Looking for S. gigantea and H. magnifica anemones

[D-Nak]

I created a thread for items I am looking for, but forgot to change the title of from SPS to SPS and anemones, so I thought I'd create another thread. As the other thread mentioned, I am looking for the following:

Anemones (limited to only these two species, I currently have one of each and am looking for more to add to my collection):
1. Stichodactyla gigantea - green, blue, or purple
2. Heteractis magnifica - red, purple, or other colored base, yellow, purple tentacles

I prefer established nems from hobbyist's tanks, but am also open to purchasing from a store if they appear to be in good shape, as I am familiar with antibiotic treatment/acclimation.

Thanks,

Derrick

 

[cali9dub]

Any luck ??

 

[D-Nak]

I picked up a gigantea that was on sale for $30, but it didn't make it. It wasn't in good shape and I suspected it would die, but when I see gigs at a good price I always take a chance (though my track record is dismal). Another store had a larger gig that was in decent shape, but they wanted a lot more for it.

The Sacramento area seems to have a lot more stores that have both gigs and mags. Though it's 1+ hours away, it's worth the trip.

 

[KindCorals]

What color was the larger gig, what shop and how much did they want for it? I'm going to setup a gig tank when I move back from Australia and I'm moving my family to Sacramento instead of San Jose where I grew up. Sorry to hear about the losses but at least they have a decent chance of survival with you.

What local shops do you know of that has strict acclimation and antibiotic treatment procedures?

 

[D-Nak]

What color was the larger gig, what shop and how much did they want for it? I'm going to setup a gig tank when I move back from Australia and I'm moving my family to Sacramento instead of San Jose where I grew up. Sorry to hear about the losses but at least they have a decent chance of survival with you.

What local shops do you know of that has strict acclimation and antibiotic treatment procedures?

It was a tan gig, in decent shape, and was at AquaWorkz. I think they were asking $70 for it. My understanding is that of all of the stores in the area, they get the most gigantea.

None of the shops acclimate with antibiotic that I know of. I actually think this is a good thing as we've had a terrible time acclimating those nems that were treated with antibiotic while at the retailer (Blue Zoo and Live Aquaria DD are two examples). Our collective track record here on RC is probably a sub-10% survival rate.

 

[KindCorals]

I wonder why the results are so poor when they treat them. Seems a place like Bluezoo would have the resources to setup a decent treatment tank.

 

[bfliflet]

It was a tan gig, in decent shape, and was at AquaWorkz. I think they were asking $70 for it. My understanding is that of all of the stores in the area, they get the most gigantea.

Without specifically ordering one, they get the most by default and I scan the stores weekly for them :spin1:. The rest usually get browns. Maybe we should start a gig sighting thread. Mags can be seen at most stores regularly.

 

[CaptainSlow]

I wonder why the results are so poor when they treat them. Seems a place like Bluezoo would have the resources to setup a decent treatment tank.

i imagine they do but shipping is where they probably get sick

 

[D-Nak]

I wonder why the results are so poor when they treat them. Seems a place like Bluezoo would have the resources to setup a decent treatment tank.

Most wholesalers and even larger retailers' prophylactic measures include simply treating the entire holding tank with antibiotics. I think most of us agree that this technique is generally ineffective because 1) the required amount of medication to be effective in a large mass of water for the required number of time (5-7 days) probably cost prohibitive and too time consuming, so much so that I highly doubt any wholesaler is doing it correctly, and 2) each anemone is in a different state of decline and those that are already sick have the ability to spread the infection to other nems. The only effective means of treatment would be do individually treat each nem in its own container/tank. Those of us who have treated even one gig can attest to the amount of work involved (daily water changes quickly gets tiresome). I can't imagine treating a dozen gigs at one time. Only a dedicated facility with access to a lot of fresh salt water would be able to pull it off.

Without specifically ordering one, they get the most by default and I scan the stores weekly for them :spin1:. The rest usually get browns. Maybe we should start a gig sighting thread. Mags can be seen at most stores regularly.

I think only the larger LFS will have regular access to gigs because most wholesalers typically list carpets as only Stichodactlya sp. and only those stores willing to hold on to the 9 haddoni for every 1 gig (if the ratio is even that good) will order them. This is assuming that the wholesaler can even tell the difference between haddoni and gigantea (and what some consider hybrids). I agree that browns are by far the most common and cheapest. Surprisingly, IME green gigs are the hardest to find. We should definitely started a Norcal (Bay Area and Sacramento) gig sighting thread.

Mags are definitely common, but the brightly colored ones, such as the ones with the purple or red base with yellow or purple tentacles are just as rare as gigs.

 

[D-Nak]

i imagine they do but shipping is where they probably get sick

I think they are already sick prior to shipment, but the process just exasperates the process. However, I have seen a gig completely invert during a 45 minute ride home, and another one stress spawn during a one hour trip.

 

[KindCorals]

That's very true D-Nak. I am still surprized that some retailers do not attempt to treat the better coloured gigs but after treating my Yuma with Cipro, I know it is a lot of work.

Stress spawning during the trip home? That doesn't sound good. Did that one survive?