Red Bugs - Inevitable?

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Thanks for the offer Dan. I actually don't currently have any red bugs, I'm actually just trying to be proactive to get something easy/local lined up for all future coral qt before introduction into my main tank. Hopefully by using a small tank as a QT, 6 tablets will last awhile. Thank you for your advice on where to go and your offer as well.
 
Hey Danno do you have the contact number for that vet in Sumner? I hate driving all the way up to Alpine Vet in Issaquah everytime I need some interceptor. Thanks

Sarang
 
It does seem a bit crazy that you guys are having such a difficult time getting interceptor. There are a number of legality issues associated with it (namely a veterinary-patient-client relationship), so I can sympathize with the veterinarians. In an age where veterinarians are finding lawsuits coming at them more and more, the profession has had to cover their butts a bit more. That and most veterinarians have no clue what red bugs are and why anyone would put milbemycin in their fish tank.

At one time I thought Dr. Lewbart (btw, just published an invert medicine book that is pretty good) was doing some research with the red bugs. It appears this is no longer the case. I presume it is a result of no time, no money, no infrastructure, and little interest.

I think I am going to grab some eugenol (as mentioned previously in this thread) and see how it works as a dip. It might be cheaper and easier to find that milbemycin, but definitely could only be used as a dip.
 
Hello;

Gentlemen, this is for others who may want to know more. Here is more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_acro_bugs

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This next link shows the bugs and goes through the treatment:

http://www.melevsreef.com/redbugs.html

I feel this treatment should be used as a QT measure. :)

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"It has to be right, I read it somewhere!"

"OFM"
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Enjoy!

OFM
 
And, I have just seen the first published protocol for treatment of red bugs published in a peer reviewed, veterinary publication. I believe it was from proceedings of an exotic/marine conference. If there is interest, I can post the exact citation...
 
Here is a publication, with one of my good friends as a coauthor, re: Red Bugs as well as various other invertebrate diseases:

Dombrowski, D., and De Voe, R. 2007. Emergency Care of Invertebrates. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice, 10, 621-645.

It doesn't really have any more information beyond what is already out there. However, this was not the publication to which I was referring . I will post that citation when I find the proceedings.

I don't want to infringe on copyright laws, but if there is any interest in the above article, let me know via pm and I can "let you look at the study."
 
Ok, abstract mentioned above:

Hadfield, C. A., Claytonand, L. A., and O'Neil, K. L. Milbemycin Treatment of Parasitic Copepods on Acropora Coral. 33rd Eastern Fish Health Workshop Proceedings.

Unfortunately, I don't know if the date is 2007 or 2008, but feel sure the actual publication will come out soon. This was a treatment done at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, and they used a dose of 16 ug/L or 23 mg/380 gallons (the 51-100 lb. tab) for an 8 hour bath. They repeated this treatment every 7 days for 3 treatments. The only mortalities noted were in hermit crabs.

Just an fyi, will post the primary if they ever completely publish that data.
 
And, I have just seen the first published protocol for treatment of red bugs published in a peer reviewed, veterinary publication. I believe it was from proceedings of an exotic/marine conference. If there is interest, I can post the exact citation...

Thank you Scott! I appreciate you posting this. Do you know if any work is being done on Acro eating flatworms? Red bugs seem like a piece of cake in comparison!
 
eliterecon - I've dealt with AEFWs first hand, but I wanted to know if any work was being done on them in the veterinary/exotic medicine world.
 
I have not heard anything Nikki. I would definitely be hesitant putting levamisole in my tank (but I feel the same way about milbemycin), and using it as a dip is obviously not optimal. Because I am out of the hobby for the most part, I don't keep up with these things as often as I would like (not enough time, not enough neurons). As has been the case for the past 20 years, I suspect the hobbiest will solve the problem well before the veterinary medical industry.

The information may be out there, but it would be interesting to see what sort of salinity they can tolerate. If you could lower tank salinity down into the teens (1.019 - 1.015) slowly, that may be too low for these guys. I also wonder if flatworm exit would work, and if there is any residual toxins that one would have to tackle (I am sure that has been tried and a thread is out there describing it).

I will ask around this week to see what I can find out. Even if there is work being done, I don't expect it to be incredibly novel.

As an aside, I find it interesting that most reef publications are labeling it as a "pig dewormer." I am curious where that arose. To my knowledge, it can and is being used in virtually all food animals.
 
I have not heard anything Nikki. I would definitely be hesitant putting levamisole in my tank (but I feel the same way about milbemycin), and using it as a dip is obviously not optimal. Because I am out of the hobby for the most part, I don't keep up with these things as often as I would like (not enough time, not enough neurons). As has been the case for the past 20 years, I suspect the hobbiest will solve the problem well before the veterinary medical industry.

The information may be out there, but it would be interesting to see what sort of salinity they can tolerate. If you could lower tank salinity down into the teens (1.019 - 1.015) slowly, that may be too low for these guys. I also wonder if flatworm exit would work, and if there is any residual toxins that one would have to tackle (I am sure that has been tried and a thread is out there describing it).

I will ask around this week to see what I can find out. Even if there is work being done, I don't expect it to be incredibly novel.

As an aside, I find it interesting that most reef publications are labeling it as a "pig dewormer." I am curious where that arose. To my knowledge, it can and is being used in virtually all food animals.

Sorry for derailing the thread a bit but, Scott how the heck are ya? Good to see you again.
 
Scott - thanks for the reply. I've used Levamisole in a QT situation with AEFW infected corals. It definately worked in killing off the AEFWs, however, all the corals eventually died. I was dipping them in levamisole frequently due to the eggs hatching. I haven't heard of too much success with flatworm exit.

Lowered salinity is an interesting thought. Might be something to try with a small frag off an infected colony in QT. Its been awhile, though, and I can't remember how long their gestation is. The egg masses are something else :mad:. At least with red bugs the treatment is pretty straight forward.

As for reef publications calling levamisole a pig wormer.... I suspect that's because when you purchase it online, it is found listed as "Levamisole Pig Wormer". A lady my husband worked with grew up on a hog farm. She said they used :D. I'm not sure why it seems its predominate use is in swine. If I recall correctly, the bottle I have shows the major livestock animals on the bottle (cattle, swine, sheep). I even found it listed for deworming opossums online :D
 
I,ve got a question? Does anyone keep the acro crabs I've only had mine a little over a year but they pick everything off my acro blur ridge and multi colered worm rock.
 
I went into Alpine animal Hospital, Kalhanie vet, petsmart, and another local vet that I forgot the name of and none would give me Interceptor? Anyone know where I can get some near me?
 
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