i have red bugs

[kwirky]

damn...

After talking to michika at the reef meet today I went home with a morbid feeling that I lost the one colony of mine to red bugs. I got home and confirmed it. I have red bugs on a few pieces in my tank. It needs treatment.

Thankfully I got some interceptor off a fellow reefer and I begin treatment tonight. I'm pulling all the hermit crabs out i can and putting them in a little 5g temp tank. I think they'll do ok for the duration of the treatment.

Wish me luck!

[Delphinus]

that blows... good luck... lucky to have the interceptor. I was never able to land any myself when I tried, but have one pill from a fellow reefer which I am hoarding like gold until the time comes that I really need it.

[Keri]

Pssst....you can get if from your veterinarian....for your "dog" of course...

[kwirky]

btw checked out some articles on it. almost all said the same thing but this one said it in the easiest to understand way:

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

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by Keri

Pssst....you can get if from your veterinarian....for your "dog" of course...

Unfortunately all the vets I talked to would have nothing to do with dispensing meds for a fish tank. "We will not give a prescription without an examination, and we will not examine corals." It was a very frustrating experience as I even talked to several vets who had helped other reefers in the past.

[kwirky]

yeah michika explained that problem and she even worked for a vet at that time. I managed to get 4 tablets so I have almost a lifetime's supply worth.

I had difficulty figuring out how to divide the tablet into 1/8th pieces for my tank so instead I diced it up with a razor blade and mixed one tablet in 250mL of RO/DI water. I'll do the math from there (1/8th the 250mL) for the doses.

I have no experience with using a razor blade to dice powder into lines but I can say I did pretty good

[Keri]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Unfortunately all the vets I talked to would have nothing to do with dispensing meds for a fish tank. "We will not give a prescription without an examination, and we will not examine corals." It was a very frustrating experience as I even talked to several vets who had helped other reefers in the past.

So get it for your dog. You can request it at the annual exam. Or ask someone with a dog to do so. Interceptor is just a dewormer. I can see them not wanting to accept the liability of prescribing something off-label but once it's in your hands ....Not that I would recommended most drugs for off label use of course...But it's not like it's a street drug....
It's a pretty decent dewormer
For your dog.
Don't be clumsy tho....those pills are slippery....bouncing right into the fish tank....silly things.

(legally your vet needs to have a client-patient relationship to prescribe this dewormer...for your dog)

[Chaloupa]

pssssst....it's not just a dewormer but also treats for Heartworms...but yeah just get someone to pick some up for you that has a dog....

[Keri]

Originally Posted by Chaloupa

pssssst....it's not just a dewormer but also treats for Heartworms...but yeah just get someone to pick some up for you that has a dog....

yes...heart....worms.... *grin*

Dirofilaria immitis is technically a nematode, a nematode is a worm.

(But if you're meaning it's more "serious" than you're typical worm then you are right! you should always test for heartworm if you live in, or visit a heartworm endemic area BEFORE using a product that kills heartworms)

[Oscar]

Originally Posted by kwirky

damn...

I have red bugs on a few pieces in my tank. It needs treatment.

What are red bugs?