Fishmoth Control: a Cape Town guide

Know what you are dealing with

Three types turn up in the Western Cape. The common silverfish, Lepisma saccharina, is shiny silver-grey, carrot-shaped and moves like a fish wriggling; it prefers cool, damp places like bathrooms and laundries. The grey silverfish, Ctenolepisma longicaudata, is larger and greyer with long tail filaments, and is very common in Cape Town homes, roof spaces and bookshelves because it tolerates drier conditions. The firebrat, Thermobia domestica, is mottled brown and lives in hot spots around geysers, ovens and boiler rooms. All of them are slow-breeding but long-lived, so a small population can build up quietly over years.

Myths, mistakes and lesser-known facts

Fishmoths are harmless to children and pets, which means you can take your time and choose a gentle, targeted treatment rather than anything heavy-handed.

Landlords with older rental properties often get fishmoth complaints from tenants. A roof void treatment and better ventilation in the bathroom usually solves it for the long term.

Fishmoths can live for several years and can survive months without food. That is why a single wipe-down does not work and why treatments that keep working in cracks are so useful.

Warning signs

Can you do it yourself?

Moving books into sealed boxes and running a dehumidifier will help more than any spray from the shop. DIY sprays rarely reach the roof space or wall voids where the main population lives. If you are seeing them in several rooms or dropping from the ceiling, get the roof space treated professionally.

Seasonal pattern

Fishmoths are active all year because they live indoors, but Cape Town's damp winters make them more noticeable as moisture rises in roofs, walls and cupboards. Grey silverfish in the roof space may become more visible in summer when the ceiling heats up and pushes them down into the rooms below.

Prevention checklist

• Store books, documents and photographs in sealed plastic boxes, not cardboard, especially in garages and storerooms.
• Improve ventilation in bathrooms and laundries with an extractor fan or by keeping a window open after showers.
• Fix leaks under basins, around geysers and in the roof, since fishmoths need moisture.
• Vacuum regularly inside cupboards, along skirting boards and behind furniture to remove eggs and food sources.
• Avoid stacking old newspapers, magazines and cardboard boxes in cupboards for long periods.
• Seal cracks around skirting boards, cornices and built-in cupboards where they hide and lay eggs.

What affects the price

The price depends on the size of the property, how many rooms and cupboards are affected, and whether the roof space needs to be treated. Easy access to the ceiling void keeps the job simpler, while a home with lots of built-in cupboards and shelves takes more time. Offices, archives and storerooms with large amounts of paper are quoted separately, and every quote is free.

Frequently asked questions

Areas we cover for fishmoth control