Minh's Blue LA Gigantea 6/26/2014

[wild1]

Let me 1st say I'm pulling for you! Secondly. I wanted one of these for a while now, after following this post, I'm not so sure. They look like a bigger commitment than I expected. I sometimes have enough trouble with healthy Corals. I couldn't handle one that was sick from the jump

 

[D-Nak]

I think we all going to have our own thinking on this. Maybe I am at one extreme and Dave and D-Nak on the other end.
IMO, I know what I am getting into. I know that this is what I have to do to keep him alive. LA got him to me in the shape thaty he is is the best that they can do. While most reefers likely not agree with me, I see that it is my job to get him to get better and live. This is first Gigantea I MO for 12 years. I hope he will make it, but I have my doubt right now.

I should clarify my stance -- for me it's not a money issue. I think if you were to ask for a refund, you may very well get it. This is based purely on the fact that LA provides the 14-day guarantee, and many people buy from them based on this promise alone. I agree that Live Aquaria did their best to get it to you in the best condition possible. But I prefer what Blue Zoo says, which is "NO guarantees" and therefore the responsibility is placed solely on the recipient. Then there's no issue of who's at fault or who is entitled to a refund.

However, from a moral perspective asking for a refund is probably not the best thing to do -- as gigantea owners we know that NO retailer can guarantee the health of a gigantea (this is why I have an issue with iBlueWater because they imply that by paying more, you're getting a healthier specimen).

I think that we all share a unique curiosity and passion for gigantea, and we will all do WHATEVER we need to get the gig to survive. I've treated quite a few gigantea now, and my results are mixed. But, every time I QT a gig it requires tons of water changes and it's a lot of work. I don't mind doing it though, because the ultimate goal is to have a healthy specimen. Unfortunately, many times our hard work does not pay off. In your case, I truly hope you can bring your gigs back.

 

[asudavew]

It is interesting.
Hopefully they will all turn out ok.

Only time will tell, but it's not for fun us and its especially not fun for the animal if it doesn't thrive in our care.

 

[clorox]

I should clarify my stance -- for me it's not a money issue. I think if you were to ask for a refund, you may very well get it. This is based purely on the fact that LA provides the 14-day guarantee, and many people buy from them based on this promise alone. I agree that Live Aquaria did their best to get it to you in the best condition possible. But I prefer what Blue Zoo says, which is "NO guarantees" and therefore the responsibility is placed solely on the recipient. Then there's no issue of who's at fault or who is entitled to a refund.

However, from a moral perspective asking for a refund is probably not the best thing to do -- as gigantea owners we know that NO retailer can guarantee the health of a gigantea (this is why I have an issue with iBlueWater because they imply that by paying more, you're getting a healthier specimen).

I think that we all share a unique curiosity and passion for gigantea, and we will all do WHATEVER we need to get the gig to survive. I've treated quite a few gigantea now, and my results are mixed. But, every time I QT a gig it requires tons of water changes and it's a lot of work. I don't mind doing it though, because the ultimate goal is to have a healthy specimen. Unfortunately, many times our hard work does not pay off. In your case, I truly hope you can bring your gigs back.

+1. I couldn't have said it better.

 

[starfishbricks]

I completely agree with this. It's extremely rare these days to purchase a gig and not have to treat it in order for it to survive. We just know from experience that treating with antibiotics is the best course of action.

That said, on a side note, I really think we need to go back to the drawing board on the proper protocol because in the past six months or so, we've had a terrible track record when it comes to saving gigs with both Cipro and Septra. I can't provide a logical reason why this is happening, other than exporters and wholesalers are treating with antibiotics and the infectious organisms have developed a resistance. My gut tells me it's something else, because I refuse to believe resistance can develop that quickly.

I think this is it. These anemones have such high demand that even at $400-600, unhealthy looking specimens sell within seconds. The exporters probably know this and understand that the anemone doesn't need to necessary be healthy...they just need it to live until you buy it. At this point, they're not responsible for it anymore. I wouldn't be surprised if they're treating them with antibiotics from the moment they get them all the way to retailers/distributers. These antibiotics are really cheap and easily accessible so there would be no reason not to.

Perhaps its a two-fold problem. The infectious organisms have developed a resistant and the anemone's immune system themselves have been weakened because they've been living in antibiotic baths since they were gathered.

 

[Reefahholic]

Just keep on keeping on. They will get better or worse. Only time will tell. Good luck!!

 

[OrionN]

What do you guys think this is?

What do you guys think this is?

My two Gigantea continue do do OK, no deflation. They actually looking good and getting better since I do twice a day 100% water change and medicate with both Cipro and Septra.

My purple looking good other than having huge fat lips. What is going on? Have anybody have Gigantea or other anemones acts like that? you see what I mean in the picture below.

