Is one red bug a bad sign?

[jgs1978]

Can one red bug multiply into many? Spotted one on a new frag I picked up. Observed the frag in my tank for 5 minutes at a time, and could only spot the one bug. Am I being optimistic here, thinking that there is only one?

All other coral are doing fine, so I don't want to bomb the tank with interceptor just yet. I guess the best I can do for right now, is observe to see if it worsens.... *sigh*

 

[M88A2]

At the very least, you should pull the frag and treat it. You have a window of opportunity here to prevent future headaches. I had a frag that i saw no red bugs, but suspected it was infected. I even checked it at night with a red light and still saw nothing. When i dipped it, saw several at the bottom of the bowl. I really think you should dip it as soon as possible before it spreads

 

[Reefer1225]

Never just one. I wouldn't have put it in DT if you saw a red bug. At least get some Bayer Insect Killer and dip the frag. I use Bayer for all new frags now. Good luck.

 

[Allmost]

its never just one .... you noticed just one of them ... that's how it was in my tank too .

interceptor is nothing to worry about ... I used to be worried of In tank treatments but not interceptor.

 

[jgs1978]

Never just one. I wouldn't have put it in DT if you saw a red bug. At least get some Bayer Insect Killer and dip the frag. I use Bayer for all new frags now. Good luck.

Will go to Home Depot to get that Bayer though. Gonna battle these little buggers, and dip the frag a second time using Bayer. :strooper: The first dip before intro was with Coral Rx.

What ratio should Bayer be used at? mL to a cup of tank water?

Thanks for all the input!

 

[reefsafe]

is one herpe bad?

 

[Reefer1225]

Will go to Home Depot to get that Bayer though. Gonna battle these little buggers, and dip the frag a second time using Bayer. :strooper: The first dip before intro was with Coral Rx.

What ratio should Bayer be used at? mL to a cup of tank water?

Thanks for all the input!

Yeah, I use Coral Rx as well, but it doesn't kill red bugs. Look at the thread "Another Option for Red Bugs" for dosage. I personally used 5 ml per cup with no ill effects. This may be higher than the recommended dose in the thread. The solution turns milky white, but don't worry about that. I have read some posts of others going up to 10 ml and more per cup. I would start on the low side just in case. If red bugs are still present, then up the dosage. I just used 5 mL b/c I had multiple frags infected and I treated them all at once. Good Luck.

 

[Arkayology]

The short answer is yes. They are like ants or roaches. If there is one, there are more.

 

[jgs1978]

is one herpe bad?

Never had that problem, but it is bad and not curable, so go see your doctor for treatment :lmao:. Red bugs on the other hand are, and will die as soon as I use this Bayer.

Yeah, I use Coral Rx as well, but it doesn't kill red bugs. Look at the thread "Another Option for Red Bugs" for dosage. I personally used 5 ml per cup with no ill effects. This may be higher than the recommended dose in the thread. The solution turns milky white, but don't worry about that. I have read some posts of others going up to 10 ml and more per cup. I would start on the low side just in case. If red bugs are still present, then up the dosage. I just used 5 mL b/c I had multiple frags infected and I treated them all at once. Good Luck.

Cool, I just picked some up, and will start around 2ml per cup. Thanks again Reefer1225

The short answer is yes. They are like ants or roaches. If there is one, there are more.

Thanks, for the short answer Arkayology.

 

[Reefer1225]

Be sure you stir the solution well. When the frag is in there, I used a turkey baster to blow the frags with the solution. Tried to knock them all off. You won't be able to see the red bugs during the treatment, but if you look close enough and lift the frag out you can inspect it. Just because they stop moving doesn't mean they are dead. Put it back in and blow it with the baster until you don't see any clinging on the frag. I rinsed the frags with tank water to get all the solution off before I placed it back in the tank. Like I said, within a couple of hours, of being put back in the tank, I saw polyp extension. I think it is less stressful than Coral Rx honestly.

Update the thread and let us know how it turns out.

 

[lowbudget]

when you see one im sure there are plenty

 

[M88A2]

i used 10ml per cup and dipped for 10min. this is the most extreme i would go with the Bayer dip. It did not kill the corals, but they are def not happy. Turned completely poo brown...but still better than red bugs.

 

[jgs1978]

Results are in from last nights dipping!!

I used 3ml of Bayer to 1.5 cups of tank water. Stirred the solution and dipped the frag for 10 minutes. Swirled the water around, but probably should have basted it. Noticed a few tiny amphipods die of, but also saw about 4 redbugs at the bottom of the cup.

This morning the frag looks vibrant in color with some good polyp extension. Will do another dipping tonight, and baste the hell out of the frag.

 

[Reefer1225]

Results are in from last nights dipping!!

I used 3ml of Bayer to 1.5 cups of tank water. Stirred the solution and dipped the frag for 10 minutes. Swirled the water around, but probably should have basted it. Noticed a few tiny amphipods die of, but also saw about 4 redbugs at the bottom of the cup.

This morning the frag looks vibrant in color with some good polyp extension. Will do another dipping tonight, and baste the hell out of the frag.

Nice. You should be good after the next treatment. Thank Whisperer for the discovery of this treatment. Save my frags.