How to handle Gigantea

[MJI]

Hi guys,

I'm picking up a Giga on Sunday, and I'd really like your tips of handling these guys.

Everytime I see a dealer handle one, they get caught in the tentecles and rip a bunch off trying to free themselves.

So have you got any tips for handling, when I finally get it home (out of the bag and placed etc), and even acclimation come to think of it.

Just FYI, I'm quite versed in anemone keeping, and have a dedicated tank set up for this baby (just for those guys who don't know me by now) - this is my first attempt at gigantea though.

A little excited here!

Here's the guy:

 

[catastrofe]

Nice anemone.

When removing the anemone from the bag, try to handle it "from below" by cupping your hand under it. If you do end up getting stuck to the animal, let it "hang" from your hand (underwater of course) and slowly release. I've found that a slow steady "pull" will release the tentacles with little to no tearing.

I didn't do anything special for acclimation. . .if the animal is healthy you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[delphinus]

Avoid touching the tentacles as much as possible. I think it's a defensive move but they can lose a LOT of tentacles if handled. When in this mode even brushing up against the them will end up pulling them off whereas in normal times brushing up against the tentacles is usually non-eventful.

If the animal is healthy, losing the tentacles will mean it sulks for a few days but it will get over it (and regrow). I ended up losing at least 10% of one of my gigantea's recently when I relocated it from one tank to another. However it recovered fine. The stress was probably due to me having to remove it from the bottom glass whereas my other gigantea has been moved at least twice without losing ANY tentacles, but the difference is that it attached to a small rock. So all I have to do with that one is move the rock, and handle the rock, the anemone (and the dumb clowns that live in it) just go along for the ride (seriously, the fish are uncatchable in the anemone ... so they just get sloshed around for the ride from one tank to another).

It's a very nice looking anemone. Best of luck with it!

 

[phender]

Getting it out of the bag shouldn't be a problem. Like Tony said, the excessive stickiness and loss of tentacles is a defense to rough handling. As long as you're gentle you shouldn't have a problem. He may lose a few tentacles getting it out of the dealers tank though.

 

[55semireef]

I wish I could find a healthy Gigantea in my area.

 

[aquaruki]

The EASIEST thing in the world (IMHO) is to wear rubber/plastic gloves when working with anemones. I mean, natural rubber or plastic or whatever as long as they don't have lotions or powders on them. The tentacles don't stick to rubber as well as fingers. Just buy a box full and have the LFS use them to get the thing into a bag. I did that with mine, and what a difference it made. Congratulations, by the way, that thing is GORGEOUS!

 

[delphinus]

Very true, gloves are a must if you have to manhandle a carpet anemone off a rock.

However ...... I should point out ... I did wear plastic gloves when I moved my brown anemone and it made no difference to the anemone, the tentacles pulled off (it seriously lost almost 10%, but recovered within a week). In this defensive mode the tentacles were pulling off onto anything that came into contact -- even the glass of the tank wall. It was a real mess. I can't imagine what shape my hands would have been had I not been wearing gloves (I have a box of disposable gloves for tank work. I also have the aquagloves but I find I can't do any kind of delicate work with those on so those are only good for moving rocks around).

 

[catastrofe]

I tried to move the second (of three) of my giganteas from a nanocube to my 150 on Saturday. It's attached to multiple rocks and I couldn't remove either the anemone or the rocks. The back of my hand and wrist still have welts from where I got stung!

Gotta' get some gloves. . .