Am i ready for a giga?

[exiled_infidel]

Hi

A fellow reefer in my area has a pink (sarco-type pink, not bright pink) coloured carpet anemone she wants to get rid of cos lost a few fish.

The guy has been in captivity several years, it has longish 1"+ tentacles which are not bulbous, she has not checked for verrucae. It is resting now on the rockwork and is sort of under a 150w halide in a 2foot deep tank.

I assume it to be a gigantea, sounds very much like the one in The Reef Aquarium Vol 2, colour and tentacles at least. It is also currently hosting some occelaris.

I want to move it into a 35cm deep tank, under a 70watter (20,000k). He will have choice of sand (4"deep) or rock, and i can get a few more pumps if need be (external in a hang on back fuge).

Do you think i can keep him happy?

Also, what kinda current do giganteas like?

If this guy turns out to be a haddoni then i should be fine.

Thanks in advance for the replies

 

[showjet98]

I dont think there are redish-pink giganteas naturally. There are Haddonis that color though. I would need to see pics to be certain. If its a gigantea they like strong surge like currents back and forth, and intense lighting. They are often found in 3 feet of water, so 70 watts will def not cut it. If it is a haddoni, they are a lot more forgiving but, also like strong lighting, but not such strong currents, and they bury their foot in the sand, and are extremely sticky to the touch when healthy, the tentacles will often pull off when you touch it. I hope that helps a little.

Paul.

 

[exiled_infidel]

Hi

there are 3 pics of a pinkish brown giganteain the reef aquarium (vol 2), pg 120, 124.

Would it be alright if i change to a 150watter?

Also, can someone explain to me what this "new theory" is regarding keeping 'high' light species (eg magnificas) under lower lighting? Or did i read wrong:rollface:

 

[Snprhed]

From what I have been reading a 250 would be a bare minimum. 400 would be preferable.

Cory

 

[MarinaP]

Re: Am i ready for a giga?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7065595#post7065595 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by exiled_infidel
Hi

A fellow reefer in my area has a pink (sarco-type pink, not bright pink) coloured carpet anemone she wants to get rid of cos lost a few fish.

The guy has been in captivity several years, it has longish 1"+ tentacles which are not bulbous, she has not checked for verrucae. It is resting now on the rockwork and is sort of under a 150w halide in a 2foot deep tank.

Assuming that the animal has been in the care of your fellow reefer for several years, I would replicate her tank parameters for optimal results.

 

[Snprhed]

Unless it is fed (lots) I don't think it could be a gigantea could it? I thought they required almost as much light as a magnifica.

 

[dalbrecht]

I doubt it's a haddoni with inch long tentacles tho.

 

[Snprhed]

true, plus it was also said that it was on the rockwork, so even less likely

 

[delphinus]

It's been a few years since I cracked open my TRAvol2 so I don't remember those photos, will have to check them out when I get home from work today.

I basically echo Showjet98's comments though as for care of both gigantea and haddoni. As for it being a red gigantea, let me just say, I'm skeptical, but pictures would sure help. I'd love to see it if it was a red gigantea.

I have 2 gigantea's, I think the surging currents is a very good idea. As for lighting, one of mine is under 2x175's so not technically a lot of light, but I think it would be happier under more.

70w seems too low for my liking, but in a 20-something cm deep tank.. that's pretty shallow... Maybe it would be just fine ... Anyhow if you could swing that 150W, I'm sure it'd be plenty. Personally, my main concern with the species is flow patterns, both mine have demonstrated a strong tolerance for high surging flow patterns, as have others in here on RC have also observed.

 

[phender]

There is a bleached pink gigantea on the cover of the Martin Moe book. Pink + zooxanthelle would = red I think.

Color is not a good way to ID species anyway.

I would agree with Tony's post. Get the 150 watt light and make sure there is alot of surge. I would also try to feed it a little every other day until it gets strong and growing.

The "You can get away with less light if you feed more" idea is very hypothetical. The person who first proposed it doesn't keep anemones that need lots of light, nor has he tried it with the anemones that he has.

 

[criccio]

Here's the picture/book Phil is speaking of... http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0939960079/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-5807360-4967028#reader-link I wonder if that pic is of a bleached purple gigantea, with the lighting and photography playing with the color a bit.

Actually exiled_infidel, check out pg. 399 for a pink (again, possibly bleached purple) gigantea.

I've seen dozens of red haddonis, but never a red gigantea, so this would be a definite treat. If it truly is a red/pink gigantea, please post pics.