Reefer0203
New member
Been looking for a colorful one for a long while. DD hasn't had any at all in a long time and blue zoo sold a couple before I could get one. Now I can't find any. I was just wondering if anybody knew where I could get one?
Gig oR mag
- Thread starter Reefer0203
- Start date
D-Nak
Active member
Healthy ones (mags and gigs) are extremely hard to come by. I've been looking for quite a while. I was just talking to an old friend of mine who now is in the export business, and he says gigantea are even more common than haddoni, which leads me to believe that most of the gigs die in transport, since I see many more haddoni for sale.
That said, have you considered a haddoni? They are much better suited for an aquarium, and for the most part, are more brightly colored. But, I completely understand if you're not interested, since I have my heart set on gigantea as well.
I think your best bet is to work with your retailer to order one for you from the wholesaler. This way they can keep an eye out for you and at least you know you'll be getting one. If you have a good relationship with the retailer, they may be able to hold it for you to monitor its condition.
Also, make sure you have an acclimation plan in place prior to receiving the anemone.
That said, have you considered a haddoni? They are much better suited for an aquarium, and for the most part, are more brightly colored. But, I completely understand if you're not interested, since I have my heart set on gigantea as well.
I think your best bet is to work with your retailer to order one for you from the wholesaler. This way they can keep an eye out for you and at least you know you'll be getting one. If you have a good relationship with the retailer, they may be able to hold it for you to monitor its condition.
Also, make sure you have an acclimation plan in place prior to receiving the anemone.
deangelr
Clown Whisperererer
I never seem to think they are so hard to find... I do a quick google search and I find one of each instantly..
Ritteri at NYAquatic (Their stock changes frequently so I assume this is uo to date.. might call)
http://www.nyaquatic.com/servlet/the-415/Ritteri-fdsh-Magnificent-Anemone-dsh-4"/Detail
Gig at BuyExoticCorals here: ( No idea if this is a good place, I have not used it.. )
http://buyexoticcorals.com/Blue-Carpet-Anemone-BlueCarpetAnemone1.htm
In stock in the "new arrivals section"
There are other places that if you sign up for alert emails or call them directly can find you one within a few months..
Ritteri at NYAquatic (Their stock changes frequently so I assume this is uo to date.. might call)
http://www.nyaquatic.com/servlet/the-415/Ritteri-fdsh-Magnificent-Anemone-dsh-4"/Detail
Gig at BuyExoticCorals here: ( No idea if this is a good place, I have not used it.. )
http://buyexoticcorals.com/Blue-Carpet-Anemone-BlueCarpetAnemone1.htm
In stock in the "new arrivals section"
There are other places that if you sign up for alert emails or call them directly can find you one within a few months..
M Woodhill
New member
NYAquatics is a kinda fab website but i don't guess they regularly have gig or mag
gotta call and wait
there's actually a small lfs in manhattan often quickly respondin to ur personal demand. but u gotta pay manhattan price too
olemiss reb
Molon Labe
I just received two gigs from http://www.ibluewater.com/anemone.html
They've only been in the tank for 24 hours but they appear quite healthy. Tight closed mouths, foot attached immediately, stubby tentacles at first but long extended tentacles this morning, they have not deflated once. I know it is way too early to say they will survive but these two look infinitely nicer straight out of the bag than anything the LFS near me have ever gotten. No pics- don't want to jinx them
Bob is great to deal with but will only sell you a gig if you know how to care for one. I had a 5-10 minute phone interview before he would accept my order. Also had to pick the gigs up at the airport.
I bought my ritteri locally, can't help you on that one.
They've only been in the tank for 24 hours but they appear quite healthy. Tight closed mouths, foot attached immediately, stubby tentacles at first but long extended tentacles this morning, they have not deflated once. I know it is way too early to say they will survive but these two look infinitely nicer straight out of the bag than anything the LFS near me have ever gotten. No pics- don't want to jinx them
Bob is great to deal with but will only sell you a gig if you know how to care for one. I had a 5-10 minute phone interview before he would accept my order. Also had to pick the gigs up at the airport.
I bought my ritteri locally, can't help you on that one.
M Woodhill
New member
i guess regardin mag, it's easier to have from a local lfs
the problem is it is very random to have a colorful one
and they usually don't ship, transport or acclimate well at lfs's
regardin gig, it is really hard to get one
don't know if ibluewater can ship to canada
they charge much but i guess it's worth the price
taylor t
New member
When you opened the box, where they inflated, or deflated? Were the mouths gaping at all in the bag?
olemiss reb
Molon Labe
inflated with short tentacles. mouths were open but not gaping both were attached to the bag. Mouths closed up within the first hour being in the tank and have been closed since. They attached instantly to the rock when I put them in the tank.
Can't get a pic of the larger ones mouth due to the light but this is smaller ones mouth.
Rotknee
Member
Me too!!!
Me too!!!
I highly recommend Bob@iBluewater.
I live in SoCal so I picked mine up yesterday. It is an incredible blue/purple color and very...very healthy. Within two hours it was in my tank. The mouth was closed, it is very sticky and even ate a couple of mysis shrimp. Like yours, it has never deflated once.
I have never seen a Gig that looked so good! You may wait a little more with iBluewater but it is definitely worth it! It's been a long time since I spent a significant amount of cash on something where I can sit back and say "This was well worth it!"
Me too!!!
I highly recommend Bob@iBluewater.
I live in SoCal so I picked mine up yesterday. It is an incredible blue/purple color and very...very healthy. Within two hours it was in my tank. The mouth was closed, it is very sticky and even ate a couple of mysis shrimp. Like yours, it has never deflated once.
