Mites

[Tim Marvin]

It has been brought to my attention the red mites are going around again. RobertG just finished treating his tank, and it has shown up in mine again. I have only done one trade since treating my tank a year and a half ago and it appears these may have come from the same source. Unfortunately a couple people that have bought frags from this source have also been collecting red mites. The system in the garage is the only one affected. If you got frags from the tank in the house it is no problem. Red mites can affect color and growth on certain acropora. The treatment is interceptor from your vet. one pill will treat 200 gallons and you must treat 3 times. Treat one week, then the following week, and again two weeks later. The treatment is hard on inverts so if you can remove them it would be best. I am truely sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but I want it to be know. I would have never sold any frags had I of known this beforehand. Only acroporas are affected by this.

[Viet-Tin]

OH ok you had me scared there.Are these red mite visible? If so i havent seen any at all.

[Tim Marvin]

They are very tiny but visible. You did not get any acropora from me so you are fine.

[DeletedAccount]

Sometimes I am so glad that I do not really "do" sps... no worries.

[Tim Marvin]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/june2003/feature.htm

[eric]

Would they also only travel on acros? Would one ever have to be concerned with introducing them to a tank when adding some other coral?

[Tim Marvin]

http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=439155#439155

[Tim Marvin]

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=47083#poststop

[Tim Marvin]

Possibly. They are only found on specific acropora species, and not LPS, softies, or other stonies.

[eric]

Okay was that a "possibly" answer for which question?

[Viet-Tin]

So does that mean i can still come and buy some frags from you? Hoping youll be free mon I might be able to catch a ride then.

[cpreefguy]

Yarg! me corals have mites

[RobertG]

Sorry I made the post above. I dont remember the site being able to do this.

[Reef69]

I guess the question here is, what can we do to prevent getting corals with Mites, what are the precautions we should take, even when we buy from the stores...

[RobertG]

I would really start to dip any new arrivals. Josh I am sure has the answer to this.

I would look at anything very hard. With a very fine eye. It just takes one thing to start a big problem..

Also Dont Trust anyone!!!!!!!!!!! They do not tell you the things they know of or have forgotten about...

It sucks........

[Reef69]

man, this is like some sort of STD..lol...

[RobertG]

Right !!!

[Tim Marvin]

Probably a coral dip will be what I do if I introduce new corals again. Haveing to do this a second time is really irritating, but it isn't that hard of a treatment to do.

[NaCl_H2O]

Probably a coral dip will be what I do if I introduce new corals again. Haveing to do this a second time is really irritating, but it isn't that hard of a treatment to do.

Tim, any sugestions for the dip? Kent Tech D? What strength is needed to get these little bastards off?

[CD]

any sugestions for the dip?


Someone listed SeaChem Reef Dip...was it Josh?

Tim - how long ago did you notice the mites? Should we be worried? I think the only acro type coral we got was that little nubbin of purple monster (which I looked at closely, and didn't see anything). Do you think these mites could possibly hitchhike in on something else like zoas or rics? :unsure

Wendy

[Instar]

one pill will treat 200 gallons

That estimate is a typo. One pill treats well over 300 gallons of water column. For smaller water volumes, the pill needs to be cut and measured proportionately. One pill does most systems in the group 3 times or more.

[Tim Marvin]

Thanks Larry, CD I just found out the other day. I had assumed they were gone since I had only done one trade since ridding my tank of them. It was brought to my attantion by a gentleman that bought a monster frag. He wasn't mad, and loves the frag, but just wanted to let me know so I could treat my tank also. I feel like a jerk now for even selling frags of the monster. Anyway, I guess I am off to treating again.

[CD]

CD I just found out the other day.


:blush I guess I worded that wrong...I know you wouldn't have knowingly spread mites (sorry). Since you mentioned you probably now know what frag it came from, I was wondering how long ago you had gotten the frag in question, and whether or not the mites would hang out on other corals. I don't think we got anything, as all but one frag were softies, but I'm keeping an eye out. I guess these things are pretty hard to see since they are so small?

Wendy

[scuba_steveo]

I plan to traet when I get back from Hawaii next month. I think we all got them from the same place. Only one coral has ever gone in my tank without being nuked first.

[TexasTodd]

Following post is copied from an E-mail with Eric Boreman to me when I had the bugs a few months ago.

