Stoneyscoral
New member
Sorry about the spelling (bonsai)
Any updates on the carpet from PhishyBusiness ?
- Thread starter SohalTang
- Start date
smatter
Active member
When one looks at the gigantea's track record in captivity it makes one wonder whether or not they should be collected at all. Rod Buehler's specimen sounds like it was collected without being injured, shipped well, and is an exception to the norm. Don't get me wrong, they are beautiful and I would love to have one, however, it doesn't seem right to take an anemone that can live for 100+ years and sentence it to death. I would like to know out of all the giganteas collected over the past 6 months, how many are still alive today?
OrionN
Moved on
You don't have to worry about this. This anemone is not rare in the wild but is extreemly rare in the trade because they rarely colloected. There are lots of small size S. gigantea which means they reproducing well in the wild. There are anemone farm that raise these anemone and have them reproduce sexually in captivity before ( per J. Sprung). There is no market, no demand for them because most died at the LFS or wholesaler. They seem to ship extreemly poorly, which seem to be the problem here. Many LFS owner just don't order them because they just take a loss on these anemone. The few reefers people like me, have to search long and hard, and call in favors in order to get them, and most of us pay an arm and a leg for them. So far for me, just to have them died in my tank.smatter said:
The two comfort points for me are that these anemones are not rare in the wild, and the fact that they have potential to live hundreds of years in the wild does not mean that they will live that long.
Certainly they are beautiful. The most beautiful of all the host anemones IMO. They are also the natural host of three most desirable Clownfishes, IMO these are Ocellaris, Percula and Pink Skunk, among others.
These are the reasons i want them in my tank. If I think I have a healthy S. gigantea shipped to me, and I am unable to keep him alive, I will give up getting for my tank.
Minh
trueblackpercula
New member
well that was so well put thats there is nothing i can say except that mine is still alive .............after 6 months
smatter
Active member
I am happy your gigantea has survived for 6 months trueblackpercula. I am sure your fish are stoked to have their natural symbiont too. Clowns behavior is so different when they are with their true symbiont. My polymnus pair would be lost without their haddoni. I have just seen too many dead and dying Stichodactylidae. Anemones of this family simply fare poorly when removed from their natural habitat and I don't think anyone can argue with that. Even the haddoni, which is considered the hardiest of this family is very delicate.
The collection of marine species that do not survive well in captivity, regardless of their abundance, casts a bad light on our hobby. I love this hobby and I don't doubt that you are all conscientious, capable aquarists. I want to continue to keep Stichodactylidae too, I just sometimes wonder if it is right. Sorry to get all ethical on you.
The collection of marine species that do not survive well in captivity, regardless of their abundance, casts a bad light on our hobby. I love this hobby and I don't doubt that you are all conscientious, capable aquarists. I want to continue to keep Stichodactylidae too, I just sometimes wonder if it is right. Sorry to get all ethical on you.
delphinus
New member
I don't know how to argue with you, smatter. Basically it is a selfish hobby. You have to draw your own "lines in the sand" that you won't cross to ease your conscience. Over they years I've known several expert-level hobbyists basically get out of the hobby because they couldn't take the guilt anymore.
On the flip side, we'll never get the to point where we see more "captive raised" specimens if we don't try to learn, learn, learn more about the animals of the ocean in the meantime. We likely may never get there 100% anyways, but 100% for sure we won't if we don't try to expand our horizons.
I know, it might be a weak argument, but, ... like I said, you have to find your own comfort zone.
There are plenty of animals that ought not be attempted by casual hobbyists. S. gigantea is probably one of such, best left to more experienced aquarists, who can devote enough serious attention to the proper care and husbandry of the animals.
On the flip side, we'll never get the to point where we see more "captive raised" specimens if we don't try to learn, learn, learn more about the animals of the ocean in the meantime. We likely may never get there 100% anyways, but 100% for sure we won't if we don't try to expand our horizons.
I know, it might be a weak argument, but, ... like I said, you have to find your own comfort zone.
There are plenty of animals that ought not be attempted by casual hobbyists. S. gigantea is probably one of such, best left to more experienced aquarists, who can devote enough serious attention to the proper care and husbandry of the animals.
