Sea spiders rant... Could use some help.

[rajkovich207]

So I'm coming on 5 years in this hobby and like most I've dealt with it all. Or it seems like atleast.
The other night I saw one of these sea spiders in my tank. I've seen these before and never really cared and this one got blown off the rock shortly before I could get it.
Well last night I found one feasting on my new sps. I freaked out and grabbed the frag to get the spider off. Threw it in some Tupperware and hit the Google. Turns out they do eat corals and I have proof he was eating mine. As they digest what they are eating it gets stored in their legs. This one in particular had brown legs and there is damage on the tip of the sps he was eating from. I spent a half hour sitting on a bucket in front of my tank with a flashlight and found 4 more.
Here is the most disheartening part, quoted from Dr Ronald L Shimek himself "Frankly, if they are found on corals in any tank, the best option would likely be to remove the coral from the tank, and simply dispose of it."
Link to article http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/rs/
I've read a few other articles on how to get rid of them and they very in terms of hope. Assuming they haven't killed each other I have 5 to experiment on but if anyone has any ideas where to look next I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[twilliard]

I would love to see if fenbendazol is a good treatment for these.
Send them my way at no charge to you!

 

[snipersps]

Interceptor is the way to kill them.

 

[zoasaholic]

Have you watch R2R TV SPS inside Ep2?Talking about 16:50sec into it

 

[rajkovich207]

I haven't seen the r2r TV thanks a ton for the heads up! Twillard I'd be more then happy to work something out, I can't promise they are still alive though and I'm taking one to my parents tonight. But if you want to pm me we can work something out

 

[rajkovich207]

Zoas thanks a ton for the heads up now I just need to figure out where I can get the interceptor from, anyone have an idea?

 

[twilliard]

Zoas thanks a ton for the heads up now I just need to figure out where I can get the interceptor from, anyone have an idea?

Interceptor is not the way to go.
It has severe detrimental costs to the tank.

 

[Joshky]

Zoas thanks a ton for the heads up now I just need to figure out where I can get the interceptor from, anyone have an idea?

You have to get it from a vet, I just got some last week. I printed off Marc's write up from Melev's Reef to show them, but they didn't even look at it; they just looked at me dumbfounded and asked me what facility I worked for. When I said it's just a hobby for me and I don't work for anyone they were astounded. I hope you have the same luck and get it with as little trouble, but be prepared just in case.

 

[rajkovich207]

My sister is a vet tech so I'm hoping she will be able to help me out. Twillard so far interceptor is the only way I'll be able to currently eradicate them from my tank. I found 3 of the 5 on the rocks so they aren't just on the corals. Tyree said lugols and Bayer both work as well but I can't done that to the tank. I understand I'll loose my pods and I have to remove my hermits (luckily I only have 2) but I currently have no other way to shake these dumb things. If you have another idea or anyone else for that matter I'm all ears. I have been unsuccessful in finding a definitive answer for their lifespan or larval duration either. Really I can't find much on these things and if interceptor is a sure win like tyree said I'm willing to chance it.
What all else am I missing that could be detrimental to my tank from this treatment?

 

[Wiz]

Wow. Freaky. First time I've heard of them. Great thread. sry for your tank. Hope you work it out.

 

[bct15]

Interceptor is pretty mild in a tank, you can probably even get away with leaving your hermits in.

For the sea spiders, I have knocked them off colonies with dips in tank water with several drops of Lugols. Soak the colony for about ten minutes and then blast it with a turkey baster inside the container and they will all drop off.

 

[Tahoe61]

Interceptor is the way to kill them.

^ This until the cows come home. Interceptor only targets Arthropods, which sea spider are. Unfortunately so are crabs and shrimp.

Other than the consideration for the other Arthropods in your system, I have found it to be a great treatment, easy and effective.

 

[ZoaCollector]

I've used interceptor and it kills smaller Arthropods, my hermits and crabs were stunned maybe lost one or two. But it's worth getting rid of pests.

 

[rajkovich207]

I only have 2 hermits and and acro crab in there won't be hard to remove. There is a pistol shrimp in there somewhere but I'll never find him. Actually I haven't heard him snap in quite some time anyways. It will stink to loose my pods though. That's the reason I got live rock lol.
My dad had an interceptor pill stashed away that he gave me, hoping to hear today from my sister if she can get me more.
Thanks a bunch for all the help guys. Calmed me right down!

 

[bct15]

You an order interceptor spectrum off the internet.

 

[reefwiser]

Yes watch SPS insider we have an account of sea spiders from Steve Tyree. Interceptor would be used as a dip and not as a whole tank treatment.

 

[that Reef Guy]

^ This until the cows come home. Interceptor only targets Arthropods, which sea spider are. Unfortunately so are crabs and shrimp.

Other than the consideration for the other Arthropods in your system, I have found it to be a great treatment, easy and effective.

Does Interceptor affect Snails at all?

 

[rajkovich207]

Not that I know of. I have used it once before when I thought I had red bugs and didn't loose any snails. I didn't realize he used it as a dip I thought they treated the whole system. Like I said Currently treating the whole system is my only option. I haven't decided if I want to wait until I find another or just do the treatment. I looked last night and real early this morning when I got up and didn't see any so I might wait. Aquarium experience is coming up Saturday and I will be attending so I will decide by thenthen.

 

[bct15]

Interceptor is used as a whole system treatment, it is not used as a dip. Your goal is to kill off the pest in the entire system, which often does not hide in the colony when it isn't eating it.

Snails, hermits, and shrimp usually survive an interceptor treatment. Some pods will die off, but not the entire population and they rebound in a couple weeks. Interceptor will kill your acro crabs though.

You'll also see some crazy PE during the treatment.

Some people are making interceptor sound way worse than it is, it is not very hard on a system at all. It's relatively easy to do a whole system treatment as well.

 

[twilliard]

Waits for the unfortunate tank overdose
OP
Before dosing your tank please read up on how to properly dose this per your volume.