Darn red bugs!

[Cozmo4]

I've got red bugs on three of my acros. They must have come in on some frags I bought from someone online. I dip in Revive, but obviously that's not enough...lesson learned. I know that interceptor is the only way to wipe them out. I'm dreading doing that, but will if I have to. I've got a few emeralds, an acro crab, quite a few blue leg hermits, 4 peppermints, two skunk cleaners and a fire shrimp. It would be nearly impossible to get them all out to be sure that they aren't harmed during the treatment. Not only do I worry about hurting/killing them, I'm worried about a possible ammonia spike from any mass die off.

So, will red bugs ultimately kill the corals or are they an irritant? I ask because I still have good color and growth from the affected pieces. Is there a way to keep red bugs in check to minimize any damage they may cause other than the interceptor treatment (i.e a natural predator)?

Thanks!

 

[OwenInAZ]

From what I can tell, redbugs are more or less a minor irritant. I've heard of sixlines eating them, but that seems to me to be all anecdotal evidence; i.e. no one can prove that they do or do not. I'm pretty sure I have redbugs on my tricolor -- nothing yet on any of the other acros, but the tricolor grows fairly quickly and its polyps extend like nothing's the matter. Bob Fenner's site has some interesting stuff about them, most of it comes down to, "my corals are thriving so who really cares."

Hope that helps

 

[mm949]

u can dip them in fluke tabs 1tab per gallon in a bucket w/a powerhead for 1 hour

 

[deuce2002]

i always put all new corals in revive and intercepter and SW from my tank for about 1hr with PH and heater

 

[pisces4u]

DrF&S claim that dragonface pipefish will graze on red bugs. People have had varied experiences with them, both effective and not. They run about $25+SH so you can get two for the price of a package of interceptor.

Emerald crabs aren't too hard to capture, I grabbed my two with foreceps. The same goes for hermits. My skunk cleaner is very comfortable with eating from my hand so I just held a silverside near the surface and netted him when he came up.

My peppermint was another story as I tried for days with food, net, and a trap to no avail. He didn't survive the treatment, but since one acro frag is worth more I didn't really have a choice.

You can live with red bugs but colors will fade and PE will worsen over time. IMO, trap and transfer as much as you can and treat the interceptor. Color and growth will improve and you can sell/trade frags to recover your lost crustaceans.

 

[mpoletti]

If you have them on three acros, they you will need to treat your system. Red bugs are no big deal; just an eye sore to look at in pictures.

 

[jgatmaitan]

Red bugs are not the worst pest but if untreated, they can grow in numbers and eventually kill your corals. It just takes time for them to really cause issues. As mpoletti said, treat the whole tank. You have time, just dont let it get out of control.

 

[ALLANSAM]

Those darn red bugs are most likely FLATWORMS.I fought with them for over a year.:uzi::uzi::uzi::uzi:

 

[gws76]

Those darn red bugs are most likely FLATWORMS.I fought with them for over a year.

Red bugs and Red Planaria (flatworms) look nothing alike. How did you come up with the conclusion that they are flatworms?

 

[Cozmo4]

Thanks all. They are absolutely not flatworms and are clearly red bugs. Thanks for the tip on the Dragonface Pipefish, Pisces. I ordered two from Live Aquaria after reading up on them a bit. They will be here Saturday. I'll see if they help before going the Interceptor route.

 

[gws76]

IMHO, I would drop the interceptor bomb. I've been that route before and was extremely pleased by the results.

 

[flamron]

Look at it this way. If your dog had fleas, he can live with them, albeit probably unhappily.

Interceptor is a simple, effective, and safe treatment. Pull your crabs and shrimps, and do three treatments 7 days apart. If you can't catch them easily, you can HOPE to get them after you dose and they are dazed. I did this with a fire shrimp and an emerald crab. However, the shrimp was already too far gone, but the crab made it until I dropped him on the floor.

GL & HTH,

 

[bhelne01]

i just did the first treatment and all of the red bugs are dead should i do the second and third treatment

 

[gws76]

i just did the first treatment and all of the red bugs are dead should i do the second and third treatment

Yes, you should do the second and third treatments. Keep in mind there is a cycle you a breaking. If you treat the first time and get all the red bugs that are currently crawling around your acros, there may be eggs some where. I have never seen red bugs make it through 3 treatments.

 

[flamron]

Red bugs are live bearers. They don't lay eggs. The theory behind the three treatments is this: One treatment "may" get them all, but if two are left, then they will multiply. The interceptor does a job on amphipods and copepods, but there are some left. It stands to reason that there would be red bugs left as well. The second treatment, seven days later, will take care of any remaining red bugs, as well as their offspring. The third is a good preventative, in case you somehow did not get them all the second time.

HTH,

 

[gws76]

Wasn't sure on the egg layer or live bearer, or if they packed their eggs around until hatching. Good to know. thanks

I think the point flamron and I are trying to make is that interceptor as a treatment is not a big deal. It's an easy way to remedy the red bug problem. Anymore that is part of my acclimation process. I dip new arrivals in Tropic Marine Pro Coral Cure then sometimes revive, and if it's an acro, they get dipped in interceptor before going into my system.