RAID-Info needed, thanks!

[Okeetee_Corn_Snakes]

Hello everyone! I have not posted on here in some time. We just got a new place a while back and have lacked the use of interent until now.

Our new basement suite is loaded with many basement bugs such as spiders, silverfish and centipedes. The spiders are large and numerous and are most likely the common brown house spider. However, reports of the brown recluse are becoming more common here and we are also close to the border of the hobo spider. Both are dangerous and I just do not want to risk anything. I see about five large spiders a day and plan on catching more for comparison between the species. They like the bathtub and our bed! We keep the place clean and there is little else to do.

I recently bought spider blaster raid and I am afraid to use it. I know that reptiles and birds are sensitive to air conditions and this raid is supposed to leave a residue for killing for up to two weeks. I am scared this will effect my snakes and my cat! Does anyone have any advice? Or even some knowledge on the product and how to keep my snakes (and cat if you wish to answer) from being harmed? I will of course refrain from using it until all doubts are cleared. Thanks in advance everyone.

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

Most pesticides have instructions on the back saying whether or not they are safe for pets (however that usually only applies to the furry variety). If you're still not sure, call the company.

Personally, we don't spray anything inside the house because it can be dangerous even if they say it's safe for pets. My husband sprays stuff around the outside house which is successful at killing our basement bugs.

 

[wade]

We live in bug heaven. You have to spray or they will take over. I have an exterminator come once a month. He sprays they entire property outside the house. Inside he sprays by all the outside doors and under all the sinks in the house.

Now this is me and not you. What the exterminator has told me is that the stuff he sprays only effects invertibrates. It destroys their exoskeleton. He also says that it is not airborne once it drys and that you have to make physical contact with it to even get it on you. That would make it safe for the snakes. I don't know about the cat. It may walk through it.

On the other hand, Hobo and Brown Recluse spiders need to be taken into considerations as well. Do you have a pet spouse or pet kids to think of?

 

[LBoz]

We had brown recluse spiders in our basement. Spraying is vital. We have orkin come once a month, but I don't let them spray in the house. But I bombed the basement myself. At the time I had around 23 fish tanks running. I turned off all my filters and covered the tanks with large plastic tarps for several hours. I also put towels over the hamster tank. I didn't have a snake then, but if I did, my plan would likely be to move him to a small room such as a bathroom and cover the vent. JMHO. As Wade mentioned, if you do have children, you don't want to take a chance. Best of luck to you. Hope you get them under control quickly.

 

[MegF.]

I would never leave live animals in the room when I bombed it! The directions on the back say that the fumes are toxic and all animals and persons should be out of the area when the bombing is going on. Personally I would not use something like raid in an area where my snakes are. They are quite sensitive to the pesticide used and even things like pest strips can be toxic and kill them. We have an exterminator spray outside the house. He's assured me that it only affects insects and once dry is not toxic to mammals or reptiles. I do keep the dogs in and the windows to the snake room closed until the stuff is dry though. I can't afford to replace my collection

 

[BezilsGirl]

You might try something with Pyrethrum (more natural), that's what I use
(http://www.qualitymosquito.com/pyrethrum-and-insecticides.html). Then again if you are going with the pros, they should know about what stuff is fairly safe. I'm pretty sensitive to chemicals in general and this doesn't bother me too much.
On a side note, I was a spider enthusist for a bit, I and knew people who had PET brown recluse. Would hold them and the whole bit. Apparently they are fairly docile and not prone to bite unless provoked. If that makes you feel any better. I like spiders (generally) and move them away from the house. Unless they are a black widow or brown recluse. Then they get killed on principle. I caught alot of flack for that on the spider forums. To each their own.
(Spider forum is Arachonoboards.com if you want to meet some people who REALLY like spiders, and they might have some info about getting rid of the bugs...but it might be along the lines of "ship them to me...")

 

[Okeetee_Corn_Snakes]

A pet recluse? Oh my!

I like spiders too and usually catch them and move them out of doors, but its when I am sleeping and one crawls on your face or under your covers. Thats when it bugs me. Also where we live we are not yet used to dealing with the recluse or hobo. One patient was thought to have flesh eating disease and lost one leg, his groin and the infection was moving upwards when they were able to finaly supply proper treatment. My mom is a nurse and couldn't give us full details. (even though I wish she did!) Turns out it was a recluse bite that occured when he was moving the old wood pile in the back. Here in Saskatchewan we are not used to such things.

I thought of putting wet towels over the tanks too, but I just do not want to risk it. I will use the stuff I bought on the outside. The cat never goes outside anyways.

What is bombing anyways? I am sure it is different than placing little sprays here and there. Seems so anyways with the term bombing lol. Meg, I wouldn't want to try to replace your collection either. And I only have five.

The stuff in it is Pyrethins, Piperonyl Butoxide, and Permethrin. Not sure what it means but I guess I'll have to make a few calls and do a bit more research.

Thanks everyone. I am now even more resolved to just tough it out for the time being.

 

[Okeetee_Corn_Snakes]

I also forgot to mention. When I talk about the spider/snake issue going on I get so many replies like;

"Well, can't the snakes eat the bugs? I thought snakes eat bugs" or

"Whats wrong with terminating the snakes along with the spiders?"

That one makes me more angry than the other lol!

 

[Raiyne]

If it makes you feel any better, my parents have confirmed hobo spiders living in their house and so far there hasn't been any bites. I lived in their basement for a while, too...where most of the spiders lived. :uhoh:

Though it was extremely scary, I can confirm that I'm still alive to this day. (Unless this is like the sixth sense and I'm some sort of internet ghost. )

 

[Okeetee_Corn_Snakes]

Hahaha! Yes, it may seem like I am over-reacting a little. I am more likely to be hit by a car than die from a spider bite. I probably also worry because I am diabetic and my immune system is crap as it is. Why is it called a hobo spider anyways? No offence to anyone out there but it kinda makes me laugh. Its like the bird called a booby. LOL

 

[LBoz]

Grace, I used the term "bombing" in my post to you. It's when you set off foggers that create a mist throughout the whole room. I only did this in the basement and closed all the vents to the upstairs. I didn't keep the kids in the house, but I couldn't possibly move all my tanks, so I just covered them, and not a single death was suffered. I think once your spray dries, (depending on what you use, read the directions!) you should be fine, but moving them out of the house for a bit might be better. I've seen those horrible bites from recluse spiders. I wasn't taking any chances.

 

[Okeetee_Corn_Snakes]

Oh I guessed thats what bombing meant. Yea...I am not about to recreate world war two in my basement with my snakes so I will just move them out for the time being. I think also that I do not have to worry so much for recluse because they have been spotted here and there have been reports of bites...but it does not happen often.

 

[dakota11]

I am just learning about snakes but I useto live in Florida where you have to spray or you would have a home infested with roaches anyway Im thinking a fumigator uses a different spray with spiders compared to bugs but when we had the house sprayed I would move my iguanas, birds, pacmanfrog and other pets either outside or in a small closet type room with a towel over the enclosure. I remember for years we bad an Oscar in a huge tank my mom would just put a towel over his tank (2 big to move). I wish you luck I dont mind tarantula's but any other spider reminds me of some movie I watched with spiders it was a horer movie and I was a kid.