Since I have been getting calls about the use of Interceptor for these pests, I thought I should post thorough instructions, since I have seen bits and pieces of advice scattered about in posts, but not condensed into one. I also didn't know some of this information until this week, so it is quite possible other people don't have this as well.
Milbemycin is a prescription drug and therefore, most veterinarians will tell you they need a valid Veterinary-Patiient-Client (V-P-C) relationship in order to prescribe the medication. It is also an off-label use and therefore are some legal and liability issues, so unless you are on good terms with your vet, you might have a hard time getting it. I will sell it based on pictures or description of the problem, however, at this time, I only have the beef flavored chewables in stock.
The dosage used in an aquarium to kill redbugs is 25 mg per 10 gallons of actual tank water (so the 51-100# size tablet will treat 380 gallons).
Calculate your actual water volume (take into consideration your sump, oversized plumbing, subtract volume of live rock and sand, etc.). Take into consideration that things like your refugium,
calcium reactor, and skimmer will all need to be treated.
Grind tablets with a mortar and pestle into a fine powder. Measure out the Interceptor on a gram scale.
Before adding the medication to your tank, turn off your skimmer (water needs to run through it, but you do not want it producing any bubbles). Remove any
mechanical filtration if present. Remove any carbon if present. Turn off UV sterilizers and ozone generators.
Remove any shrimp or crabs that you want to save. They will have to stay out of the system for the duration of the treatment. Remember, that when you add them back to your tank, you may re-introduce the red bugs to your tank.
Dissolve medication in some aquarium water (it is not easily soluble, you will have to stir for a while) and then spread evenly across the surface of the water. Your tank should remain perfectly clear and look very normal the entire time.
After 6 hours, a 25% MINIMUM water change is performed and as much activated carbon as you can fit should be added to the tank. In the initial tests, crustaceans that were reintroduced to a tank after a 25% water change and carbon were unaffected by the medication.
24 hours later the water should be changed again and the carbon replaced.
The treatment needs to be peformed a MINIMUM of 3 times. Space treatments 7 days apart (the third one may be done 14 days after the second per some references).
If anything goes wrong during treatment perform a water change ASAP and add a large amount of carbon to your system.
Ron Gladstone, DVM
Cobb Central Animal Hospital
Marietta, GA
(770) 971-0100
