Bed bug treatment

[sillverfoxx]

I have two tarantulas and two jumping spiders. My apartment is being treated today for bed bugs. All of my animals are currently out of my apartment. How long do I need to wait before I can bring my spiders home? The Ts stay in their enclosures; the jumping spiders like to come out and play.

 

[Vanessa]

How long are the chemicals guaranteed to continue killing the bed bugs? Because that is how long they can potentially kill your animals.
It really depends on what they're using and how it is being distributed.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

This would make me paranoid whatever the leangth of period it continues killing is leave it that bit extra especially if you have you’re jumpers out

 

[chanda]

How are they treating for bed bugs? If it's a heat treatment and/or barriers, then you've got nothing to worry about. If they're using dessicants like diatomaceous earth, that should be in crevices and other out of the way spots, so as long as you don't let your pets run through it, they should be fine. If they are using chemical sprays or foggers, then you need to find out specifically what chemical(s) they are using, and how long the residual effects will last. At a minimum, you should plan on thoroughly cleaning all shelves, walls, and floors in the room(s) where you keep your pets, to get rid of any remaining toxins. Also, if you did not remove them prior to treatment, clean thoroughly (or discard) any cage maintenance tools like tongs, brushes, water bottles, and extra hides, water dishes, bark, etc.

 

[SquidStina]

I've had to deal with nightmare bug treatments a few times because my neighbour is a hoarder. I moved all of my Ts and previously a jumping spider to a friend/coworker's house. I generally wait 2 weeks, and I've had no problems.
I also clean the furniture the enclosures sit on a few times, and any supplies (extra substrate, tongs, cork barks, etc) I bag up in advance and put outside (away from the spray). If it got left in the spray by mistake I replace it or wash it a hundred times.
I would also be wary of handling your jumpers for a while. If the pesticide is still active, then if they jump off your hand and end up somewhere with pesticide, they will likely be killed by it. I'm extra extra extra careful when it comes to escapes because of this.

 

[Ellenantula]

I've only heard of the expensive heat treatments (and DE for prevention). I didn't know we had (legal) chemical sprays for them anymore -- so this is an informative thread!

So sorry you have bedbugs. It's one of my greatest fears to get them -- doing case management home visits always poses a risk (literally keep spray bottle of rubbing alcohol to spray my socks/shoes/bottom of trousers) in the car following home visits.
I just have so many pets (cat, parrot, Ts, bearded dragon, ball python, B lats... it would be such a burden to move my babies out of home while dealing with a bedbug infestation cleanup.

Love the positive attitude shown in this thread.
Guess I am simply sending good vibes and hopes your way -- hope your clean up goes easy and is completely successful OP!

 

[Vulksgren]

Dealing with one now because we had a disgusting neighbor who never cleaned his apartment, the bed bugs traveled with me all across the states to my new home sadly. So sick of waking up itchy, but I tend to spray down my bed every week. I take the Ts out and wait a couple of hours before putting them back in my room and I haven't had any issues. Sucks to since my bed is almost brand new.

 

[FishermanSteve]

Im an exterminator and I have done countless treatments for bedbugs. I can tell you that anything they used likely has a residual for at least 2 months. I wouldn’t let any insect you care about touch the floor, bed, furniture for at least 3 months and that’s even after washing everything thoroughly.