Flea bombs and tanks

[Kial]

We have to do a flea bomb as our cats have caught fleas!
I'm worried that this will cause problems for the tank which is in the main room of our house.

Has anyone had any experience dealing with this before?

 

[SashimiTurtle]

I wouldn't... air fresheners have caused issues a room away. A pesticide being sprayed thru the entire house... all I can imagine is a dead reef tank.

 

[Kial]

I wouldn't... air fresheners have caused issues a room away. A pesticide being sprayed thru the entire house... all I can imagine is a dead reef tank.

Hmm I'm not sure what to do because if I dont treat the house as well, essentially I will not be getting rid of the problem [emoji52]

 

[WWIII]

Following, it would make me nervous as well. I had to use one many years ago in my girlfriend at the time (wife now) apartment. There was no fish tanks in there, but we didn't go in there ourselves for 12 hours. Not sure what's in flea bombs now, or if it's changed, but they were pretty nasty back then.

Good luck, hopefully someone has a good answer or idea for you! If it were me, I would maybe look at any other possible treatments that don't require a fogger.

 

[Kial]

Following, it would make me nervous as well. I had to use one many years ago in my girlfriend at the time (wife now) apartment. There was no fish tanks in there, but we didn't go in there ourselves for 12 hours. Not sure what's in flea bombs now, or if it's changed, but they were pretty nasty back then.

Good luck, hopefully someone has a good answer or idea for you! If it were me, I would maybe look at any other possible treatments that don't require a fogger.

Yeah doesn't seem a very safe option especially with a reef tank
I'll have to do a bit more research in other options

 

[Brian W]

I went through this last year and tried everything to get rid of them. Eventually they all died off in the winter time.
What I did to get the fleas off my cat was:
1. vacuum every day
2. put diatomaceous earth everywhere and vacuumed that up (That REALLY REALLY REALLY sucked) I still have powder in places in my house.
3. I combed my cat with a flea brush every day and flushed the hair/fleas down the toiled.
4. Put the flea stuff on her neck as recommended
5. put a flea collar on her
6. sprayed the carpet with $30 spray
7. took my cat to the vet for a bath.
8. Kept my windows and doors open during the winter to try and freeze the fleas to death.

I did not try bombs because I was afraid they would some how get into my tanks.
In the end I feel like nothing I did above worked and eventually the fleas did die during the winter time.

Good Luck. Pleas post back if the bombs worked and which ones you have used.

 

[Brian W]

Hmm I'm not sure what to do because if I dont treat the house as well, essentially I will not be getting rid of the problem [emoji52]

I have watched several youtube videos where most of the people say to cover your tanks with seran wrap.
Also you may need to bomb up to a few times a week for a month if they are really bad.
They bombs only really spray for a few minutes.
Do each room and put multiple bombs in each room.

 

[Maggie321]

The drops that the cats get will kill fleas for 3 months. Put that on the cats and vacuume religiously. If it does not aerosol, you could (carefully) spray the baseboards with something for flea and tick once it's dry, if the fleas touch it, they'll die. It won't be fast like a bomb, but over time the fleas will go away. Also, I would treat the yard so they aren't coming in from outside. If the fleas bite the cats, they die. If the fleas touch the baseboards, they die. If you vacuumed them up, they go away. Patience and time...

 

[Kial]

Thanks for the advice.
Problem is waiting for the cold to kill them, I live in Queensland Australia so doesn't really get to cold haha.

We've tried putting the drop stuff on their neck but doesn't do anything which is annoying as it isnt cheap.
Comb them, vacuum often and we are losing the battle.
If it did come to using the bomb. Would putting bin bags and towels all around the tank be sufficient in keeping it safe

 

[Maggie321]

Thanks for the advice.
Problem is waiting for the cold to kill them, I live in Queensland Australia so doesn't really get to cold haha.