Given this information I only did 2 treatments a few days apart. No bugs now.

> Days from egg to hatch at normal aquarium temps.

They are direct developers - so there is no "hatch". I do not know how
long the brooding period is within the female.


Hope it helps you all,

Todd

[RobertG]

Todd, I cant see the link. I would like to read it. Ok Maybe it was just the little snipit of a line. Did you lose anything in the process.. I know I am free of mites want to trade some corals. :)

Thanks

[TexasTodd]

> Days from egg to hatch at normal aquarium temps.

They are direct developers - so there is no "hatch". I do not know how
long the brooding period is within the female.


Rob, there's no link. The above statement was copied out of the e-mail he sent.

I lost all crabs that were not pulled out. My coral banded and cleaner (std & all red) made it. Actually now that I think about it my Sally lightfoot crabs made it o.k.

Pods were knocked back for a couple of weeks is all. I have a mandarin and it did fine.

No corals were lost.

Always up for trading on nice sps corals.

Todd

Todd

[Gator]

i dipall sps in a 10 time interceptor dip for 5 housr before i place it in my tank, should i dip lps as well

[TexasTodd]

Yes, but not for red bugs.

Todd

[gjuarez]

Tim, so you are saying that your tank inside your house did not have the mites and that only acros are affected. Does that mean that I dont have mites in my tank? The acros that I got from you were from inside your house. The monti caps and zoos where from your tank in your garage. Is it possible that they also hitchike in caps and zoos as well? If you think that I do have those little pests, what should I use to get rid of them?

[Tim Marvin]

Looks like interceptor is still the cure. I did my tanks 1 and 1/2 years ago and checked very closely for 3-4 months after and never saw one. After it was brought to my attention I looked for them and saw enough to post. Looks like the lastest says two treatments will do it.

[cpreefguy]

Hey Tim, I looked at all of the SPS I got from you up close with a magnifiying glass for at least 5 minutes each and I have still to see any mites. Am I just not seeing them, or is it possible I dont have any?

[RobertG]

Hey Tim, I looked at all of the SPS I got from you up close with a magnifiying glass for at least 5 minutes each and I have still to see any mites. Am I just not seeing them, or is it possible I dont have any?

Check the tank in about a month, then you will know.

[cpreefguy]

Hopefully by then I will have treated it! Will the medication bother my RBTA?

[don-n-sa]

Man I feel for all of you SPS peeps...quick question. What in nature eats these mites? There is always something that keeps populations in check. There is gotta be some kind of critter that seeks these bugs out and eats them right?

[JeffCo]

I don't think there has been anything proven to eat these mites. The only effective treatment is the interceptor. It's not really that hard to treat the tank, just a little pain in the butt with the water changes. I got rid of mine about 3-4 months ago and my sps are looking sooo much better.

[don-n-sa]

wow...I bet there is something out there that eats mites, someday it will be discovered / proven and whoever does that will be set!

[cpreefguy]

I dont see why a 6 line wouldnt eat them, wouldnt it think they were pods or something?

[don-n-sa]

hmmm....I doubt it, these mites are even smaller than pods. How about a mite eating super pod!! :skeezy

[cpreefguy]

Ill take 'em!

[GaryP]

Man I feel for all of you SPS peeps...quick question. What in nature eats these mites? There is always something that keeps populations in check. There is gotta be some kind of critter that seeks these bugs out and eats them right?

I'm wondering about this. Acro crabs?

[don-n-sa]

There's probably something that eats them, but it's probably bad for something else in the tank.

your probably right...but maybe not

[don-n-sa]

These bugs being orange, usually a signal in nature of poisonous attributes so animals shy away. yes but there are creatures that develope immunities to their specific diet and use it to their advantage.

[cpreefguy]

Will the interceptor mess with my Rose bulb?

[alexwolf]

there is a species of pipefish that eats them, I cant remember off the top of my head which it is though.

[::pete::]

That would be the dragon face, but a difficult fish to keep and if it didnt get everyone before it was gone ...

[alexwolf]

yep, you are exactly right. From what I read they do a pretty good job of controlling them.

[::pete::]

So everyone doesnt run out and grab one it will munch your pods and stuff too.

[don-n-sa]

yeah but you can then just buy a botlle of 3000 pods! :angel

[alexwolf]

LOL!!!!!

