A tale of two giganteas

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I presently have two giganteas in my aquarium.

The first is a yellow/green one that I've had for about a year and a half and it was in another reefers tank for about a year before that. It hosts a spawning trio of ocellaris clowns that have been in it for most of its time in my tank.

The other is a teal blue gigantea that I got from Liveaquaria about a year ago. It hosts an anemone crab, but no clowns.


Interestingly, the teal gig has grown tremendously, from about 6" across on purchase to more than a foot across now. It seems to be growing faster every day.

However, the yellow/green gig seems to actually be declining in size steadily. It was probably about 10" across when I got it and might be about 7" across now. Curiously, it seems to have always had its mouth open a little bit (except after feeding) while the teal gig does not.

Both are in the same water, same lighting, same distance from the lights. Same type of flow. Same feeding (both almost always eat what I give them, but today the green one did not; how much and how often depends on my mood, but from a couple of times a week to once a month to see the difference). Neither has moved more than a few inches from day 1.

So I'm wondering what the difference is.
They are obviously not the same organism, but is color impacting its suitability for my tank somehow?
Is the trio of clowns stressing it too much?
Is the teal gig releasing something into water that is stressing the other one?
Smoldering infection in the yellow/green gig?

Anyone have experiences that might give insight?

Maybe I'll accelerate feeding for the smaller one.
TIA

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Here's a 3 month old picture. The teal one is bigger now and the yellow/green is smaller:

 

[Rploaded]

Randy, I think we need to get details on your water parameters before we can help. Knowing your new to the hobby means that it is likely something is not being done properly.

Lol!!

Very interesting observations, I've had a few that grew wonderfully and rapidly and then some that just didn't thrive....

Tank looks great!

Have you considered giving the smaller a greater distance from the teal. Perhaps it's survival of the fittest due to close proximity...?

If you really want a correct answer, perfectly worded, and with scientific backing I would ask "bertoni" he is a mod in the reef chemistry forum....

 

[bradleym]

I think we need to get details on your water parameters before we can help. Knowing your new to the hobby means that it is likely something is not being done properly.

Lol!!

Awesome.

 

[ousnakebyte]

Do you have the capacity to move the green one to a separate system, feed it as you have been and see if it regains its size?

 

[BonsaiNut]

Do you have the capacity to move the green one to a separate system, feed it as you have been and see if it regains its size?

+1

I really don't know what else to suggest. I have had a similar experience with introducing one S. gigantea to a tank that held an established one... and watched as the new one declined while the other thrived. Only one data point, however.

I will just add that in the wild these are found exclusively as solitary individuals - never as groups or colonies. Don't know if that is relevant or not...

What we need is for someone to post who is keeping two or more together for an extended period of time.

 

[Rploaded]

I will just add that in the wild these are found exclusively as solitary individuals - never as groups or colonies.

I never knew this..... Great to have forums like this; learn something new everyday...

 

[hypnoj]

Randy,
Do you run carbon? Just curious.

 

[LesMartin]

I have a purple and a green in the same tank and both were introduced at the same time. The tank has an approximate gross capacity of around 600 litres and neither anemone hosts clowns. The purple was approx 2" less in diameter at the time of introduction and although both have grown they appear to have done so at the same rate ie the purple is still approx 2" less in diameter than the green. I've had them both for around two months and they are both fed every day.

 

[BonsaiNut]

I never knew this..... Great to have forums like this; learn something new everyday...

Only E. quadricolor and H. magnifica are found in colonies. All other clown anemones are solitary.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Randy,
Do you run carbon? Just curious.

Yes, I use BRS ROX GAC in a canister, mixed with GFO. I also dose vinegar and have three large (44 gallon Brute cans) filled with live rock and topped with macroalgae, and skimming for nutrient export.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Do you have the capacity to move the green one to a separate system, feed it as you have been and see if it regains its size?

Not really, but that's a good idea. I'm trying to not let the tanks get out of control.

 

[05f150fx4]

Beautiful looking giganteas!! I wish you luck in finding a solution.

I'm not too far from you if you need a tank to separate them :lmao:

 

[ousnakebyte]

Not really, but that's a good idea. I'm trying to not let the tanks get out of control.

It's for the sake of science!

 

[ousnakebyte]

dang it... another double post.

 

[elegance coral]

Judging from the photo, which is all we really have to go by, I'd say it's lighting. The green gig doesn't seem to be getting much. This could explain the slow reduction in size. It could also be more sensitive to chemicals in the water from tank mates, like that monster leather. This may help explain the open mouth??????

 

[Seahorse NJRC]

What I don't understand is if it were due to chemical warfare, wouldn't the nem be moving?

 

[ILLiDaN]

By no means an expert or anything but
I've been reading a lot about gigantea over the past couple days.
Many people say some of them can grow extremely large and have ridiculous amounts of folds.
Then there are others that only reach a certain size before growth is "stunted"

Perhaps the changes in size could represent the "sex" of that specific anemone?
Idunno just tossing it out there?(shrug)

 

[ILLiDaN]

Or another oddball theory...you said it did not eat on that given day.

perhaps it is using its energy for something else? Pre-spawn behavior...or digestive issues?

 

[hypnoj]

What I don't understand is if it were due to chemical warfare, wouldn't the nem be moving?

naa.. the chemical warfare will be saturating the water, it will be impossible to move away from it.