Red Bugs Treatment with Interceptor Spectrum

[Biggar]

I figured I would release information on the treatment of red bugs with a more uncommon form of interceptor. This is my first whole tank treatment for anything, and hopefully it will be my last.
I dont plan on buying corals for a long time. I know for sure several of us have red bugs, so do yourself a favor and check your tanks too and more importantly, check the tanks you buy coral from.

I do sell frags, and I refuse to sell any I know are infected, its just common courtesy. Think I recently picked these up, and it sucks.

Back to treatment:

This is Interceptor Spectrum Chewables- NOT regular interceptor tablets.

Spectrum Chewable is what was mailed to me. I did not know there were different kinds. After researching, I decided I would give it a shot as some claimed success and none claimed ill effects. Wish me luck. BTW- I had to order these from a Canada website, and they shipped from Singapore. $34.33 Shipped for 3 Chewies. Search Canada Vet Care and you will find them.

Main difference is:
Spectrum Chewables contain same amount of Milbemycin Oxime(23mg) as regular tablet interceptor, but also adds 228mg of praziquantel.

Here is my helper to supervise:


I was able to obtain one tablet also, so I figured I could make two doses with half the strength of Prazi (about 114mg) and full Milbemycin Oxime.

I used half a chew and half a tablet. I will repeat this today, and one week from today.



I put in hot saltwater and let it soak for about 20 minutes. crushed up the rest with spoon



Rules for treatment.
1. 23mg Milbemycin Oxime will treat up to 380 gallons. Im giving whole 23mg on mine (about 280 gallons). Little overpowered. 114mg Prazi also went in.
2. Take out shrimps and crabs- they may die, may not
3. Turn off carbon reactors and phosban.
4. Pull out air line to skimmer so it does not skim, but still runs
5. Put meds in water from 6-24 hours. Im going 12 on first treatment unless something bad happens. Im at 4 hours as I write this.
6. After treatment. Do 20% water change / change carbon / crank skimmer back on
7. Repeat this at least twice. 3 times may be better due to the life cyle of the red bugs. Repeat weekly. I read many had complete success with 2 treatments.

Here is what Im dealing with: Just dosed. About 30 into treatment on this pic



Zoomed: Little yellow bugs with red spot. They are really yellow and tough to spot.




This hobby will keep you on your toes for sure. Hoping for the best. Ill keep ya posted.

I know many will not have both a tablet and chewable, but I still feel this will be helpful. Prazi may kill other pests without me knowing. Fingers are crossed and water change is ready just incase.

 

[silver17jo]

Oh no mike I hope you get those little bastards

 

[Biggar]

Oh no mike I hope you get those little bastards

I almost named the thread. "Taking care of Lil bastards".

But figured that wouldnt help future reefers looking to kill these suckers!

 

[Biggar]

Update is in

Update is in

Wow!

About 5.5 hours in and I dont see any on that frag.

 

[silver17jo]

That's awesome I hope they aren't just hiding

 

[Joshporksandwic]

I guess bayer didn't do a good job getting rid of those?

 

[marke]

How did u get the bugs? How long have you had them? Did they show up on all acros? Or a few favorites for them? Thought you dipped new stuff? How did u finally realize you had them?

 

[Biggar]

I guess bayer didn't do a good job getting rid of those?

I think bayer does do a good job on them. The frags must have eggs and such attached that will later reap havoc. Maybe Bill knows more about their life cycle and breeding habits

How did u get the bugs? How long have you had them? Did they show up on all acros? Or a few favorites for them? Thought you dipped new stuff? How did u finally realize you had them?

Maybe at frag swap. I do dip, but not everytime with bayer and a tooth brush and strong flow. My fault. Sometimes I just use coral rx a baster, its not enough obviously.

The treatment seems to be working. I would check your sps too.

Have you ever dealt with them?

 

[marke]

I think bayer does do a good job on them. The frags must have eggs and such attached that will later reap havoc. Maybe Bill knows more about their life cycle and breeding habits



Maybe at frag swap. I do dip, but not everytime with bayer and a tooth brush and strong flow. My fault. Sometimes I just use coral rx a baster, its not enough obviously.

The treatment seems to be working. I would check your sps too.

Have you ever dealt with them?

From what I have read they don't have eggs, they are...I think the term is ....live bearers. I have dealt with them, about once a year its inevitable. I have become good at looking for them with my magnifying glass. Its easier to treat if you catch them early. The treatment is easy and painless if you can get the meds. The recipe calls for 3 treatments one week apart. Don't want to cause controversy, but I have been successful with only one double strength(one large dog pill) treatment. Would not lose sleep over red bug, some people live with them? Using only natural predators, but since treating is easy do it. If you want to know what I lose sleep over its acro eating flatworms.. I have never had but heard story. Go read and get night mares

 

[Biggar]

Yea, im sooooooo glad its not AEFW. I would really be unhappy.

