Zacktosterone
Active member
Just treat the tank with it.... Stop trying to dodge it. If you do it correctly everything will be fine. You not treating the entire tank is a huge waist of your time because they will just come back
Red bugs worth the trouble?
- Thread starter Reef1ruler
- Start date
Back a few years ago I called a few vets with limited results. Finally found a exotic pets vet and referred them to the veterinary society site which has studies on off label use. Brought in an article and described the situation regarding life cycles and species and showed her the info on dosages and uses as dips and tank treatment. All she requested is I bring in an acro so she could "check it out". Took pictures and busted out a magnifying glass and thanked me for teaching her. Got my prescription and welcomed me back.
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Reef Frog
New member
Good ideas, thanks. Gosh I hope she gave you a discount on the office visit as compensation for the education
!Little more detail on the treatment I did:
I used it on the whole tank. 1 cap/ 20 gallons seems to be what people are using and I went with that (3 caps for my system) - added to overflow so it was diluted by the time it reached the main tank. Overnight (11 hrs), no carbon or skimmer. Water change next day, fresh carbon and resumed skimming.
Seems to have worked like a charm- no bugs to be seen at all. No casualties that I can tell including my cleaner shrimp, hermit crabs, bristle worms, snails, and a long spine urchin. Hopefully there won't be a delayed response. I disconnected the refugium during treatment and hooked it back up later. I plan to do a second treatment pending everything stays looking good by next week. Very glad I read on pipefish and other natural predators not really being a solution to full eradication and found this stuff. Have not noticed an algae spike (even on glass) either that others reported.
I used it on the whole tank. 1 cap/ 20 gallons seems to be what people are using and I went with that (3 caps for my system) - added to overflow so it was diluted by the time it reached the main tank. Overnight (11 hrs), no carbon or skimmer. Water change next day, fresh carbon and resumed skimming.
Seems to have worked like a charm- no bugs to be seen at all. No casualties that I can tell including my cleaner shrimp, hermit crabs, bristle worms, snails, and a long spine urchin. Hopefully there won't be a delayed response. I disconnected the refugium during treatment and hooked it back up later. I plan to do a second treatment pending everything stays looking good by next week. Very glad I read on pipefish and other natural predators not really being a solution to full eradication and found this stuff. Have not noticed an algae spike (even on glass) either that others reported.
anemoneguy
Member
Thinking about doing this treatment. Something has been effecting my large montapora and leaving a white peppery dust on it and now I have noticed problems with a brain coral and a war coral. I can't remove the montapora but I was able to dip the small brain and could see with a magnifying glass small black bugs running around the container. I have never been able to see anything on the corals other than the white peppery stuff other than when I dipped. Does this sound like red/black bugs? I am curious as to what could b eating montapora and brain coral. Lastly I have two long term anemones that I am most concerned about and was wondering if anyone used either of these treatments with anemones in the tank. Also you guys r saying no more bugs. Could u actually see them one the coral in the tank?
Any additional follow-up you can provide? I've got red bugs now and trying to decide which direction to go. Getting Interceptor is a pain. The Dr. G's seems much easier, but curious as to its effectiveness.
Thanks.
Piper27
I love bengals
Pretty sure red bugs are live bearers so they don't lay eggs. This also makes it possible to kill them with one treatment which I have done with success two different times.
anemoneguy
Member
What I have found by siphoning them out r black very small bugs. But their on my monti and something is eating on a small Stony brain. I'm nervous to try this because of my anemones. I did find dr. G at local store. It was in the fridge. Is it supposed to be?
Wasn't shipped cold from Premium Aquatics, but I don't see a fridge being harmful. I still haven't seen any sign of the bugs. One shrimp was lost. Regarding anenomes- they should be fine. I have 2 aptasia and no reaction at all 
(nor from my bubble coral or elegance). Pod population seems fine, but that's only what I can see. The real small stuff is probably gone.
Piper27- first I've heard someone mention they are live bearers. Most of the rational I read for multiple treatments were because of concerns of eggs and larvae.
I certainly didn't see any bugs after the first treatment, and i had it reasonably bad.
(nor from my bubble coral or elegance). Pod population seems fine, but that's only what I can see. The real small stuff is probably gone. Piper27- first I've heard someone mention they are live bearers. Most of the rational I read for multiple treatments were because of concerns of eggs and larvae.
I certainly didn't see any bugs after the first treatment, and i had it reasonably bad.
aquavista99
New member
Is interceptor still available through a VET prescription? I recall a few years back, the drug was either removed or no longer available. If still available, it is the best and least harmful treatment to rid your reef from acropora eating red bugs.
It is available, but now its called Interceptor Spectrum. I'm no expert, but I believe that they added praziquantel to the original formula. I believe that the original Interceptor was just milbemycin oxime, which was field tested and approved by so many reefers. From my readings, it appears that the praziquantel is benign to our corals and fish, but not sure it adds anything to the battle against red bugs.
anemoneguy
Member
so can someone help me with my concerns before i do this treatment? i noticed salt and pepper like stuff on my red monti. I have read about that same thing somewhere else so i siphoned some out and saw the black spots move in the cup i put it in. i hadn't added anything esp. sps for 4 or 5 months so i thought it may of been a water issue. i also seem to have a small orange maze like brain being affected and my yellow scroll as well. the sps i added was a blue tip frag from an online vendor and i always dip. so yes im confused to the part about would something eat my monti and the brain and the scroll? and do lps have the same pests?
You have something different going on and not something I've commonly heard about. If you can remove corals to tear do that. Recommended dip times are 6 hrs so put in a bucket with heater and something for circulation. Airline and pump will work for this time. If you gets some isolated try to get a good photo.
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Piper27
I love bengals
The original interceptor is back, no need to use spectrum.
