Will pesticides kill aquarium fish?

[16gallontanker]

I live in. A group home and have 3 fish tanks if a exterminator sprays for roaches will it kill my fish I know it probably has to be done but what can I do ahead of the time to prevent them from dying?Will putting a towel over the tank solve the issue?

 

[TNG]

I'd cover the tanks with plastic bags and towel, and turn the pumps and anything that draw air into the tank off. How long do you have to leave the house/room before returning? I'd open the doors/windows for at least couple of hours after returning, before restarting the pumps.

 

[16gallontanker]

Ok

 

[Naughts]

Can you not move the fish out? Insecticides are lethal for fish.

 

[Colin_T]

Any idea what they are using to spray?

Most pesticides are extremely toxic to aquatic organisms including fish. If they are using something like Bifenthrin (it's banned in most countries but still gets used by some exterminators in the US, and it's not banned at all in Australia), then it is lethal to fish and also kills everything in the animal kingdom, including people. It leaves a carcinogenic residue behind for at least 5 years in outdoor areas, and 10+ years in sheltered areas.

If they use pyrethrin or pyrethroids, they are lethal to fish too, but safer for people. However, I don't trust anything that isn't fit for human consumption when it comes to safety.

TNG pretty much covered it. Stop air and anything being sucked into the tank by covering it in plastic or whatever you can. Ask the exterminator to be careful with spraying.

If you have fish buckets, hoses, nets, etc, put them somewhere safe during spraying (maybe in the car).

Try to avoid the pesticide too because there are no safe ones.