Gigs on the mind

[xrayjeeper83]

Ever since finding those forum and looking around I've fallen in love with gigs. I've got a 75 that's been up and running for a while now (7-8months) and have what I think is a great place for one, once I move some other corals around.

The tank already has 6 rock nems bit they stay put no problem. The gig would go opposite the rocks.

Other then a gapping mouth what are other signs I should look for when at the LFS(my LFS has two green ones in stock) to indicate health?

 

[xrayjeeper83]

This is where I'm thinking. My sand is about 2-3 inch's deep I think. I can add more to this side no problem

 

[cichlidconvert]

None of my gigs are on the sand so your sand bed should be fine. Stickiness and posture also are signs of health. Sick gigs can be sticky. But gigs that are not sticky are not healthy. You don't want them to be flat or limp. But the biggest thing when buying a gig is to have a hospital tank up and running with cipro on hand. My first two gigs did not need treatment and although my last gig looked to be in great condition it needed treatment. And always qt your gig so you can treat at a moments notice.

 

[xrayjeeper83]

Is cipro easy to find? I've never looked.

These gigs have been at the LFS for about two weeks and are sticky, but I can't remember if the mouth was closed or open.

 

[cichlidconvert]

I got mine off eBay. Dr. Foster's and smith also carry the product.

 

[D-Nak]

Cipro is easy to find, since it's widely used to treat infections in both humans and animals. You will most likely need a prescription but there are a couple of online and eBay stores that sell it without, though I don't know if it's exactly the same medication.

In terms of the green gigs, are you 100% positive they are gigantea and not haddoni? The only reason I ask is that green gigs are somewhat rare, and to have two of them makes me think they might not be gigs since green haddoni are common. That said, they still could be gigs and the LFS got lucky to receive two of them.

In terms of physical attributes, cichlidconvert just about covered it. My only adds are that its foot should be attached unless it's in a basket or similar holding vessel. If you can buy it with the rock its attached to, it's better than trying to remove it and ripping the foot. Also, the tentacles should appear shaggy though newly imported gigs tend to have shorter, bulbous tentacles. We've seen a couple green gigs with very short tentacles that take a long time to lengthen

I would definitely not pick it up unless you have Cipro on hand. Sick gigs are very hard to identify until the sickness is set in. I believe they get sick from the inside out, so once we start to see symptoms, the gig is already very sick and needs Cipro treatment right away. However, once treatment is complete (I suggest 7 days, even if the gig looks fine prior to the 7 days) the track record is very good.

 

[xrayjeeper83]

No I'm not 100% sure that its a gig.

 

[xrayjeeper83]

From looking at pics it seems the difference is tentacle length? What other things should I look for to id which it actually is

 

[joeyjoe35]

Look for verrucae (spot/bumps) on the underside of the oral disk

 

[xrayjeeper83]

That means gig right?

 

[ct_vol]

That means gig right?

Yup.

 

[xrayjeeper83]

Another question, I've got a crappy marineland led, that I've been wanting to ditch, right now. If I moved my 150watt MH and put it over the area where I want the gig to go would that be enough light? I've got two par 38s I can use for the other half of the tank.

Oh and its a 75 gallon tank that's an inch shorter and wider then a standard 75.

Sorry for the noob questions

 

[xtlosx]

Trust me, we would rather you ask more questions than go out, buy a gig, and be completely unprepared then come home to a dead deflated pancake... Wish more people would ask questions and be prepared.

The verracue going further down the column is a great indication.. From what I have seen, haddonis do have verracue, but nothing like what was posted here. Purple verracue is a dead give away, blue, and especially if it goes downward that far... They are generally easy to tell unless you get something like my green gig which everyone thought was a haddoni for weeks..

The more lighting the better, and absolutely have cipro on hand with a hospital tank. I QT'd my green for five days, observed it intensely, then made the executive decision to move it into the DT.

Good luck, and you might want to get pictures, and have the group confirm it's a gig 100% before purchasing.. Trust me, the nuts here would love to confirm another gig

 

[xrayjeeper83]

After talking to the owner he thinks it hadd, he is gonna check when he opens. I've got a 20L already up and running. Its a FOWLR tank, would that work for a QT? Or does it need to be empty minus one rock to hang on?

If its a hadd I think I'm gonna a pass till he finds a gig. Will give me time to fully upgrade my lights to the LEDs I want. If its a gig I'll ghetto rig some lights for now

 

[xtlosx]

After talking to the owner he thinks it hadd, he is gonna check when he opens. I've got a 20L already up and running. Its a FOWLR tank, would that work for a QT? Or does it need to be empty minus one rock to hang on?

If its a hadd I think I'm gonna a pass till he finds a gig. Will give me time to fully upgrade my lights to the LEDs I want. If its a gig I'll ghetto rig some lights for now

For a hospital tank ideally you want an empty tank, no filtration, power head and heater... A rock is fine for the Gig to attach and sit on.. Read OrioN's write-up on what to do.. It's very thorough.

 

[xrayjeeper83]

OK I'll set up my 10 I have laying around.
Need to talk to one of the docs at work about a cipro script

 

[xrayjeeper83]

After looking at them in person they are both Hadds, so I passed for now. Who save the money for a light upgrade so I don't have to rig my MH.