It’s about 2-3mm in length. Central European location.
this post was submitted on 27 May 2026
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What is this thing?
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This is NOT a regular silverfish but a longtailed one or paperfish (Papierfischchen when you live in Germany)
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctenolepisma_longicaudatum
They are not as useful as silverfish but not dangerous - except for your books and paperwork. We've also have them in our flat. They like it dry and feed on paper.
Silverfish have a use?
They eat mold afaik. So if you see them, you know there's a source of humidity/mold you ought to check out.
Don't they also eat all your paper and organic fabrics?
Exactly. Also silverfish eat house dust mites.
Eating books and paperwork.
They eat bugs and stuff. Not spiders though, that's a myth (unless they're already dead maybe).
Might be thinking of house centipedes which do eat spiders and are also commonly called silverfish, at least around where I'm from anyway.
Yes. Would agree that this is a paperfish. If you see them too often you realy should consider a pesticide.