4runner
New member
While I wouldn't feel confident in attempting a gigantaea anemone, I would be confident in attempting a ritteri. My confidence arises in this species due to aquarists like Minh who have been successful with them. Just five years ago success was pretty much unheard of with ritteri, as little first hand knowledge was available in successfully keeping them. I feel that aquarists like trueblackpercula, Minh, and Delphinus are pioneers in keeping these rare and "hard to keep" species of anemones. As a budding aquarist many years ago I failed on three attempts at keeping Entacmaea quadricolor, yet now I've got them actively reproducing in my tanks and consider them very hardy. I support experienced aquarists attempts at keeping this species. Only through experience will we gain the knowledge in successfully keeping them.
smatter
Active member
I have had limited success with Heteractis magnifica, formerly known as Radianthus ritteri. I have seen some exceptional specimens in my years and agree with you 4runner that they would be a better choice for semi-advanced aquarist. In my experience with them I have found them to be wanderers. They always seek out the area in the tank where they receive the most flow and light, which more often than not is on the glass at the top of the tank. A former client of mine has had one for over six years. It has even survived two systems failures which overheated the tank. It lives on the back pane of glass, at the waterline, in the flow of the return. I have found that when placing a magnifica they like to have a smooth pedestal on which to perch. I always positon a monolith of rock where they can bask in light and current and they usually stay put.
Stoneyscoral
New member
Well folks, I have some good news!
The large gigantea that I picked up from my lfs had shrimp sashimi for breakfast. I only gave it 1/2 of a 30 ct shrimp for I was unsure if it would eat it. I had to turn off the tunze's so it had time to get it down but it is definitely gone.
The smaller one from Phishy Business is still hanging in there. I moved it back to the bottom in another high current area and I have hope for it. I fed it some cyclopseez and it immediately closed its mouth. So it is definitely not dead. Still sticky. It seems to be consuming minute amounts of it. This afternoon I will give it some table shrimp as well.
Fingers crossed.
The large gigantea that I picked up from my lfs had shrimp sashimi for breakfast. I only gave it 1/2 of a 30 ct shrimp for I was unsure if it would eat it. I had to turn off the tunze's so it had time to get it down but it is definitely gone.
The smaller one from Phishy Business is still hanging in there. I moved it back to the bottom in another high current area and I have hope for it. I fed it some cyclopseez and it immediately closed its mouth. So it is definitely not dead. Still sticky. It seems to be consuming minute amounts of it. This afternoon I will give it some table shrimp as well.
Fingers crossed.
OrionN
Moved on
My update is not good. I just got home today. Mine still attached but moved down to under the ledge. He still have a huge mouth and not fully inflated. When I lelf the house Friday, he was deflated and was crawing down from the platform I have him one. I just keep my finger cross and hope for the best. I tryed to feed him a small piece of shrimp but he did not take it. It stuch to his tentacles for about 5 minutes then just float away in the high current. I will try to turn off the current while I feed him tomorrow.
Minh
Minh
trueblackpercula
New member
Minh Nguyen
please try this I will sleep better tonight take a silverside attach it to a feeding stick and place it near the mouth of the anemone.move it around to simulate a live fish getting stuck to its tentacles hope that works it needs to eat.can you post a picture.i wish I could help you out in getting a healthy one. we both no that you are more than able of keeping this anemone alive in your tank,please keep me up to date
Michael
please try this I will sleep better tonight take a silverside attach it to a feeding stick and place it near the mouth of the anemone.move it around to simulate a live fish getting stuck to its tentacles hope that works it needs to eat.can you post a picture.i wish I could help you out in getting a healthy one. we both no that you are more than able of keeping this anemone alive in your tank,please keep me up to date
Michael
Stoneyscoral
New member
Anemone #1 from Phishy B is no longer with us.
Rod Buehler
New member
I dont know if it will help, but what temp are you guys running? I usually shoot for 83-84. My gigantae is happiest when its 84+ and if it drops to 80 I can tell that he is not as happy.
Rod Buehler
New member
hmm, 80.. mine doesnt like 80 <shrugs>
trueblackpercula
New member
well that sure is interesting im starting to see that when my tank get's up to 82 deg's she sure looks better.Im going to see if I can maintain it at that for a week just to see the difference.get back to you on this .This sure could be the missing link to what everybody is looking for as to keeping this beautifully anemone alive.
P.S. how long have you had your gigantea for?
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