Silverfish
Silverfish live where it is damp and graze on paper, glue and starch. Dry the room out and the problem shrinks with it.
- Size
- Small, carrot shaped
- Colour
- Silvery grey, scaly
- Lives
- Bathrooms, cellars, lofts, bookshelves
- Active
- At night, in humid rooms
How to tell
Three tails
Three long bristles at the back and a tapered body.
Wriggle like fish
They move fast with a side to side motion.
Not a firebrat
Firebrats look similar but like warm spots near boilers.
Signs you have them
- Grazed paper and irregular holes in books, wallpaper and boxes.
- Yellow stains and tiny scales on stored fabric or paper.
- Seen in the bath or sink in the morning.
- Damp, stuffy rooms with poor airflow.
The plan
- 1
Dry the air
Ventilate, fix leaks, use a dehumidifier.
- 2
Seal the cracks
Around baths, skirting and pipes.
- 3
Store paper dry
Boxes off the floor, in sealed containers.
- 4
Track it
Monitor traps in bathrooms and cupboards.
Solutions for silverfish
Monitor traps
Check them weekly to track progress.
Opens Google Maps. Call first to check they have it.
Gap and crack sealant
Closes the gaps behind sinks and along pipes.
Opens Google Maps. Call first to check they have it.
Dehumidifier crystals
Dries damp cupboards and bathrooms.
Opens Google Maps. Call first to check they have it.
Shoo does not sell these yet. They are standard products sold by other shops; follow the label on the one you buy.
What people worry about
Do silverfish mean my home is dirty?
No. Silverfish follow damp, not dirt. Drying the air shrinks the problem.
Are they dangerous to my baby?
Silverfish do not bite. They can damage paper and fabrics, so keep stored items dry and off the floor.
Will they spread to the kids' rooms and cupboards?
They go where it is damp and there is food like paper and starch. Seal cracks around baths and skirting, and dry the rooms they favour.
We are refitting the kitchen. Where will they go?
They may move to nearby damp spots. Put monitor traps in the bathroom and cupboards during the work, and seal gaps in the new kitchen.
Are these tiny white bugs silverfish?
Tiny pale bugs on books or damp walls are often booklice, which also follow damp. The fix is the same: lower the humidity and ventilate.