Four baby gigs

[D-Nak]

Last week, Blue Zoo sent me an email stating that they had small gigantea in stock. At only $40 each I couldn't resist and ordered two. Here what they looked like when they first arrived:

And into QT:

Notice that they are sitting on your average sized mug. These were literally only 2" big. Tentacles showed lots of movement so I was optimistic.

Slowly expanding...

The gig on the left shows signs of purple, the one on the right has a blue foot, but I can't get a good read on the color.

 

[D-Nak]

I began treatment with Septra at night. 90% water changes with freshly-made salt water. They exhibited the typical signs of sick gigs, and both deflated at different times, almost as if they were taking turns. But overall, they showed improvement. So, I checked Blue Zoo to see if they had any more. Ordered two more, which arrived this morning:

And into another QT tank:

I was worried that the gig on the right might not be a gig at all because it looks completely different than the other three gigs. But as they acclimated it looked more like a gig (and I saw purple verrucae).

Top down shot under natural sunlight. The gig on the left appears the be green, larger gig on the right might be multicolor, but it's hard to confirm:

The mouth on the gig to the left remains tight, and I can't even see the mouth of the one on the right.

First partial deflation of the green gig:

Top down shot with Ecoxotic Stunner Strips on:

Looking better... fingers crossed:

First two gigs inflated, but mouths open:

Not looking good, both deflated:

I will continue treatment this evening (this would be treatment day 4) and may start treatment on the other two, it depends if either deflate. If no deflation I may hold off.

 

[Reefahholic]

Those are awesome! Tiny!!

Great score D-Nak!

 

[Reefahholic]

You are gonna be a busy man!

Welcome to my world of treating 5-6 Magnifica at one time.

Can't wait to see progression pictures!

 

[D-Nak]

You are gonna be a busy man!

Welcome to my world of treating 5-6 Magnifica at one time.

Can't wait to see progression pictures!

Yes, I'm planning to be busy! Here's what else I've been working on:

These mags are clones. I was nursing the splitting mag for over a month, and finally decided to cut it when it seemed like the splitting had stopped. Both are doing well and haven't deflated or balled up.

I'm still putting the finishing touches on my QT set up. It's a rack with four 17 gallon Mr. Aqua tanks with stunner strips, with two 30 gallon Mr. Aqua tanks on the shelf above with Kessil A350w on each. I also have a 10 gallon QT tank with a Kessil A150. Currently one of the 30 gallon tanks holds replacement salt water, while the other has the mags and baby Onyx clowns. Two of the gigs are in the 10 gallon tank, the other two gigs are in one of the 17 gallon tanks. The other three remain empty. All tanks are not connected, but can be via a sump and central plumbing. Once the set up is done, I'll take a few photos to share.

 

[OrionN]

They are all looking OK and will be very nice once they are healthy and under good lighting. Best of luck.

 

[ajt12]

Those look a lot better than the ones I received. I would be tempted to buy more from them if mine had been in similar condition. The worst of the two I bought already had stringy flesh dissolving off in the bag.

 

[D-Nak]

Those look a lot better than the ones I received. I would be tempted to buy more from them if mine had been in similar condition. The worst of the two I bought already had stringy flesh dissolving off in the bag.

Where are you located? I'm in northern CA so shipping from Blue Zoo is a relatively short overnight trip. I received both packages before 9:00am so I estimate that the gigs were in the shipping boxes for less than 18 hours. I can't imagine your gigs looking much different than mine in the holding facility, so I'm guessing that they deteriorated quickly during shipment.

 

[D-Nak]

This AM under natural sunlight:





The mouths were tight on both of the newer gigs last night, so I decided not to medicate. I have not seen complete deflation of either yet (fingers crossed).

 

[OrionN]

D-Nak,
All are looking good. They are tiny

 

[clorox]

Where are you located? I'm in northern CA so shipping from Blue Zoo is a relatively short overnight trip. I received both packages before 9:00am so I estimate that the gigs were in the shipping boxes for less than 18 hours. I can't imagine your gigs looking much different than mine in the holding facility, so I'm guessing that they deteriorated quickly during shipment.

Where do they ship from? I am thinking about ordering too, once my baby gig will hopefully make it to the DT.

I noticed you stopped medicating once the mouths closed, so does it mean they already went through a full ~5 day course of Septra, or do you stop once you notice the mouths stay closed for a period of time?

What flow have you been using?

 

[D-Nak]

Where do they ship from? I am thinking about ordering too, after my baby gig will hopefully make it to the DT.

My shipping label says it's shipping out of Hawthorne. I wonder if they'd allow you to pick up your order. Your gig looks good. I'm willing to bet all of these gigs came from the same collector.

 

[clorox]

My shipping label says it's shipping out of Hawthorne. I wonder if they'd allow you to pick up your order. Your gig looks good. I'm willing to bet all of these gigs came from the same collector.

Most likely. The petco guy where I got mine from said they get theirs from aqua marine imports. I wouldn't be surprised if they were all from the same batch, cause yours look identical to mine in size and color.
Hawthorne is a few miles south from where I am. Good to know, thx.

