aquarium lest you bring death to all your fish.

I have no aquariums in my bedroom, but there is one on the other side of the wall and one around the corner in my living room. My others are all in my fish room right next door.

If I put the fogger in my bedroom and close the door will I be safe? Should I cover all the tanks in the house anyway? If so, is putting a towel over the top of them and then shutting off all the filters sufficient or should I do more than that? Do I need to get really paranoid and over them with plastic wrap to try to make it airtight?
 
When we had an infestation, we bombed everything. We covered all of the tanks with garbage bags and taped them so they were airtight. Came back, and a lot of my bettas died. There was an oily substance on the surface of the water in all the tanks. In your situation, I would say to use outside poison that you line your house with. Either way, best of luck to you.
 
Did the bombing work at least?
 
Oh yeah, but we used it on fleas. The neighbor cat broke through the screen door. Fixed the screen door, so we nipped a reinfestation in the bud. If you plan to bomb, DEFINATELY prevent any reinfestation, via poison outside. And, if you know where they're coming from, maybe silicone the holes to help prevent them coming in. I'm pretty sure the bombs would work on ants, it's supposed to work on all pests (at least, the Hartz ones were supposed to). Total PITA though, covering/uncovering tanks, bagging all the filters and such, then you have to scrub EVERYTHING to get the residue off. You'd have the added glory of cleaning up dead ants. Lol.
Short answer, yes, bombs should definately kill ants.
 
A. Nonymous said:
Somehow my bedroom has recently been infested with ants. They're crawling all over my desk for some reason and I'm not entirely sure why. I went and bought some foggers to get rid of them, but I'm now a bit scared to use them. There's a scary warning about covering your aquarium lest you bring death to all your fish.

I have no aquariums in my bedroom, but there is one on the other side of the wall and one around the corner in my living room. My others are all in my fish room right next door.

If I put the fogger in my bedroom and close the door will I be safe? Should I cover all the tanks in the house anyway? If so, is putting a towel over the top of them and then shutting off all the filters sufficient or should I do more than that? Do I need to get really paranoid and over them with plastic wrap to try to make it airtight?
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Use "Terro" ant poison!
You put a few drops on a piece of paper next to a spot where ants are trailing and before you know it the ants are gone! I have used this for years and it has always worked. Don't settle for anything different, I have tested several brands of "ant traps" and other gimmicks and they have never been close to as effective as Terro.

If you use a fogger it will kill your fish...guaranteed. Even if you cover your tanks good enough to resist the initial blast. The dust residue left over will be in the air for days and on every surface until it is cleaned, as stated on the can. Wich allows plenty of opportunity for contamination through open air and the air your pump forces through the water. Foggers should only be used in extremely infested rooms that are not inhabited by humans or pets. There are always equally effective ways to rid pests without harm to your personal environment.

You should be able to find "Terro" at a walmart. I can't think of another chain that spans the whole country to suggest looking. But most of my local big stores supply this product.
 
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fog, spray, powder, all of it will kill your fish. if you want to use anything other than good ol traps, you'll have to break down your tanks and completely remove them from the house.
 
I may try the Terro. I had the same issue last year (although not as bad) and used traps with some effect, but not enough that they didn't come back this year. I don't know how they're getting in other than my desk is on an exterior wall that has a window. I hate ants.
 
I used the little traps, put about half a dozen of them around the house, and they worked great.
 
sploke said:
I used the little traps, put about half a dozen of them around the house, and they worked great.
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Me Too. I seem to get ants coming in around an outside wall of my kitchen. Traps always work for me. And I definitely agree to NOT use any foggers. Everywhere the poison fog settles you will, over time touch it on the walls, clothing, etc. That stuff will be with you a long time since you can't possibly clean everything.
 
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