A blue gigantea update thread
- Thread starter sugartooth
- Start date
delphinus
New member
I feed my gigantea's directly every couple of days. Mostly I feed them mysis, a squirt from turkey baster. All but 1 of mine eat unassisted. My blue seems unable to feed on mysis, so I have been feeding it small chunks of prawn and placed directly on the mouth (it is then able to swallow food). I fear mine is so bleached that it has trouble expending the energy to actually bring food into the mouth and swallow. Whereas the others will literally fold in the entire quarter-section where the mysids are, bringing the food to the mouth and then ingesting the food - and it's all over within 30-60 seconds, they ingest the food and reset pretty quickly.
I'm not sure I would trust the clownfish to ensure the anemones get enough to eat.
I'm not sure I would trust the clownfish to ensure the anemones get enough to eat.
E.J. Coral
New member
I am not sure that it means hungy, just a theory. But, density is independent of flow.
I feed mine a half of a market shrimp once a month, an a cube of selcon enriched mysis 3x per week.
I feed mine a half of a market shrimp once a month, an a cube of selcon enriched mysis 3x per week.
sugartooth
Reef bully
Thanks. I went ahead and fed 1 cube of Hikari krill and some Hikari squid that I had.
I will be sure to feed from now on. Thanks again.
I will be sure to feed from now on. Thanks again.
sugartooth
Reef bully
Hello,
Here are some pictures. I've been feeding 2X a week plus daily floaters from the clowns.
I don't know what I need to change? Looking back, the larger one seems lighter, and the smaller one has gotten darker. I do weekly water changes. Maybe it's time to change bulbs? The bulbs are about 9 months old. I don't know what to do to help it look better.
Target feedings are a mixture of mysis, hikari squid, hikari krill, cyclopeeze, prawn ova/eggs, and some Rod's. I do notice that the big one does not hang on to the krill.
Yes, I have intentionally left the macro in there for microfauna. I manually prune them, but I don't know....should I replace the rock with clean rock?
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2864330778/" title="DSC_6566 by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2864330778_803a75f5d6_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_6566" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2864331404/" title="DSC_6569 by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2864331404_d5bfa4cb5c_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_6569" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2863497207/" title="DSC_6573 by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2863497207_c1789341f2_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_6573" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2864330484/" title="DSC_6563 by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2864330484_d355495a56_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_6563" /></a>
As always, thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Here are some pictures. I've been feeding 2X a week plus daily floaters from the clowns.
I don't know what I need to change? Looking back, the larger one seems lighter, and the smaller one has gotten darker. I do weekly water changes. Maybe it's time to change bulbs? The bulbs are about 9 months old. I don't know what to do to help it look better.
Target feedings are a mixture of mysis, hikari squid, hikari krill, cyclopeeze, prawn ova/eggs, and some Rod's. I do notice that the big one does not hang on to the krill.
Yes, I have intentionally left the macro in there for microfauna. I manually prune them, but I don't know....should I replace the rock with clean rock?
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2864330778/" title="DSC_6566 by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2864330778_803a75f5d6_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_6566" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2864331404/" title="DSC_6569 by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2864331404_d5bfa4cb5c_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_6569" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2863497207/" title="DSC_6573 by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2863497207_c1789341f2_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_6573" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2864330484/" title="DSC_6563 by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2864330484_d355495a56_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_6563" /></a>
As always, thanks in advance for your suggestions.
tufacody
New member
I agree the bigger looks lighter and the smaller looks darker. There also seems to be even less tentacle density.
What lights and how high off the water? Perhaps some iodine dosing would help darken him up. Get the advice from the experts first, but those would be my suggestions.
What lights and how high off the water? Perhaps some iodine dosing would help darken him up. Get the advice from the experts first, but those would be my suggestions.
sugartooth
Reef bully
tufa: I have 250w DE halide w/ T5 suppl. It's about 10 inches off the water.
Gig: Thanks so much, I hope I have success with them too.
So I changed to new bulbs and here is what they look like now. I'm not sure if it made a difference or not.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2892414397/" title="DSC_6703 by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/2892414397_81a2a723ef_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_6703" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2892413985/" title="DSC_6702 by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/2892413985_2225468798_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_6702" /></a>
Gig: Thanks so much, I hope I have success with them too.
So I changed to new bulbs and here is what they look like now. I'm not sure if it made a difference or not.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2892414397/" title="DSC_6703 by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/2892414397_81a2a723ef_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_6703" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullcable/2892413985/" title="DSC_6702 by nullcable, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/2892413985_2225468798_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_6702" /></a>
) 
sugartooth
Reef bully
Thanks creamy, you are just way too nice to me. I will continue to keep my fingers crossed.
Marina, thanks for the suggestion. I started to follow del's advice and then fell away from it because of a series of events this summer that led to the hobby taking a back seat in priority. I have started back up since this update along with the bulb change I hope they do well. I'm currently not interested in quick growth, I just want them to be maintained and healthy because it's only a cube. I would like a few years before going to something larger. I also thought chopped bits were more manageable for the nems than large pieces such as silversides and large krill. Is this incorrect?
Thanks again, I appreciate the advice.
Marina, thanks for the suggestion. I started to follow del's advice and then fell away from it because of a series of events this summer that led to the hobby taking a back seat in priority. I have started back up since this update along with the bulb change I hope they do well. I'm currently not interested in quick growth, I just want them to be maintained and healthy because it's only a cube. I would like a few years before going to something larger. I also thought chopped bits were more manageable for the nems than large pieces such as silversides and large krill. Is this incorrect?