 

[Reefahholic]

Yes, I'm planning to be busy! Here's what else I've been working on:

These mags are clones. I was nursing the splitting mag for over a month, and finally decided to cut it when it seemed like the splitting had stopped. Both are doing well and haven't deflated or balled up.

I'm still putting the finishing touches on my QT set up. It's a rack with four 17 gallon Mr. Aqua tanks with stunner strips, with two 30 gallon Mr. Aqua tanks on the shelf above with Kessil A350w on each. I also have a 10 gallon QT tank with a Kessil A150. Currently one of the 30 gallon tanks holds replacement salt water, while the other has the mags and baby Onyx clowns. Two of the gigs are in the 10 gallon tank, the other two gigs are in one of the 17 gallon tanks. The other three remain empty. All tanks are not connected, but can be via a sump and central plumbing. Once the set up is done, I'll take a few photos to share.

They're looking great! Hopefully since it was naturally splitting and you kinda helped the process they'll tolerate well.

Sounds like a very nice set up. It can be a lot of work, but I like to have enough tanks for that rare find, or that fish you just gotta have that day.

When I first started hanging around the disease forum, I had one 29/G QT. Now since I've been treating Nems, and they can pass infection through the system and get everybody sick, I have a 20/L which is my main QT. I also have 3 10/g and 3 5/g. I like smaller tanks because it saves on water & salt, speeds up WC's, sterilization process, and just easier to maintain. If I have one small fish I'm doing TT on, I'll only fill a 5/g 1/2 full. So 2.5 gallons for 4 transfers equals only 10/G's of water. You get the idea.

Your gigs are looking good. I hope they all make it, especially that little yellow/green hairy one.

 

[asudavew]

This thread should be fun to watch.

 

[OrionN]

D-Nak,
you did not indicate hw you dose the Trim/sulfa. Make sure you dose 800mg/160 mg per 10 gals.
I got some email and there are reefers who though that I use 400mg/80mg per 10 gals.

The total fluid volume for human is about 10 gal. Most water soluble medications distribute though out this volume. If we use the amount of antibiotic per dose for a normal human per 10 gal of water, we should have effective level of antibiotic concentration.
Human have mechanism to eliminate medication from the body, but our reef tank does not so we need only dose it once a day and replace which ever medication we take out with water change. Most medication have degredation with high intensity light. Most of the time light in our HT is not going to cause significant degradation of medication

 

[D-Nak]

D-Nak,
you did not indicate hw you dose the Trim/sulfa. Make sure you dose 800mg/160 mg per 10 gals.
I got some email and there are reefers who though that I use 400mg/80mg per 10 gals.

The total fluid volume for human is about 10 gal. Most water soluble medications distribute though out this volume. If we use the amount of antibiotic per dose for a normal human per 10 gal of water, we should have effective level of antibiotic concentration.
Human have mechanism to eliminate medication from the body, but our reef tank does not so we need only dose it once a day and replace which ever medication we take out with water change. Most medication have degredation with high intensity light. Most of the time light in our HT is not going to cause significant degradation of medication

Thanks for the information. I am dosing 800mg/160 mg per 10 gals, and am now doing 100% water changes (even soaking up any remaining water) and replacing with day aged, prepared salt water. My Trim/sulfa tablets don't dissolve well, even though I am using a pill crusher. There are always white granules left the next morning, and because these gigs are very small, the waste they're producing is very small as well, smaller than the size of fish food granules -- for these reasons I want to make sure that I thoroughly clean the QT tank each evening. The gigs are exposed to air during this time, but don't seem affected by it (as if the gigs were exposed on the reef during low tide).

I may separate two of the gigs. One seems to look great while the other looks terrible -- then they literally switch:

No meds for the second two:

 

[clorox]

Dumb question. I noticed you are using similar creme brulee ramekins as I have been using, however you've placed them inverted. In your experience would gigs rather be in the open or would prefer to be inside the bowl shaped container? I was debating earlier whether I should remove it from inside and place it on the glass bottom or on top of an inverted ramekin as you did.

 

[hypnoj]

Following

 

[D-Nak]

Dumb question. I noticed you are using similar creme brulee ramekins as I have been using, however you've placed them inverted. In your experience would gigs rather be in the open or would prefer to be inside the bowl shaped container? I was debating earlier whether I should remove it from inside and place it on the glass bottom or on top of an inverted ramekin as you did.

IMO, gigs needs flow to help them remove dead zoox and waste. I don't want any decaying material in contact with the nem. By placing them on an inverted ramekin or mug, this can be mitigated as there isn't any place for it to collect.

Also, they tend to slough off a stringy substance from around their base. I use a turkey baster to remove this, and it's easier to do when the gig is on a platform instead of being in a "pit." I understand the logic of using a bowl or ramekin in the upright position, as it allows the nem to sink into it when it doesn't want flow. However, IME gigs rarely extend their base, so I don't want to require the gig to use energy to try to raise its oral disk over the side of the bowl or ramekin. During QT, the goal is to have the nem use as little energy as possible, in the hope that it uses most or all of its energy to get better.