Red Bugs... here we go... who has dealt with these?

NeveSSL

NeveSSL

Got tubes?
Wellp, I noticed today that my bali tri-color was doing not good. No polyp extension. Upon a closer look, red bugs. And this is quite odd as the only two SPS pieces I picked up at the frag swap were both from very reputable reefers, so I'm thinking they may have hitch-hiked on my acans?

Regardless of how they got there, they are there! :thumbdown:

Do you guys have any advice? I'm thinking about doing the interceptor thing, but it is a bit intimidating (please, no discussion on where to get it... not what I'm asking). I also thought about dipping in Lugols, but I'm worried that there will be remaining bugs in my system.

Any thoughts from any of you veterans? I've not been down this road... yet... :)

Go figure this happens as my corals were just starting to really take off. :rolleyes:

Brandon
 
From what I've read If you have to get a Infestation Red Bugs are the easiest to get rid of! And I would personally do the Luglols dip ASAP then do the other method. I will be sending you a PM.
Bill
 
Its so easy you shouldn't even worry about it.

Interceptor. Done.

Seriously, its cake. I didn't have any noticeable die off, cept for the bugs.
 
Awesome! Man, I feel better!

Can you give me a call real quick, Bill?

And Chuck, did you take your other invertebrates out? I've heard you should take crabs and shrimp out when you do it.

Thanks again!

Brandon
 
Brandon,

Zef did this not so long ago. ALso, I cna get you interceptor if you need. My Vet was a fish guy and has no issue with letting reef geeks use it.
 
NeveSSL said:
Awesome! Man, I feel better!

Can you give me a call real quick, Bill?

And Chuck, did you take your other invertebrates out? I've heard you should take crabs and shrimp out when you do it.

Thanks again!

Brandon
Click to expand...

Red bugs are the "best" pest you can have from my experience (had them a couple of years ago) and everything I've ever heard. Interceptor treatment a couple of times. No worries.

Yes on the crabs and shrimp. I had some blue legs I missed pull through and I've even heard of some shrimp making it, but it definitely doesn't do them any good. I noticed no effect at all on the corals or anything else really.

Frecking red bugs are tiny, aren't they? Even though I had seen pictures of them, I was very surprised by how small they were when I had them and the only reason I even noticed them was because I was looking for my acro crab at the time. It's not unimaginable that even reputable reefers might have them and not know it... which is why I re-posted the one pest thread before the swap :D
 
I dosed mine a few months back, very easy process. I would definate recommend 3 treatments a week apart so you only have to treat the tank once.

You will need to remove your crabs and shrimp. I introduced my crabs a little too soon after the last treatment and lost nearly all of them. This was after a handful of water changes.
 
Somebody needs to start a business, call it "Reef DR" or something. They come to the house, diagnose and treat the problem. They could even take the patient with them for treatment if it's bad enough. For folks who don't have other tanks to put inverts in during whole tank treatments, they could house them temporarily. When receiving new livestock, they could provide QT/Dipping services for folks without QT/holding tanks... They could receive your shipment from wherever, inspect the live stock, acclimate, dip, QT, treat further if needed, then the owner pics them up when all clear... They could provide a "reef sitting" service as well when folks are on vacation... Just throwing out some ideas...
 
I couldn't catch a CB shrimp once doing a RB treatment but he became pretty lathargic into the treatment and I scooped him out and put him in some clean water I had saved out then acclimated him to the tank the other inverts were in and he pulled through. A few other crabs I couldn't get died and a "few" lived. Guess it depends on the strenght and health of the invert but most I left in perished FWIW.
 
I've treated with a mandarin and a few wrasses in the tank, and they never showed any signs of issues. I wasn't feeding much back then (feeding a lot more these days...), so they found enough to eat somewhere. I've got a pretty productive pod farm, though;). The ones that get deep enough into the rocks or in the sand don't seem to get much Interceptor.
 
Hi all,

Thanks for all of the replies! I've been busy and haven't been able to reply. :)

I was able to get some Interceptor and plan on going that route. I'm setting up a QT tank at home for my pistol shrimp and hermits to chill in for 3 weeks while I do the Interceptor. :)

Jack, I do have a mandarin, but she is in my main tank and the red bugs are in my nano. :) She also eats frozen, so not a huge deal.

I would LOVE to get an acro crab! I wish people sold them by themselves... heh. You just don't see them too often, but they are sweet.

Thanks for all of the help, guys!

Brandon
 
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