We've tried putting the drop stuff on their neck but doesn't do anything which is annoying as it isnt cheap.
Comb them, vacuum often and we are losing the battle.
If it did come to using the bomb. Would putting bin bags and towels all around the tank be sufficient in keeping it safe

Bombs say 8 hours, if you bagged your tank that long, it may kill it anyway. You could have 0 air from inside the house. If you piped outside air from outside for your skimmer, maybe. I however would not risk it. I would fight it for over a year before I resorted to a flea bomb

 

[chris85]

Thanks for the advice.
Problem is waiting for the cold to kill them, I live in Queensland Australia so doesn't really get to cold haha.

We've tried putting the drop stuff on their neck but doesn't do anything which is annoying as it isnt cheap.
Comb them, vacuum often and we are losing the battle.
If it did come to using the bomb. Would putting bin bags and towels all around the tank be sufficient in keeping it safe

Have you heard of hoofandhound.com you can order flea pills called comfortis. It will kill the fleas as they bite if the problem is not too bad they will die from the flea pill. When they did get too bad I used salt blended really fine. Then sprinkled it around the carpet and under sofa cushions and let it set for about a week. It will dehydrate the fleas and kill them.

 

[Kial]

Bombs say 8 hours, if you bagged your tank that long, it may kill it anyway. You could have 0 air from inside the house. If you piped outside air from outside for your skimmer, maybe. I however would not risk it. I would fight it for over a year before I resorted to a flea bomb

I'll hold off on the bomb and see if I can sort it out without using one. I dont see fleas anywhere else but on the cats so I dont think it's got that bad yet

 

[Kial]

Have you heard of hoofandhound.com you can order flea pills called comfortis. It will kill the fleas as they bite if the problem is not too bad they will die from the flea pill. When they did get too bad I used salt blended really fine. Then sprinkled it around the carpet and under sofa cushions and let it set for about a week. It will dehydrate the fleas and kill them.

I'll take a look at that now. Thanks

 

[cracker]

contact a pest control specialist see what they say.

 

[chris85]

Try the comfortis hoof and hound is on your side of the world. I would do that first. You can also bath you cat in dawn dish soap to kill the fleas. If you dont want to use dawn, dove body wash will kill the also. hope this helps

 

[Rispa]

The drops don't work for me either anymore. I use Comfortis and revolution alternating. Comfortis works for fleas and revolution. Is supposed to be for heartworm. Also Adam's Mist works like a charm. You can spray it on the cats or on the floor. The only problem is if you don't like the smell it can be a problem. I imagine it's safer for aquariums than most of these meds because you can use it on kittens that you can't give the other meds to.

 

[Kial]

The drops don't work for me either anymore. I use Comfortis and revolution alternating. Comfortis works for fleas and revolution. Is supposed to be for heartworm. Also Adam's Mist works like a charm. You can spray it on the cats or on the floor. The only problem is if you don't like the smell it can be a problem. I imagine it's safer for aquariums than most of these meds because you can use it on kittens that you can't give the other meds to.

Revolution was next one to try. Not seen comfortis before. I'll take a look

 

[Maggie321]

I'll hold off on the bomb and see if I can sort it out without using one. I dont see fleas anywhere else but on the cats so I dont think it's got that bad yet

If the neck drops you used didn't work, try another brand, or maybe the pills or collar as suggested above. Or a combination of all 3.

If its just on the cats, How would a bomb kill the fleas on the cats? You can't leave animals inside when you bomb... [emoji848]. Lol. I know you wouldn't though. If you are asking about the health of a box of water, then I'm sure youre aware for your 4 legged furry friends.

 

[Kial]

If the neck drops you used didn't work, try another brand, or maybe the pills or collar as suggested above. Or a combination of all 3.

If its just on the cats, How would a bomb kill the fleas on the cats? You can't leave animals inside when you bomb... [emoji848]. Lol. I know you wouldn't though. If you are asking about the health of a box of water, then I'm sure youre aware for your 4 legged furry friends.

Yeah I know to take them out the house haha. Was just thinking it may help due to the fleas potentially being elsewhere around the house. But after these comments there's obviously more I can try first

 

[domination2580]

Temporary move tank to a secluded room and plastic off the openings. Run a airline to the skimmer pressure of your house far enough away with a filter maybe? Bug bomb the rooms without the tank, then move the tank once cleared and bug bomb that room. It's a lot of work but could be done I suppose