Thanks again, I appreciate the advice.
Rod Buehler
New member
They are looking great so I wouldnt change what you are doing. You are not incorrect. Small morsels are what they are needing IME and from what I have read. I wish I could find the link, but I remember reading that when the gut contents of S.gigantea has been studied it was mostly Copoepods.
Fwiw, My giganteas only get fed what makes it past my fish, which is quite a bit of small pieces of food. Have I fed them larger pieces?? Yes, some great big honkers on occasion but rarely. One of my giganteas is 15 years and the other for 3.
Looking good, sugar!
delphinus
New member
Man, 15 years, wow. I was hoping to follow in those kinds of footsteps with 7 years with a ritteri but I finally came to a decision this weekend to let it go to a new home because I'm reaching a point where my tanks control my life instead of me controlling my life so I have to simplify a bit. So congrats on perserving through 15 years.
For what it's worth, I still think that "getting lucky" with a specimen that (for lack of a better way to put it) "wants to live" from the get-go is probably the most important factor. Having now tried 4 times with this species and treated each the same way, what's happened for me is that the first two I ever got were the ones that really wanted to live. I've had my brown for 4.5 years now and my green for 3.5 years. The blue that I talked about earlier that was having trouble eating - did not survive. The purple that I talked about that I thought was eating - is on the way out. Despite that it looked to be eating vigorously - it was losing biomass. What's started off as a 6"-7" diameter anemone is today down to about 1.5" diameter, despite that I keep trying to feed it. It's probably a matter of days before it checks out completely.
So ultimately my suggestions is that if you feel that what you're doing whatever is working for you, then you should continue on with it.
The blue anemones in this thread are very gorgeous by the way. Congratulations on their health. Seeing them makes me almost want to try to find another blue - almost. Between the blue I lost this summer and the purple I'm about to lose though, I think I may be finally be weaned off of my addiction to anemones..
For what it's worth, I still think that "getting lucky" with a specimen that (for lack of a better way to put it) "wants to live" from the get-go is probably the most important factor. Having now tried 4 times with this species and treated each the same way, what's happened for me is that the first two I ever got were the ones that really wanted to live. I've had my brown for 4.5 years now and my green for 3.5 years. The blue that I talked about earlier that was having trouble eating - did not survive. The purple that I talked about that I thought was eating - is on the way out. Despite that it looked to be eating vigorously - it was losing biomass. What's started off as a 6"-7" diameter anemone is today down to about 1.5" diameter, despite that I keep trying to feed it. It's probably a matter of days before it checks out completely.
So ultimately my suggestions is that if you feel that what you're doing whatever is working for you, then you should continue on with it.
The blue anemones in this thread are very gorgeous by the way.
Congratulations on their health. Seeing them makes me almost want to try to find another blue - almost. Between the blue I lost this summer and the purple I'm about to lose though, I think I may be finally be weaned off of my addiction to anemones..
Rod Buehler
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13448335#post13448335 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by delphinus
Man, 15 years, wow. I was hoping to follow in those kinds of footsteps with 7 years with a ritteri but I finally came to a decision this weekend to let it go to a new home because I'm reaching a point where my tanks control my life instead of me controlling my life so I have to simplify a bit. So congrats on perserving through 15 years.
For what it's worth, I still think that "getting lucky" with a specimen that (for lack of a better way to put it) "wants to live" from the get-go is probably the most important factor. Having now tried 4 times with this species and treated each the same way, what's happened for me is that the first two I ever got were the ones that really wanted to live. I've had my brown for 4.5 years now and my green for 3.5 years. The blue that I talked about earlier that was having trouble eating - did not survive. The purple that I talked about that I thought was eating - is on the way out. Despite that it looked to be eating vigorously - it was losing biomass. What's started off as a 6"-7" diameter anemone is today down to about 1.5" diameter, despite that I keep trying to feed it. It's probably a matter of days before it checks out completely.
So ultimately my suggestions is that if you feel that what you're doing whatever is working for you, then you should continue on with it.
The blue anemones in this thread are very gorgeous by the way.
I couldnt agree more on the "getting lucky" part, and also the part of "whatever is working
Suga' stated that she had heard that smaller pieces were more manageable, and I agreed. And also for her to keep doing whatever is working and it does seem to be working
sugartooth
Reef bully
Mister Todd:: I would be flattered to watch your tanks anytime. They are beautiful!
MarinaP: Thanks for your input, it's definitely appreciated.
Rod: Thank you as well, I wasn't sure if what I was doing was really working or not. I watch them for long periods of time and I still cannot understand their behavior, etc. It's encouraging to read what you wrote and I won't deviate from the current care.
Del:: Thanks for your points and I admire your successes as well. I think it's great you can share your experiences both good and bad. I really think for such so called 'simple' creatures (physiologically), their behavior is complicated to me.
MarinaP: Thanks for your input, it's definitely appreciated.
Rod: Thank you as well, I wasn't sure if what I was doing was really working or not. I watch them for long periods of time and I still cannot understand their behavior, etc. It's encouraging to read what you wrote and I won't deviate from the current care.
Del:: Thanks for your points and I admire your successes as well. I think it's great you can share your experiences both good and bad. I really think for such so called 'simple' creatures (physiologically), their behavior is complicated to me.
sugartooth
Reef bully
I loaded a video of these guys as well as the surface to illustrate the flow in the tank.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsrmCNwR_D0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsrmCNwR_D0
Similar threads
