Parasitic Tegastidae copepods "Black Bugs"

[Frogger]

I just want to let everyone know that there is a Tegastidae copepod that seems to be common on acropora frags that are coming out of the Vancouver area. I have found it on the last few acropora frags I have purchased from different reefers.

This guy is not the red bug that we have all heard about. It is different. It appears to be smaller it is black with a red spot. Some call them Black bugs but there is conflicting information on exactly what black bug is.

This guy is not visible with the naked eye. With a hand lens it is still a tiny speck and really not visible. The red spot is not visible with a hand lens. In order to see it I had to pull out the dissecting scope and look at the coral frags under high power. I do not know if it is isolated to Acropora as I have not checked my other corals as it requires me to remove the coral from the tank and inspect it under a microscope.

These guys laugh at Coral RX. The only thing I have found that is effective is a Bayer dip. I am not sure about Revive or other home made remedies.

I have have had it in my display tank for quite some time. I thought my Melanarus wrasse would keep the numbers under check. I am not sure how much damage these guys cause. They seem to aggravate the corals and I have seen some decline generally starting from the bottom up and some lack of polyp extension on the corals that are most heavily affected. There appears to be about 20 of them per inch of coral when the coral is heavily affected.

I am currently treating my tank with Interceptor flavor tabs (Milbemycin Oxime). I got the prescription from my cat vet after I took in copies of several papers including Dana Riddle's article in Advanced Aquarist. I had pictures of my tank and knew what I was talking about when I explained to him what I needed. This stuff is expensive. If you can't get some from your vet you can also use the product Dr G'c Coral Dip Solution as it is Milbemycin Oxime and RO water. I just don't know the product concentration.

I have treated 2 times at the recommended dose. After the first treatment the number of black bugs was reduced substantially, after the second dose only saw a couple and they were not moving. These guys generally are very active. Will be doing third and final dose this weekend.

I have noticed a large reduction of pod population, the Interceptor does not appear to have affected any thing else, corals, fish, snails urchin. I do not have any shrimp or crabs in this tank.

I will be treating all new arrivals with bayer.