Red bugs worth the trouble?

[Coralmassa]

Because I move every two years I made sure my rock structure was somewhat modular. When I found red bugs on my bonsai and tricolor I removed the frags ., which had not yet encrusted, as well as the whole rock they were on with the other few colonies and interceptored all of them at once. I used half a chewable tablet for the small dog size and let them sit in a bucket with a heater and powerhead for an hour.n after wards there was nothing left on the acros, although I followed up twice more that week. Nuts been six months now and still no bugs.
I tried the whole dragonface pipefish thing and it failed miserably, they just aren't reliable or robust creatures.
I think some on here have hypothesized that the pe on acros is crazy after interceptor chewables because of the beefy protein for flavor. Either way, I never saw pe like that after revive dips. U can always start with pulling frags and then progress towards full tank treatment.

 

[sprite]

Well my dr g coral do came in. Last night I was doing my weekly dip for aefw and 3 Red bugs made it to the rinsing water. I caught them with a Salifert syringe and put them in a 10ml vital for tests. This afternoon I poured then into a bowl and dosed 1 drop off Dr g's coral dip. An hour later their not moving at all like before. Tank was just dosed.

 

[Reef1ruler]

Well my dr g coral do came in. Last night I was doing my weekly dip for aefw and 3 Red bugs made it to the rinsing water. I caught them with a Salifert syringe and put them in a 10ml vital for tests. This afternoon I poured then into a bowl and dosed 1 drop off Dr g's coral dip. An hour later their not moving at all like before. Tank was just dosed.

Keep us updated!

 

[Piper27]

You have a good vet. Most have no idea what we are trying to accomplish with interceptor.

Trick is to bring paperwork explaining what they are and how interceptor helps rid our systems of them so easily. Any extra info on them along with a ton of pictures and articles from the internet will help.

 

[sprite]

I dosed a half a cap full (about 30g total water) yesterday at 3:30 pm. Later on last night I was reading other threads of other people dosing hole bottle on 265g or less, so I did the math and end up dosing another whole cap full about 8pm. I've never seen polyp extension on my frags like last night and this morning. This morning I took a small ph and blasted all the frags then did a water change, turned Skimmer back on, and added carbon. Lights aren't on yet so I grabbed a flash light and can't see a bug no where. PE is crazy at the moment.

 

[Reef1ruler]

I dosed a half a cap full (about 30g total water) yesterday at 3:30 pm. Later on last night I was reading other threads of other people dosing hole bottle on 265g or less, so I did the math and end up dosing another whole cap full about 8pm. I've never seen polyp extension on my frags like last night and this morning. This morning I took a small ph and blasted all the frags then did a water change, turned Skimmer back on, and added carbon. Lights aren't on yet so I grabbed a flash light and can't see a bug no where. PE is crazy at the moment.

Sounds good! It's been two days since I individually dipped all my acros and I do not see any bugs(knocking on wood)!

 

[xanthurum]

Any results Sprite?

 

[michaelg]

I will be doing this tonight with Dr. G's. I will start with Naturalreefs dose of 1 cap/20 gallons system (I have a 60 cube)- carbon removed and skimmer turned off. Will wait 12 hrs and do a 20 gallon water change tomorrow. My refugium is separate from my sump, so I will disconnect for the night and hook back up on Sunday. It has separate circulation. Only thing I'm concerned about are my cleaner shrimp, but I can't see a way to remove them without ripping the tank apart. They are a large breeding pair. Hopefully size matters.
I'll post a follow up as well this week and again next week when I do a second dose. In addition to coral and fish there are snails, crabs (hermits and emerald), shrimp (just cleaners), and an urchin.

Note- while the original Dr. G's bottle may have had the ingredients listed on it, the new bottle I got from Premium Aq only says proprietary blend. The website still lists Milbemcyn oxime, Vitamin C, and RO/DI Water.

 

[tapio]

While Dr G's list Milbemycin as the active ingredient the consumer has no idea how much. Therefore if dosing into a tank, it is total guess work. Something that I would never do.

It is just so typical for low end aquarium products to call their secret blend proprietary instead of honestly declaring how much there is. How about someone out there simply to buy Milbemycin from a chemical manufacture in bulk and repackaging it into smaller containers and just state what it is. Then it is easy to know exactly what you put into your tank.

Several fish medications are sold this way, why not something like Milbemycin that so many use?

 

[michaelg]

tapio- totally agree that this should be offered as a standard "medicine" for the hobby. Chopping up 25mg amounts of an interceptor tab isn't exactly accurate either, and who knows what else is in there (yummy beef flavor for example). When I looked at my sentinel tablets they now have a third ingredient in them, so I wasn't comfortable using them. Thankfully with this medicine there is a broad range of activity and relatively low toxicity to non-target animals. By a few of us using the same dose I think we can reach a consensus of a safe dose and this will be an alternate for people who can't easily get the interceptor tabs. Ordering from Australia seems pretty ridiculous to me.

 

[Nanighan]

Won't a 6 Line Wrasse eat them too?

Mine did. Thats the only reason I keep him around. Everytime I removed him, red bugs came back.

 

[tapio]

Ordering from Australia seems pretty ridiculous to me.

I was glad that option was available, but it is not anymore. Aussie stores don't ship to US anymore. I suppose one needs a vet prescription. Like I said this stuff should be sold by someone such as National Fish Pharmaceuticals.

 

[tapio]

Mine did. Thats the only reason I keep him around. Everytime I removed him, red bugs came back.

Glad the Sixline worked for you. Wrasses typically can control small infestations but nothing big and certainly is not a "solution" for most reefers. Also some individuals may not touch the bugs, especially when fed other stuff.

 

[Reef Frog]

Aren't most vetenarians reluctant to write a prescription for an off label use? Is that legal for them to do that? Or do they have that flexibility like MD's do?

When shopping for a vet to write a prescription, have you been successful calling or emailing first to see if they'll do it or have you walked in, asked, been told "Sorry, No" and been charged for an office visit anyways?

 

[Piper27]

I would not bother telling the whole story to anyone but their main vet. Also I wouldn't try anyone but self owned vets. A "chain" vet clinic probably would be less inclined to help. I am not sure the regulations on vets giving out meds though.

 

[Reef Frog]

Thanks for the reply ^. I don't have dogs or cats so no vet. Don't need the medication now either, just thought I'd ask and see how it's done just in case.

The endeavor feels slightly illicit somehow! I wonder if the vets could wonder if they're getting set up or if you're some wack job planning on doing something improper with the product.

ASDITIONAL QUESTION: Is the medicine available in liquid as well at tablet form?

 

[tommyboynj]

Print a couple of articles on red bugs off from the forums and go to your vet. That's what I did and they were cool. Since they started selling it again it's gotten easier to get. One vet in my local club (whole sells some really nice aquaculture frags out of his practive) also sell it to local Reefers. Interceptor works plain and simple.

Sent from my XT1096 using Tapatalk

 

[Piper27]

You don't have to have dogs or cats to see a vet for interceptor. No it only comes in pill form which is crushed and mixed into water before added to the tank.

I took pictures of my reefs, corals, and articles about interceptor being a proven solution as well as other articles from reefers experience.

 

[xanthurum]

Must be nice, I've been to several vets and been turned down at all of them. I don't know if I have Red Bugs in fact I'm pretty sure I don't but I would like to have Interceptor on hand in case. I have a coral QT so I hope I never have to deal with them but failure is always an option.

 

[Piper27]

That's why I went, better to have it when your collecting corals. Haven't had to use it this time around but they always seem to pop up at wierd times.