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Silverfish Control Melbourne | Silverfish Treatment
Silverfish in the bathroom or wardrobe? Our silverfish control Melbourne team treats the roof void and cupboards. Call 0401 573 777 for a free quote.
How do you get rid of silverfish?
Reviewed by the Metro Pest Services team, updated September 2026
You get rid of silverfish by treating the places they breed, not the bath where you spot them. That means dusting the roof void, treating wardrobes, cupboards and skirting where they shelter, and lowering humidity so they stop thriving.
Silverfish are small, silvery, wingless insects that move with a wriggling, fish like motion and come out at night. In Melbourne homes the grey silverfish is the most common. They can live for several years and survive months without food, so they build up slowly and quietly.
They feed on starch and glue, which is why they damage book bindings, wallpaper, photos, cardboard boxes and stored cotton and linen. A roof void full of dust and old insulation gives them the dry food and shelter they need.
| Targeted silverfish treatment | from $149 |
|---|---|
| Whole home with roof void | from $219 |
| Included in general pest control | from $189 |
| Most common species | Grey silverfish |
| Size | Up to about 15 mm, not counting the tails |
| Food | Paper, glue, starch, cotton, linen, crumbs |
| Where they breed | Roof voids, wardrobes, storage, wall cavities |
| What helps | Treatment plus lower humidity |
Signs of silverfish damage around the home
Silverfish hide by day, so the damage is usually noticed before the insects. These are the signs.
Ragged holes in paper
Irregular holes and scraped surfaces on books, documents, photos and cardboard.
Pepper like droppings
Tiny dark specks in drawers, on shelves and in the back of cupboards.
Yellow stains on fabric
Yellowish marks and small holes in stored cotton, linen and rayon.
Silvery scales and shed skins
Fine shiny scales and pale shed skins where they shelter.
Insects in the bath at night
Silverfish trapped in the bath, basin or laundry tub when the light goes on.
Damage to wallpaper
Grazed patches on wallpaper and pasted surfaces, especially in older homes.
Silverfish and their lookalikes in Melbourne homes
Most people call them all silverfish. These are the three we find, and where each one lives.
Grey silverfish
Ctenolepisma longicaudata- Looks like
- Grey, carrot shaped and long bodied, with long tails and antennae.
- Where
- Roof voids, wardrobes, bookshelves and storage boxes throughout the house.
- Treatment
- Roof void dusting and residual treatment of cupboards and skirting.
Common silverfish
Lepisma saccharina- Looks like
- Smaller and shinier silver, with a smooth, tapered body.
- Where
- Damp spots such as bathrooms, laundries and under sinks.
- Treatment
- Treatment of wet areas and fixing the moisture that draws them.
Firebrat
Thermobia domestica- Looks like
- Mottled grey and brown rather than silver, similar in shape.
- Where
- Warm spots near ovens, heaters, hot water services and boiler rooms.
- Treatment
- Treatment of warm voids and gaps around appliances.
Four reasons silverfish keep coming back
If you have sprayed the bathroom and still see silverfish, one of these is usually the reason.
- 1Only treating where you see them. The bath is where they get trapped, not where they breed.
- 2Leaving the roof void untreated. Most homes with silverfish have a population living above the ceiling.
- 3Storing papers and clothes in cardboard boxes, which feeds them and gives them shelter.
- 4Ignoring damp. A leaking pipe or a bathroom without a fan keeps conditions ideal for them.
How to protect what silverfish eat
Silverfish damage is slow, but it adds up on things that cannot be replaced. These steps protect them.
Books and bookshelves
Keep shelves off external walls, leave a gap for airflow, and move books now and then. Silverfish prefer undisturbed, dim spots.
Documents and photos
Store important papers and photos in sealed plastic containers rather than cardboard boxes, which silverfish feed on.
Stored clothing and linen
Wash before storing, then seal in plastic tubs. Starch and sweat residue on fabric attract silverfish.
How our silverfish exterminator service works
Find where they live, treat those places, and make the house less inviting.
Inspect the home
We check the roof void, wardrobes, bookshelves, storage and wet areas for silverfish and damage.
Dust the roof void
A dust treatment is applied through the roof void, where most of the population shelters.
Treat inside
Wardrobes, cupboards, skirting and wet areas are treated where silverfish hide by day.
Advise on moisture
We point out damp, ventilation problems and storage changes that stop them returning.
Silverfish treatment cost in Melbourne
These are our starting prices. The final price depends on the size of the home, roof void access and how widespread the silverfish are, and it is fixed in writing before we start.
Targeted silverfish treatment
from$149
- Wardrobes, cupboards and wet areas
- Skirting and shelving treated
- Written warranty
Whole home with roof void
from$219
- Roof void dust treatment
- Wardrobes, cupboards and wet areas
- Moisture and storage advice
- Written warranty
Also quoted on request
- Silverfish plus other pests general pest control from $189
- Libraries, archives and storage rooms priced by area
- Moths in clothing see moth control
For comparison, Melbourne silverfish treatments are commonly quoted from about $130 for a targeted job, with whole home treatments from about $230.
