Few Gigantea Questions

[adtravels]

I hope that its OK it's to put this info in the thread, if not we can start another, but I don't see the point.
I only ever have fed small pieces, either hikari mysis, sandworms (polycheate worms) or the grated shrimp/scallop based concoction I give to my fish as food.

I did eat a couple of my fish, by accident though it was my fault~

 

[tufacody]

Ad- what kind of response do you get with the smaller pieces? Does it immediately curl it to its mouth?

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15131151#post15131151 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by adtravels
I hope that its OK it's to put this info in the thread, if not we can start another, but I don't see the point.
I only ever have fed small pieces, either hikari mysis, sandworms (polycheate worms) or the grated shrimp/scallop based concoction I give to my fish as food.

I did eat a couple of my fish, by accident though it was my fault~

Yeah I am looking for all this kind of info and I agree, no point in starting another thread.

 

[synofreak]

How did it react to the fish(food), sorry for your loss, but had to ask =).
I'm the opposite. I never feed small particles, other then it getting Rods food(regular fish feeding ).
I always feed descent chunks(1/2" cubed or so every 7-10 days), or Krill occasionally. It always reacts and folds. Never spit up.
Before I got the group of Occy's, the nem crab tried to steal food, but the clowns have not. The Porcelain crab now lives on the outskirts and underside(filter feeder anyway).
Mine has been moving ever so slightly, and I changed the flow a pinch, so we will see.
I'm also debating on uping the feedings. Your thoughts?
I wish everybody the best, and lets keep this thread going. EXP becomes knowledge, and everybody needs this, especially with this particular nem.

 

[tufacody]

How did it react to the fish(food), sorry for your loss, but had to ask =).

Not sure I follow that ^

How do you feed decent chunks of krill? I can only buy the stuff in cubes, which melts into pretty small pieces. Is there another type that is chunkier?

 

[adtravels]

Tufa~ smaller pieces are grabbed by just one or two tentacles, they detect the small piece and then curl up around it, that's the last I see of it, if loads of pieces are captured simultaneously then the nem closes partially as (I assume) the food is passed to the mouth from tentacle to tentacle.

Syno, the fish eating experience was a horrlble one, It happened when I moved the tank. The anemone was stuck o the glass wall at the base of the tank, I removed all the water down to the foot line, then the rocks but in my haste, stress I did not think to remove my fish until after the anemone was out. I figured they would avoid it as they had always done. I was wrong, as it was the only cover left they swam to it. The nem ate a potters and a mimic tang (juvi) a dispar anthias and a sixline wrasse, It let go of the potters, regurgitated the tang and I never saw the others again, needless to say I did not feed it for a week and wont make the mistake again, I hope no one else will if they read this.
Finally, I got the anemone at 3-4 inches across, it was in an old squamosa clam shell (handy) I fed and continue to feed every other day for the last 6 months. First three months it got a cube of rinsed mysis (or equivalent) and a drop of aahc from zeovit (dont know if that made a difference) months 3-6 I doubled the food. Last two week have cut back to feeding once evry three days as the tank recycles and the nem reaches a decent size.
here's a quick comparison to show the growth in 6 months.

 

[tufacody]

Ugh, what a sad story

Mine must not like krill, lol. He just doesnt close up on it, but does so immediately on the silverside. Do you feed at any particular time of day? When lights are off?

 

[synofreak]

Man that is sad ADTRAVELS. I did not expect that story. Fudge.
Sounds like it did OK, even after 2 fish whole.
Very sorry again.
Yes there is Krill available in ziplock style packages, whole mostly. This I feed every 3rd to 4th time. Full size krill basically.
Again Adtravels, I was never joking, just wanting to know how it reacted. I've feared alot of my fish while I introduced it, before clowns hosting, as they were right up in it basically(blue jaw tang, checkerboard wrasse, bristletooth tang).
Another EXP that you taught to not do.

 

[tufacody]

Well after 3 weeks my gigantea is now showing signs of going downhill. Very dejected about this. Not sure how or why, but last night it deflated for the first time and has not expanded today to his normal size. I did a small WC and changed carbon, but no improvement. I'll be very bummed if I lose this guy.

 

[tufacody]

Just an update: he looks great today. If he doesn't crash tonight then he might be ok. I was feeding him every two days so maybe it was just time for a good ole poop?

 

[JustinReef]

Im glad yours pulled through!

Mine is doing very well still and been on the glass for a few weeks...getting bigger and bigger. That's the problem though. I don't think I can keep it and have all the corals I want to keep. I would have never bought this nem for the size tank I now have and I think I am going to sell it. I really wish I still had the 200 now! It would have been a beautiful centerpiece!

How big do they get in captivity?

What is a smaller and good 'replacement' for my clowns? I am guessing there really isn't anything.

Thanks!

 

[adtravels]

Unfortunately, nothing will ever look as good

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15190036#post15190036 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by adtravels
Unfortunately, nothing will ever look as good

Yeah I know...I think I will just get some kind of softie for the clowns to host in instead. I don't think getting another anemone is the way to go for me. I don't really like anemone's other than the carpets.

 

[JustinReef]

So no one for max size?

I have spoken to one person who has had theirs for 2 years and its about 12" max and another person who has had theirs for 4 years and its about 14"...he also had one for 6 years and said hes pretty sure it never got bigger than about 14" either.

But then I am reading 2' on some sites. Although I am more interested in actual specimens from tanks and not what has been found in the ocean.

How long have you had yours and how big is it?

 

[tufacody]

In the wild these guys can be measured in feet.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15193566#post15193566 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tufacody
In the wild these guys can be measured in feet.

Yes I know. That is very easy information to find and when I was in Singapore last year, I saw them probably over 2' but thats not what I am looking for.

I want to hear from more people keeping them over 2 years and how big they got. So far I haven't found any that got bigger than 14" or so. There is one guy I know who claims his got to about 2' before it died in a power outage but he when he was buying my 8" Sailfin (I measured) he kept insisting it was a foot So I don't believe the guy.

Not that they can't get that big in aquariums but it seems very unlikely.

 

[Rod Buehler]

I have always read that a gigantea will max out at about 22" and that is what both of mine are at when they "stretch". With folds they are about 16-18" One of mine is about 5 and the other about 15 years in my presence.