How do i remove Red bugs w/o harming my inverts?

[romeofoeve]

what is a safe way to remove red bugs parisiting my Xenias without harming my other reef inhabitants?

 

[promisetbg]

Redbugs generally stay on acropora.They irritate the polyps,which makes them slime..they eat the slime.This in turn makes the polyps retract,the coral loses color or bleaches..and can die.The only critter I know of that eats redbugs is a dragonface pipefish,but they are very difficult to keep,requiring live food...like mandarins,scooters,seahorses,etc.The only current way to rid your tank of redbugs is interceptor..and it does kill most inverts.

 

[ctgretzky9]

There is a brilliant thread on another board regarding this, and a possible cure that is being used....I actually read it yesterday. Unfortunately, since we can't link to other websites, you can email me and I'll give you the link to the thread.

 

[dogstar]

Six line wrasse, I think every reef should have one.

 

[reefnut]

Can you get a picture?? As said, red bugs are generally found on acros not soft corals like the Xenia??
Also look in our Hitchhiker Identification thread in the New Hobbyist forum. There's some info on Red Bugs in there.

 

[romeofoeve]

i decided to bring this thread back up, i noticed lastnight there were tiny beetle looking things no my Zoos, they were on the stalks of the polyps seemed to be staying in one place. i dunno if theyre red bugs in particular, but hafing any type of pest on my polyps irratates me!

what are some treatments, not involving a dog medicine?

 

[aggies50]

It might be some zoo eating nudibranches. If they are remove them because they will eat your zoos. I had some on one of my zoos.

 

[romeofoeve]

nope, theyre beetle looking bugs. i looked at them with a powerful magnifying glass.

 

[dogstar]

Ive heard sea pansy described as looking like beetles. You can do a search of them.