Help with treating Red Bugs

simpp88 · 03/06/2017, 10:36 PM

Some of my Acros are turning pale and I noted some red bugs covering them. It seems like using Interceptor is the best treatment. First off I need to get my hands on some which seems difficult without a prescription. I would prefer not to use Sentinel which also has Praziquantel in it. I realize I need to remove my shrimp and crabs but had some questions.

Anyone had success with a Dragon face pipefish?

Anyone with a negative experience using interceptor?

Will interceptor kill a clam? How about a sea cucumber?

Thanks,
Paul

zsuman101 · 03/06/2017, 11:28 PM

can you remove them from your reef? (the corals). bayer insecticide dip kills them. it can take afew times but it works. intercepter will kill everything but your corals if you go that route youll have to remove snails, crabs shrimp, etc. and your pod population will be gone. that can also cause problems. if it were my reef i would remove the coral setup a quarantine reef and dip the corals every 2 weeks until they are eradicated, which could take a couple months. good luck zsu

jusn317 · 03/07/2017, 07:36 AM

With how easy it is to use interceptor (if you can get your hands on some) I would go that route, especially if your sps are established and not just a bunch of frags on plugs you can easily remove.
I had a problem with red bugs a few years ago. First tried pipefish which for me was a waste, and my pair eventually died probably from lack of nutrition. I never noticed either of them eating the red bugs.
Was able to order the interceptor spectrum chewable tablets, and did three doses with that. Lost probably half of my hermits, but both of my cleaner shrimp survived as did my clam. Red bugs completely eradicated!

simpp88 · 03/08/2017, 11:15 PM

It would be difficult to remove my coral for dips/quarantine.

So jusn317, you used the interceptor spectrum? This has more that the milbemycin that interceptor has. It also has praziquantel. Not sure if I should use this if I can't find standard interceptor?

03/06/2017, 10:36 PM	#1
simpp88 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 184	Help with treating Red Bugs Some of my Acros are turning pale and I noted some red bugs covering them. It seems like using Interceptor is the best treatment. First off I need to get my hands on some which seems difficult without a prescription. I would prefer not to use Sentinel which also has Praziquantel in it. I realize I need to remove my shrimp and crabs but had some questions. Anyone had success with a Dragon face pipefish? Anyone with a negative experience using interceptor? Will interceptor kill a clam? How about a sea cucumber? Thanks, Paul

03/06/2017, 11:28 PM	#2
zsuman101 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 434	can you remove them from your reef? (the corals). bayer insecticide dip kills them. it can take afew times but it works. intercepter will kill everything but your corals if you go that route youll have to remove snails, crabs shrimp, etc. and your pod population will be gone. that can also cause problems. if it were my reef i would remove the coral setup a quarantine reef and dip the corals every 2 weeks until they are eradicated, which could take a couple months. good luck zsu __________________ Full zeovit 24x24 starfire ati t5 radions ecotech and sicce pumps tunze skimmer apex gold yeah its nuts

03/07/2017, 07:36 AM	#3
jusn317 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 272	With how easy it is to use interceptor (if you can get your hands on some) I would go that route, especially if your sps are established and not just a bunch of frags on plugs you can easily remove. I had a problem with red bugs a few years ago. First tried pipefish which for me was a waste, and my pair eventually died probably from lack of nutrition. I never noticed either of them eating the red bugs. Was able to order the interceptor spectrum chewable tablets, and did three doses with that. Lost probably half of my hermits, but both of my cleaner shrimp survived as did my clam. Red bugs completely eradicated!

03/08/2017, 11:15 PM	#4
simpp88 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 184	It would be difficult to remove my coral for dips/quarantine. So jusn317, you used the interceptor spectrum? This has more that the milbemycin that interceptor has. It also has praziquantel. Not sure if I should use this if I can't find standard interceptor?