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General pest · Silverfish control

Silverfish control Cairns homes can count on.

We go after the damp, dark places silverfish breed: roof voids, wardrobes, bookshelves and bathroom cupboards. In the tropical humidity they multiply quietly and chew through paper, linen and stored clothes long before most people notice. We find where they live, treat it properly and show you how to make your home less inviting.

Get my silverfish quote Call 0432 229 104
5.0 on Google QBCC licensed & insured Family & pet safe

What are silverfish, and why are they in my home?

Silverfish are small, wingless insects with a tapered, carrot-shaped body covered in shiny silver-grey scales. Adults grow to around 12 to 15mm and have three bristly tails. They hide by day and move fast at night, which is why many people only see one when they open an old box or move a stack of books.

They love humidity, and Cairns has plenty of it. Damp roof spaces, poorly ventilated bathrooms, garages and built-in wardrobes suit them perfectly, especially through the wet season. They feed on starch and cellulose, so paper, glue, fabric and dry food keep them going, and they can survive a long time without eating, so a colony can sit in your roof void for months before spilling into the house.

15mmadult length, a tapered silver-grey body with three bristly tails.
Nightthey hide by day and move fast after dark, so most go unseen.
Monthsa roof void colony can go unnoticed before it spills inside.
Spot the problem early

Six signs of a silverfish problem.

Silverfish stay out of sight, so the damage usually shows up before they do.

Holes in paper

Irregular holes or notches in paper, book pages, cardboard boxes and wallpaper.

Yellow stains

Yellow stains on clothing, linen and paper where they have fed.

Droppings like pepper

Tiny dark droppings like ground pepper in drawers, shelves and cupboards.

Shed skins & scales

Shed skins and silver scales near skirting boards, wardrobes and stored boxes.

Damaged fabrics

Damage to cotton, linen and silk, especially items left folded for a long time.

Silverfish in the bath

Often found in the bath or sink after wandering in at night and failing to climb out.

Seeing any of these? Book a treatment and we will find the source. Not sure what you are looking at? Our pest identification guide for Cairns can help.

What is at risk

What do silverfish damage?

Silverfish do not bite and are not known to spread disease, but they cause slow, costly damage to things that are hard to replace.

In a Cairns roof void or storage room, a colony can go unnoticed for a long time. Treating early protects what you keep.

Books, documents & photos
Hardest to replace

Books, documents, photos and important papers are prime targets for the starch and glue they contain.

Clothing, linen & curtains
Stored fabrics

Stored clothing, linen, curtains and anything with starch or sizing.

Wallpaper
And the glue behind it

Wallpaper and the paste behind it, especially in humid rooms.

Cardboard boxes
And what is inside

Cardboard boxes and anything stored in them, in garages, roof spaces and under beds.

Dry food
Pantry

Cereals, flour and other dry food left in open packets.

How it works

How our silverfish treatment works.

Four clear steps, a fixed written quote, and advice that keeps the treatment working.

Step 01
Inspection

A licensed technician checks your roof void, wardrobes, bookshelves, bathrooms, garage and storage areas to find where silverfish live and what draws them in.

Step 02
Tailored plan

We explain what we found, recommend the right treatment for your home and send a fixed, written quote.

Step 03
Treatment

A fine dust in the roof void where they hide, then targeted treatment to cracks, crevices, skirtings and wardrobes. Family and pet safe, with any re-entry time briefed.

Step 04
Prevention advice

We point out the damp spots, leaks and clutter that will bring them back, so your treatment keeps working.

What you get

What your silverfish service covers.

We treat where they actually live, not just where you happen to see one.

Inspection & source finding

We locate harbourage in roof voids, wall cavities, wardrobes and storage.

Roof void dusting

The space you never see, where the biggest colonies usually live.

Crack & crevice treatment

Skirtings, cupboards, built-ins and bathroom gaps.

Wardrobe & bookshelf attention

The places your valuables are most at risk.

Moisture advice

Practical fixes that make your home less attractive to silverfish.

Seeing cockroaches as well? Silverfish and cockroaches like the same damp, dark spots, so we can treat both in one visit. See our cockroach control service or our residential pest control for whole-home cover.

After treatment

How to keep silverfish away.

Generic tips from cooler cities often fall short up here.

  • Run fans or a dehumidifier in bathrooms, laundries and wardrobes, especially in the wet season.

  • Fix dripping taps, leaking pipes and roof leaks quickly.

  • Store books, papers, photos and linen in sealed plastic tubs rather than cardboard.

  • Keep cereals, flour and pet food in airtight containers.

  • Clear clutter from wardrobes, under beds and garage shelves so there are fewer places to hide.

  • Vacuum skirtings, shelves and corners regularly to remove eggs and scales.

Why Cairns chooses TPPM

Local experts who turn up, explain it, and stand behind it.

Cairns locals We know tropical conditions and the species that come with them. No interstate call centre, no scripts.
Licensed & insured QBCC licensed, AEPMA members and fully insured. Work done to Australian Standards, every time.
Honest fixed pricing A clear, itemised written quote up front. No high-pressure upsells, no contracts you cannot read.
Backed in writing Every treatment is documented in writing, so the promise is on the invoice, not just spoken.
Spread the Love

Refer a friend, get 10% off your next service. No limit.

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Where we work

Silverfish control across Cairns & the northern beaches.

Locally owned and on the road every day across Cairns and the northern beaches. Tap your suburb to see local details.

Brinsmead Cairns City Cairns North Caravonica Clifton Beach Holloways Beach Kewarra Beach Machans Beach Palm Cove Parramatta Park Redlynch Smithfield Trinity Beach All areas →
Silverfish questions

Silverfish questions answered.

Still unsure? Send us a photo and we will tell you what you are dealing with.

Send us a photo
Are silverfish harmful to people or pets?
No. Silverfish do not bite or sting and are not known to spread disease. The problem is the damage they do to books, papers, clothing and stored items, and their shed scales can bother people with allergies.
Does seeing one silverfish mean I have an infestation?
Not always, but they are rarely alone. Because they hide during the day, one sighting often means more are living nearby, usually in the roof void, wardrobes or storage. If you keep seeing them or notice damage, it is worth an inspection.
How long does silverfish treatment take to work?
You should see fewer silverfish within a few days, with numbers dropping over the following weeks as they move through treated areas. Heavy or long-standing activity can need a follow-up visit, and we will tell you if that is likely when we inspect.
Do I need to leave the house during treatment?
Usually not for long. Most of the work happens in the roof void and in cracks and crevices. We will tell you any re-entry time for treated rooms when you book, and what to move out of wardrobes beforehand.
Will silverfish come back after treatment?
They can if the damp conditions that drew them in stay the same. That is why we finish every job with practical moisture and storage advice. Fixing leaks, improving airflow and sealing stored items makes the biggest difference long term.
More protection

Other pests we handle.

Cockroach control
View service
Ant control
View service
Spider control
View service
Termite inspection
We can check the roof void for both at once. View service
All services
Browse all
Palmy with a pest-control sprayer, ready to treat your home

Protect your books, linen and stored things.

Book a silverfish treatment and a Cairns local will send you a fixed, written quote. No pressure.

Get my silverfish quote Call 0432 229 104