I have never seen a Gig that looked so good! You may wait a little more with iBluewater but it is definitely worth it! It's been a long time since I spent a significant amount of cash on something where I can sit back and say "This was well worth it!"
Rotknee
Member
Here is a quick pic. The blue/purple color is much more intense in person. My white balance is off and uh...taking pics isn't my day job.:lolspin:
By the time I picked the Gig up it had been in the bag for about 2-3 hours...I think? After acclimation and going into my tank the mouth was slightly open. About two hours later it was closed.
By the time I picked the Gig up it had been in the bag for about 2-3 hours...I think? After acclimation and going into my tank the mouth was slightly open. About two hours later it was closed.
D-Nak
Active member
I think the challenge is to get past one month. My experience echos that of others -- they look good when first introduced, then after a few days begin to do the inflate/deflate cycle, then slowly wither away.
@Rotknee - yours looks just like the one I had. Even has the same tentacle length (versus the very short extension/non-existent of olemiss'). What is your acclimation procedure (not introduction but long term.) Are you dimming the AIs for the nem? What is your lighting acclimation process?
I suspect that the purple gigs come from a different depth and part of the reef than the standard brown ones. This is based on photos I've seen of people who visit the tidepools and take top down photos of gigs -- all of them have been brown. This leads me to think that the zooxanthellae population is either higher or it's a different type altogether.
Speaking of which, have any of you seen your nems expel zooxanthellae -- not to be confused with waste. I've seen gigs expel, what I was told, was zooxanthellae in more of a pellet form (think rat poop) than anything stringy that would be food waste.
Good luck guys! Please keep us updated!
@Rotknee - yours looks just like the one I had. Even has the same tentacle length (versus the very short extension/non-existent of olemiss'). What is your acclimation procedure (not introduction but long term.) Are you dimming the AIs for the nem? What is your lighting acclimation process?
I suspect that the purple gigs come from a different depth and part of the reef than the standard brown ones. This is based on photos I've seen of people who visit the tidepools and take top down photos of gigs -- all of them have been brown. This leads me to think that the zooxanthellae population is either higher or it's a different type altogether.
Speaking of which, have any of you seen your nems expel zooxanthellae -- not to be confused with waste. I've seen gigs expel, what I was told, was zooxanthellae in more of a pellet form (think rat poop) than anything stringy that would be food waste.
Good luck guys! Please keep us updated!
Rotknee
Member
In my conversations with iBluewater I learned that the Gigs were kept under a combination of LED’s and natural sunlight. So, in terms of long term acclimation I didn’t plan to do anything special. My controller allows me to run my lighting at variable settings to mimic real weather. This is a simple process of the controller randomly dimming the lights to simulate cloud cover. The controller will also vary the light intensity throughout the week. In other words, 5 days a week my lights may have a peak intensity of 100% and then 70-90% a couple days a week. Again, I am doing nothing special for the long term. I’ll continue to watch closely and resist the urge to be anything but consistent.
D-Nak
Active member
I had a good conversation with Bob about gigantea. Great guy and awesome customer service. I'm still struggling with his prices, since they seem to be over double what I'd pay at my LFS, but the fact that he quarantines them for 4 weeks was enough for me to give it some serious thought. He also drop-ships to the airport which requires commitment on both ends -- but this is something I like since it reduce time in transit -- critical to the well-being of the gig.
@RotKnee. Definitely keep us posted. If you can, please start your own thread so we can subscribe eto it. I am trying to keep a mental tally of gigs survival rate and I believe that the 80%+ mortality rate is true. Hopefully we can collectively learn more about acclimation and optimal tank conditions to bring the mortality rate down.
I hope I am not de-railing this thread, but here are some key points from my conversation with Bob:
1. Temp. range should be 80-82 degrees
2. pH should be 8.3, and should not fluctuate more than .2 throughout the day
3. Use SeaChem Marine Buffer to control pH (won't allow about 8.3)
4. Nitrate no more than .5 ppm
5. Lighting should be on 12/12 cycle
6. Feed fish without bones (wild caught salmon works best since it's high in fatty acids and has natural color enhancers)
Good luck with your hunt for the gig and keep us posted on what you find.
@RotKnee. Definitely keep us posted. If you can, please start your own thread so we can subscribe eto it. I am trying to keep a mental tally of gigs survival rate and I believe that the 80%+ mortality rate is true. Hopefully we can collectively learn more about acclimation and optimal tank conditions to bring the mortality rate down.
I hope I am not de-railing this thread, but here are some key points from my conversation with Bob:
1. Temp. range should be 80-82 degrees
2. pH should be 8.3, and should not fluctuate more than .2 throughout the day
3. Use SeaChem Marine Buffer to control pH (won't allow about 8.3)
4. Nitrate no more than .5 ppm
5. Lighting should be on 12/12 cycle
6. Feed fish without bones (wild caught salmon works best since it's high in fatty acids and has natural color enhancers)
Good luck with your hunt for the gig and keep us posted on what you find.
phender
Active member
You forgot what I feel is one of the most important things and that is to create a surge with a large water volume but low velocity. There are lots of different ways to do this, but I have found it is one of the most important things for gigantea health. (other anemones like it too)
olemiss reb
Molon Labe
How would yall go about freezing the salmon? Small single portions or freeze the filet as a whole and cut off pieces as needed?
off topic- the yellow has long tentacles, that was a top down shot and it is significantly smaller than the blue(which is awesome looking btw)
M Woodhill
New member
my ph never reaches 8.3
is it a reason why my ritteri now dooms?
if so, i gotta get some buffer but both my alkalinity and calcium levels r fairly high