- Covers
- Areas we treated
- If they return
- Treated again at no charge
- Terms
- Written on your job record
- Depends on
- Leaks and damp addressed
Metro Pest Services · Melbourne
A silverfish warranty that is honest about damp
If silverfish become active again in the treated areas during the warranty period, we come back and treat again at no charge. The period and areas covered are written on your job record.
Because silverfish depend on humidity, the warranty depends on leaks and major damp problems we point out being fixed.
- Warranty terms written on your job record
- Free re treatment if silverfish return
- Conditions listed plainly, not in fine print
Silverfish treatment works better in a drier house
Treatment kills the silverfish that are there. Lowering humidity makes the house far less inviting to the next ones.
- Run bathroom and laundry exhaust fans during and after showers and washing
- Fix leaking taps, pipes and roof leaks that dampen cupboards and the roof void
- Make sure subfloor vents are clear so the space under the house can breathe
- Keep wardrobes and linen cupboards slightly open now and then for airflow
- Clear old boxes, paper and dust from the roof void where possible
What we tell every customer with silverfish
Results build over a few weeks
Silverfish hide deep and feed slowly, so numbers drop over several weeks rather than overnight.
They do not bite or spread disease
Silverfish are a damage problem, not a health risk. The things worth protecting are papers, photos and fabrics.
Some damage blamed on silverfish is moths
Holes in wool are usually clothes moths. Silverfish prefer paper, glue and plant based fibres like cotton and linen.
How to keep silverfish away
Silverfish need food, shelter and humidity. Reduce all three.
Store papers, photos and clothing in sealed plastic tubs.
Run exhaust fans in bathrooms and laundries.
Fix leaks and keep subfloor vents clear.
Vacuum shelves, cupboards and skirting regularly.
Clear old cardboard and paper out of the roof void and garage.
Silverfish treatment across all of Melbourne
Silverfish live in homes in every Melbourne suburb, and we treat anywhere in the metropolitan area, with no call-out fee.
Inner Melbourne
- Melbourne CBD
- Carlton
- Fitzroy
- Richmond
- South Yarra
- St Kilda
- Collingwood
- Docklands
Northern suburbs
- Brunswick
- Coburg
- Preston
- Reservoir
- Epping
- Craigieburn
- Bundoora
- Heidelberg
Eastern suburbs
- Box Hill
- Doncaster
- Ringwood
- Glen Waverley
- Blackburn
- Croydon
- Boronia
- Lilydale
South east
- Dandenong
- Clayton
- Cranbourne
- Narre Warren
- Berwick
- Pakenham
- Springvale
- Keysborough
Bayside and south
- Brighton
- Sandringham
- Cheltenham
- Mentone
- Mordialloc
- Frankston
- Seaford
- Carrum Downs
Western suburbs
- Footscray
- Sunshine
- Altona
- Point Cook
- Werribee
- Hoppers Crossing
- Tarneit
- Melton
Period and older homes. Older roof voids, wallpaper and timber joinery that give silverfish food and shelter.
Bayside and damp areas. Homes where sea air and damp subfloors keep humidity high.
Apartments and units. Bathrooms and storage cupboards without good ventilation.
Offices, archives and libraries. Paper records, books and storage rooms where damage matters most.
Silverfish Control Melbourne FAQs
Not sure if it is silverfish? Send a photo of the insect or the damage, and we will tell you what it is.
Call 0401 573 777How much does silverfish treatment cost in Melbourne?
With us targeted silverfish treatment starts from $149, and whole home treatment with the roof void starts from $219. Silverfish are also covered by general pest control from $189.
What attracts silverfish to my house?
Humidity, dark undisturbed spaces and food like paper, glue, cardboard, starch and crumbs. Roof voids and storage areas give them all three.
Do silverfish bite or cause harm?
No. Silverfish do not bite and are not known to spread disease. They damage paper, photos, books and fabrics.
Why do I see silverfish in the bath?
They fall in while looking for moisture at night and cannot climb the smooth sides. The population usually lives elsewhere, often in the roof void.
Does silverfish pest control Melbourne homes get include the roof?
Our whole home treatment includes dusting the roof void, where most silverfish live. Targeted treatments cover the rooms only.
How long does it take to get rid of silverfish?
Most homes see a clear drop within a few weeks, as silverfish come out of hiding and contact the treatment.
When should I call a silverfish exterminator?
When you keep seeing them, find damage to books, photos or clothing, or have silverfish in several rooms.
Can I get rid of silverfish without chemicals?
Lowering humidity, sealed storage and regular vacuuming reduce them a lot. An established population in a roof void usually needs treatment.
Do silverfish damage clothes?
Yes, mostly cotton, linen and rayon, especially with starch or sweat on them. Holes in wool are more often clothes moths.
Can I stay home during silverfish treatment?
Usually yes. Keep people and pets out of treated rooms until surfaces are dry, and we tell you how long on the day.
Do you treat silverfish in offices and archives?
Yes. We treat storage rooms, archives and libraries, and advise on storage to protect paper records.
Are silverfish a sign of a dirty house?
No. They come from humidity and shelter, and clean homes with damp bathrooms or dusty roof voids get them too.
Silverfish in the bath again tonight?
Silverfish treatment from $149, whole home with the roof void from $219, and a written warranty on treated areas.