Need some help Red bugs

[Victoria]

OK just when you think your tank is going along you see something. I'm sure its red bug from the many photos i have seen in this forum. I have a few questions. I know I could find threads that relate. But when it happens to you I need someone talking to me.

Tank:
29 gal
HOB fuge

How do I get this interceptor stuff?
How much and how long do I treat?
Can I turn off fuge to save pods?
will I lose my shrimp?
What else will I lose?
Whats the worst thing that can happen?
Will I be able to sleep after the red bugs are gone? lol
Can I really get rid of them?
What would happen if I did nothing?

Here is a few question for starters.
Victoria

 

[PUGroyale]

Here ya go

http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=45859

 

[Victoria]

Thanks Dave for the info. Will try to make sense of it.
Victoria

 

[Victoria]

Dave has there been any new information as to how many treatments and how much time between them?
Victoria

 

[clkwrk]

Re: Need some help Red bugs

How do I get this interceptor stuff?

Thru your pets vet or online

How much and how long do I treat?
Read this thread http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=324266
Can I turn off fuge to save pods?

No as red bugs can travel.

will I lose my shrimp?

Yes unless you remove them during the treatment only reintroducing them after the waterchange and carbon.
What else will I lose?
"amphipods, shrimps, lobsters, crabs, polychaetes, nematodes, copepods, and possibly other invertebrates which have not been tested for toxicity to the drug "

Whats the worst thing that can happen?
You will lose amphipods, shrimps, lobsters, crabs, polychaetes, nematodes, copepods, and possibly other invertebrates

Will I be able to sleep after the red bugs are gone? lol
Yup
Can I really get rid of them?
yup
What would happen if I did nothing?
Many things could happen. I live with them and so do a few others . IMO we all have nice tanks and some are real nice. It can be done but I will end with that as I am sure to get blasted if I go into detail. Do a search to find more about my experience.

 

[clkwrk]

Here is also Erics site with more info.

http://www.ericborneman.com/Tegastes-content/History/History.html


IMO and IME I would opt for the QT tank treatment outline in Erics Site here.

http://www.ericborneman.com/Tegastes-content/Treatment.html

 

[Victoria]

I have look at most all of these articles. I might of missed it but did any of then every find out the life cycle of Tegastes acoporanus?

 

[jay24k]

It doesn't always kill your shrimp but it is possible yes. Other then that, the benefits FAR outweigh it. Good Luck,

 

[SunnyX]

All the treatments above will work great.

I'm with clkwrk on this one though, my tank has red bugs and it is doing fine. Has been doing great for quite some time now.

 

[Ti]

what do red bugs do?

 

[taflaw]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8309070#post8309070 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ti
what do red bugs do?

It has been speculated that red bugs feed off of the slime and waste products produced by Acropora corals. Whether or not this is harmful to Acropora corals is still unknown because very little scientific research has been done to prove anything yet.

 

[pham411]

hey vic, i seen your thread over at TR. ive had bugs in my tank for 4 months now. so far, no real damage, im also deciding weather to nuke my tank or not. i have the same concerns as you.

will I lose my shrimp?
What else will I lose?
Whats the worst thing that can happen?
Will I be able to sleep after the red bugs are gone? lol
Can I really get rid of them?
What would happen if I did nothing?

 

[Ti]

I thought red bugs ate the polyps and stuff and kill corals?

 

[clkwrk]

I have never seen any reports of them eating polyps or killing corals. They feed off of the mucus from all the papers I have looked at . They can make a weakened coral more weak or be a final straw but a healthy coral in the right conditions act as if they weren't there.

All it is believed that there are 2 types....

 

[Victoria]

Pham411 I am going to try the treatment. But first I'm going to remove as many shrimps, crabs ect as I can and put them in a holding tank. I will post a how to thread over at TR. I will start in a couple of weeks.

I do not see any real damage to my corals yet. They are all healthy so far. maybe a very small amount of bleaching.
Clkwk: Do you have a link where you read their are 2 types?
You don't by chance know what there life cycle is do you?
Victoria

 

[Victoria]

Clkwk: where in AZ are you? We are going to be moving there in a year or so.
Victoria

 

[firefish2020]

I have never seen any reports of them eating polyps or killing corals

Me either until a few weeks ago. I have been watching a big acro that was heavily infested with RBs . It had been doing fine for months in the system after being traded to us. One day I saw what appeared to be a bubble forming under the tissue. Within an hour the coral RTNd with the coral tissue streaming off the skeleton leaving only a bleached white skeleton. All tank parameters had tested the same and still do, nothing different was done to the coral. It was a TR ORA MI colony almost 3 years old and in fine shape other than the bugs. Did they do it? I think they lead to the incident yes, but no I have no proof. It was however a wakeup call for me. I don't trust the bugs anymore myself.

My 2 cents

 

[jay24k]

Why even risk it? Why would you want a coral that might be slightly weak to become killed by them? I'd rather be able to have the chance to nurse the coral back. I would think the ones who have them probably have some type of fish or method to keep the population in check otherwise I would imagine the number would be staggering, thus consuming the coral causing RTN/STN.

 

[Victoria]

I have been watching my RB very closely. It seems my coral does not mind them crawling on them. But what I have noticed is they (RB) Seem to inbed in the coral when they reproduce. I see some bleaching around where they inbed. Has anyone noticed this?
Victoria