[::pete::]

So when it gets the easier sized pods it will pass on the tiny mites!

[scuba_steveo]

I just ordered a dozen!

[don-n-sa]

I just ordered a dozen!

A dozen what?

[scuba_steveo]

pipefish

[don-n-sa]

put down the pipe...ur I mean pipefish Steve

[JimD]

LMAO!

[Tim Marvin]

Scuba Steveo, if you really did I'll take 4 if you are selling them. Marine depot has them for $18

[NaCl_H2O]

I y'all find an $18 natural solution to this, you will be friggin heroes! Keep us informed, either way!

[don-n-sa]

I'm no hero I just know that there is ALWAYS something that keeps critters under control in nature...I just asked questions. :shades

Now who/what is supposed to keep us under control? That's the scary question. :cry

[NaCl_H2O]

Now who/what is supposed to keep us under control? That's the scary question. :cry

Congress :(

[Tim Marvin]

I'm going to order some blue stripped pipefish.

[GaryP]

Talk to Misti about pipefish. They are a seahorse. I doubt they are going to survive just on mites alone.

[Tim Marvin]

Thanks Gary, they won't survive on mites alone.. Not to worry though I used to breed the orange horses from Brazil a few years back. Pipes need smaller food though.

[Tim Marvin]

I would like to hear what Misti has to say on this subject though, now we are talking pipefish for some control.

[GaryP]

Ohhhh Misti????

[justin-branam]

just out of curiosity, which sized interceptor do you use. i work at a vet clinic and we have 4 different sizes. not sure the exact mg of each but i know there is a big difference. BTW the colors of the packages of the diferent sizes are green, yellow, brown, and white.

[Tim Marvin]

For large dog from what I remember.

[RobertG]

The packs I used were the white ones. My vet actually had a protocol for treating the tank. It was prescirbed to me for my aquarium. It stated one pill would treat up to 400G.

[MikeDeL]

What vet do you use Robert? I dont need the pills, just curious.

[thedude]

Just to let you all know, I finally got my a** around to registering on MAAST. I'm the one who alerted Tim to the presence of red bugs. First I must say that I know that Tim would NEVER knowingly infect anyones tank with these little things and these are my observations in the matter.

1. Interceptor is freaking expensive and only comes in a pack of 6, do I smell group buy?
2. I noticed the bugs the 2nd day after adding the frags to my tank. They only appeared on the two purple monster frags and none of the others. Thankfully per Tim's advice, I had superglued them to live rock rubble so I pulled them out and immediately did a tankwater and Lugol's dip. Bam they're dead... or so I think. I may still treat with Interceptor to be safe but since dipping those two frags, I have yet to see a mite materialize.

Tim, thanks again for the frags and I hope your gorgeous tank is cured itself soon.

-John Howerton

Update** Ok I lied, they're still there :angry they just aren't out as much, more of a burrowed look now. Interceptor time I guess, anyone have any laying around??

[BPolyniak]

I got the Interceptor from a Vet here in the Valley. It was $42.00 for 6 pills. They are for large dogs. A cheap investment compaired to a bunch of dead corals.

IMO

[Tim Marvin]

I buy them from the vet here on 183. $9 per pill, I just bought 2 and did a treatment today. The acro crab is toast, but I haven't noticed any other problems. Mites are gone. I'll do another treatment in a week and 50 gallon water change again. Anemones, snails, cucumbers, all corals, even feather dusters appear un-bothered. Sweet! Cheap cure for a small problem, at least they aren't flatworms or a fish disease. Pods all seem to be gone also. I'm glad this mated pair of mandarins eat brine shrimp!

[scuba_steveo]

Tim, do you have any shrimp? Any cleaners? If so, did they make it?

[thedude]

Tim what vet exactly? And does he sell Interceptor by the pill?

[JeffCo]

I had two fire shrimp that made it through 3 doses.

[JeffCo]

I have also found 1 place that sells them online, and you don't need a prescription. It's:
http://www.petmedstore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?page=petmedstore/CTGY/INTCEP

[Tim Marvin]

Cedar park animal hospital.
I don't do shrimp other than pods and mysid which grow on by themselves.

[cpreefguy]

So which interceptor do I need?

[thedude]

You need the interceptor for large dogs.