I did a 10 hour treatment. Tank is cranking again.

I did notice a peppermint shrimp walking on the sand which he never does in the light.
Little stoned if you ask me.



The coral still looks clean. ( ;

 

[jdraider75]

Thanks for the info I have same problem. I have interceptor spectrum on order hope its here bout Wednesday. Did you say you got the large dog pills I think its 51-100 lbs? that's what I ordered and was wondering how much to use. I have 150 total gallons hoping to kill them little buggers

 

[Biggar]

Thanks for the info I have same problem. I have interceptor spectrum on order hope its here bout Wednesday. Did you say you got the large dog pills I think its 51-100 lbs? that's what I ordered and was wondering how much to use. I have 150 total gallons hoping to kill them little buggers

23mg are supposed to be good for 380 gallons. I would just cut it in half and make sure it has disintegrated completely. Yep, always get the biggest ones.

 

[jdraider75]

23mg are supposed to be good for 380 gallons. I would just cut it in half and make sure it has disintegrated completely. Yep, always get the biggest ones.

Thanks appreciate the help. Good Luck with yours kill em all:fun2:

 

[CanisVulpis]

23mg are supposed to be good for 380 gallons. I would just cut it in half and make sure it has disintegrated completely. Yep, always get the biggest ones.

Did you notice any die off of snails/crabs ? I've read various anecdotal evidence concerning it's ability to eradicate snails and crabs along with AEFW and wanted to hear your experience.

As for Bayer, it's very effective, but people typically just dip the coral in a solution of it rather than letting it sit for 15-20min which is what is generally required.

 

[tommy tomato]

Are you going to have a blowout on red bug frags? I have quarantine space if you're willing to sell some frags cheap

 

[Biggar]

Did you notice any die off of snails/crabs ? I've read various anecdotal evidence concerning it's ability to eradicate snails and crabs along with AEFW and wanted to hear your experience.

As for Bayer, it's very effective, but people typically just dip the coral in a solution of it rather than letting it sit for 15-20min which is what is generally required.

I removed most of the crabs, but left the shrimp and snails in. Snails should not have a problem. Shrimp and crabs could.

As far as Prazi goes in interceptor, this might help eradicate worms. Not sure. Never had them.

 

[Biggar]

Are you going to have a blowout on red bug frags? I have quarantine space if you're willing to sell some frags cheap

Once I notice bugs are gone, I got cheap frags coming your way!

Strangely enough, im not sure if they even effected the corals growth. Ill know soon. I only seen these on a couple frags. Just want them out.

:thumbsup:

 

[Biggar]

Update:

Running round two today. Same way. 1/2 tablet(pill form) and 1/2 chewy(tablet).

Again- Im getting PMs where I got these from. I did put it in the post. Chewys are available from canada vet care.com. If you guys know where to buy pill form, let me know. But for now, this method is working with prazi involved too.

Ideally- One should use the large dog pill form. I accidentally bought wrong ones and gave it a shot.

Observations:
-I dont see any Red Bugs after round one. But im not taking a chance. So round two underway.

-The only larger animals I noticed that died were the crabs I took out and placed in a ten gallon tank.

- All shrimp and clams made it through round one, and all corals.

- Crabs I dont not catch are still walking around too.

- I did notice the coral that had red bugs, now has PE.

Day one before treatment.
This shot was taken before tank LEDs came on. With camera flash




10 Days after. Notice Polyp Extension difference






I thought about getting dragon faced pipe fish, they are know to eat them. But that only would mask the problem.

BTW- Exotic Aquatic has them for 19.99.

Ill make one last update in few weeks

 

[Crackem]

I'm confused on which product to use. The website I went to has interceptor spectrum and it also has sentinal spectrum. I know people use the large pill for large dogs, but they also sell both products in large, medium, small, and very small. My total water volume is between 50-60 gallons.

So which product should I buy? Interceptor spectrum or sentinal spectrum? Also which size for 50-60 total volume.

I wish I could just use bayer and dip but some of my infected corals are encrusted on large live rocks.

Also I'm thinking about removing what ever crabs and snails and I have 2 cleaner shrimp , but I don't have a qt.
I was thinking I could buy a 10 gallon tank and a small heater. Could I use a few air stones for filtration or do I need to buy something else?
Do they sell small complete setups that I could use for qt?

 

[shubunk]

Very helpful. Thank you so much!!!:wavehand: