Heading to Southern CA to shop for anemones

[Maximus]

Btw, I'm sorry for taking this thread in a different direction.

<--------Threadjacker extraordinaire.

 

[addictedreefer]

It sounded like he had multiple pairs of mcullochi at one point. The pair I saw didn't act like a bonded pair, and were both around the same size (not that it matters in terms of a pair, but more on this later). They had a ton of designer clowns which leads me to think that all of the clowns, including this particular pair of mcullochi, especially since they were close in size, all came from the same breeder (which I would guess to be ORA) but again, just a hunch.

Regarding the red gig, I really think he thinks he can get them, and he sounds like he knows the difference between gigantea and haddoni. However, I wonder if what he's seeing are the verrucae on a red haddoni, much like the photo that OrionN shared.

I'm not a fan of the whole "how much are you willing to spend?" approach, as it implies that I am spending more than I should, but I am definitely will to support Jimmy's shop. It's very clean, has a TON of coral and everyone was friendly. I've been spoiled when buying gigs, where I've spent anywhere between $30-$150, which I know is on the low end. However, if I can find a healthy one I'd be willing to pay a premium for it. Most shops -- Jimmy's included -- are slowly catching on that gigs are a hot item and people will pay a lot for them even with the inherent risks.

Chances he can get a red gig are slim to none. There has only been a single documented case of a red gigantea either in the wild or in captivity - and even there the ID is far from certain. Sheer probability dictates that this guy likely does not have access to a true red gigantea.

 

[justinky]

Chances he can get a red gig are slim to none. There has only been a single documented case of a red gigantea either in the wild or in captivity - and even there the ID is far from certain. Sheer probability dictates that this guy likely does not have access to a true red gigantea.

Exactly, don't chase the unicorn or if you do at least know the probability of failure . Though I think D-Nak knows this and he is just telling us the guy really thinks he can get them in.

What is more then likely happening is he is hyping his store by telling anemone lovers he can get one of if not the holy grail of anemones in, but in reality the time someone responds yes to buy he has some excuse for not being able to get or a red haddoni comes in etc etc. He just wants to be the goto guy for anemones imo

 

[D-Nak]

Chances he can get a red gig are slim to none. There has only been a single documented case of a red gigantea either in the wild or in captivity - and even there the ID is far from certain. Sheer probability dictates that this guy likely does not have access to a true red gigantea.

You're talking about the nem at Greenwich Aquaria, right? I would love the think it's a true red gigantea, but I hear even the owners think it might be a hybrid, if that. Having seen photos and videos of it, I can see why people think it may be a gigantea.

I am 99.9% certain that Jimmy can't get a red gigantea but having just met him I had no plans to disagree with him. Like I said, I think he's a nice guy and means well -- I honestly think he thinks what he can get is a gigantea, but we know differently.

 

[OrionN]

Jimmy told me that he have collectors in a lot of places and he have holding facility that can keep animals for a long time to ensure that they are healthy before shipping them to him. I think those are his facilities, that only shipped to him and not selling to other importers.
It have been several years since I talk to him. Only 2-3 times when I talk to him. He was the one that send be that blue Haddoni that is second to none in term of color.

 

[justinky]

Jimmy told me that he have collectors in a lot of places and he have holding facility that can keep animals for a long time to ensure that they are healthy before shipping them to him. I think those are his facilities, that only shipped to him and not selling to other importers.
It have been several years since I talk to him. Only 2-3 times when I talk to him. He was the one that send be that blue Haddoni that is second to none in term of color.

Have you seen mine Minh?

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Jimmy told me that he have collectors in a lot of places and he have holding facility that can keep animals for a long time to ensure that they are healthy before shipping them to him. I think those are his facilities, that only shipped to him and not selling to other importers.
It have been several years since I talk to him. Only 2-3 times when I talk to him. He was the one that send be that blue Haddoni that is second to none in term of color.

I am glad he sent you a nice Haddoni. He is a very nice guy but Hype is the name of his game as someone else already mentioned above. He is a sponsor on another forum and if you read their posts you will see what I mean. They present their Leopard Wrasses as if they were Rhomboids. Works great for him because people buy but those type of fish are dime a dozen in our area.
I've asked for a few items and have offered to pre-pay for what I was asking after he made the same type of sales pitch he made to D-Nak. But he didn't want to go through.
His competitor in the area had very nice blue and red Haddoni anemones just this past week for sale but did not hype it up the way Jimmy does. So honestly not trying to bash him or anything. Just trying to tell people to set more realistic expectations when they deal with him.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

An email from his competitor I was talking about. Guess the blue had already been sold. I saw it. It was gorgeous.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

An email from his competitor I was talking about. Guess the blue had already been sold. I saw it. It was gorgeous.

 

[OrionN]

Have you seen mine Minh?

No. I did not see your blue. Just your green Haddoni and your Gigantea.
Can he beat this one? This is mine. I know I am a show off

 

[justinky]

No. I did not see your blue. Just your green Haddoni and your Gigantea.
Can he beat this one? This is mine. I know I am a show off

You tell me BTW I just added one more gig, the pink LTA and this blue so you missed my big update!


FTS is cloudy as I was babysitting the pink LTA I had just gotten in, those things are babies to settle in but with proper care during acclimating to the new spot they'll stay where you put them from my experience with this one.

 

[OrionN]

Close. You have to take a really god picture of him to compare with mine. In real live, my anemone look just like in that picture.
Sorry D-Nak we hijack your thread.

BTW, did you end up getting anything?

 

[justinky]

Close. You have to take a really god picture of him to compare with mine. In real live, my anemone look just like in that picture.
Sorry D-Nak we hijack your thread.

BTW, did you end up getting anything?

I can take a macro shot soon to compare, with my cheap macro reverse ring as I think it'll focus on it. If that doesn't work I will grab my larger lens and see if I can find a good spot to get a close up that focuses in far enough. Mine looks exactly like that in person too. Jared told me to buy immediately when I sent him the LFS pic

Edit: Sorry D-Nak <3

 

[ca1ore]

You're talking about the nem at Greenwich Aquaria, right? I would love the think it's a true red gigantea, but I hear even the owners think it might be a hybrid, if that. Having seen photos and videos of it, I can see why people think it may be a gigantea.

Maybe I posted this already, but I have sat in front of that tank in Greenwich for many hours (not in a row:lol and cannot decide for sure. I believe it to be a hybrid myself.

 

[OrionN]

There are a lot of Gigantea and Haddoni hybrid out there. I myself have care for at least 2 of these, IMO.

 

[D-Nak]

LOL... I dont mind at all. Very educational and great shots of the nems.

Looking for nems is always secondary to spending time with my family -- this time we went to Universal Studios, watched the A's play the Angels (It was WAAAAAAY to hot for baseball, and what a disappointment!) and making my wife happy by finding all of the Modern Family homes, which was actually kinda fun.

Anyway, I didn't come home with any nems, but it was nice visiting Reef Lounge and being pleasantly surprised by Petco. Next time I plan to visit Rainbow Aquarium and Pond. Clorox shared this cool photo of the purple gig that they have in their DT:

It would be nice to see it. They also have gigs from time to time. Not a red one though! ;-)

 

[OrionN]

You tell me BTW I just added one more gig, the pink LTA and this blue .......

.....

I see that we infected you with the anemones virus through your computer. I am so sorry

 

[OrionN]

Close up top down pictures of each of your anemones would be great.