I just change water and added meds so the water is a little cloudy. No discharge or rat poop pellets. Just minimal mucus.

 

[5Starreef]

My two Gigantea continue do do OK, no deflation. They actually looking good and getting better since I do twice a day 100% water change and medicate with both Cipro and Septra.

My purple looking good other than having huge fat lips. What is going on? Have anybody have Gigantea or other anemones acts like that? you see what I mean in the picture below.

I just change water and added meds so the water is a little cloudy. No discharge or rat poop pellets. Just minimal mucus.

The fat lips happen to my gig when I was treating him with a large concentration of the medication. It went away two days after the gig was without medication.

 

[clorox]

My two Gigantea continue do do OK, no deflation. They actually looking good and getting better since I do twice a day 100% water change and medicate with both Cipro and Septra.

My purple looking good other than having huge fat lips. What is going on? Have anybody have Gigantea or other anemones acts like that? you see what I mean in the picture below.

I just change water and added meds so the water is a little cloudy. No discharge or rat poop pellets. Just minimal mucus.

Can't see the photos Minh. This is great news, I am really happy for you especially since you weren't so optimistic a few days ago.

 

[Reefahholic]

Quit kissing on that gig and his lips with go down. Lol

 

[OrionN]

These are the two picture that somehow did not load. Well wrong picture. I am not sure what happened

 

[OrionN]

Anyway, the blue looks good for a few days then deflates and then look good for a few days.
The purple doing fine other than a humongous lip.
I took the purple out of TT and put him into QT (full reef) He is doing OK.
Here are pictures of my Blue this AM after water change and med. He deflated yesterday.

 

[Reefahholic]

He looking good. Glad he's not bleaching yet. Maybe try using 2nd full reef DT water getting him acclimated for move.

Hope he continues to reinflate!

 

[OrionN]

Not good, Looking a little worst as treatment go on. I will need to move him to my QT reef today.

 

[Reefahholic]

Not good, Looking a little worst as treatment go on. I will need to move him to my QT reef today.

Minh, he looks a little worse than when I saw him yesterday. He doesn't look bad, but he's not as inflated as he was.

See if you can get him to attach to a glass plate or something so you can pull him with minimal stress if he goes down.

I still think he's gonna make it, but will still trade you for this green I'm fixing to get. :wildone:

 

[OrionN]

I got him to my QT reef last night. Will post picture later. My QT reef is full of coraline algae on the glass so getting good picture is harder. I will clean glass this PM.
2 observations:

1 This is a male Gigantea. He spawned several times during teatment and released sperms.
2. They do stress spawned. Each time he spawned he get a little smaller and a little worse. He is not loosing necrotic tissue inside. No discharge chunks, just spawned and mucus

He have not deflated for a while but just not looking good. Smaller, with shorter tentacles. Body more floppy and does not hold his shape well with curent.
FWIW almost 24 hrs and no deflation in the QT reef. He seem a little better. Attached to rock and hosting clowns

 

[Reefahholic]

I got him to my QT reef last night. Will post picture later. My QT reef is full of coraline algae on the glass so getting good picture is harder. I will clean glass this PM.
2 observations:

1 This is a male Gigantea. He spawned several times during teatment and released sperms.
2. They do stress spawned. Each time he spawned he get a little smaller and a little worse. He is not loosing necrotic tissue inside. No discharge chunks, just spawned and mucus

He have not deflated for a while but just not looking good. Smaller, with shorter tentacles. Body more floppy and does not hold his shape well with curent.
FWIW almost 24 hrs and no deflation in the QT reef. He seem a little better. Attached to rock and hosting clowns

I think he'll like the algae in the qt reef. He is looking a little floppy in the pics above, but I bet he'll start to perk up.

That little tank is very well established and with fresh WC's, I bet he's gonna do just fine. I have a good feeling.

Clean that glass!!!! lol

Might want to clean that filter too for better flow.

 

[D-Nak]

I got him to my QT reef last night. Will post picture later. My QT reef is full of coraline algae on the glass so getting good picture is harder. I will clean glass this PM.
2 observations:

1 This is a male Gigantea. He spawned several times during teatment and released sperms.
2. They do stress spawned. Each time he spawned he get a little smaller and a little worse. He is not loosing necrotic tissue inside. No discharge chunks, just spawned and mucus

He have not deflated for a while but just not looking good. Smaller, with shorter tentacles. Body more floppy and does not hold his shape well with curent.
FWIW almost 24 hrs and no deflation in the QT reef. He seem a little better. Attached to rock and hosting clowns

Are the clowns trying to enter the gig's mouth? Every time I've had a sick gig in contact with clowns, they've tried to get into the mouth, as if they knew something was inside that was harming the nem. They never did this to a healthy gig.

 

[clorox]

Are the clowns trying to enter the gig's mouth? Every time I've had a sick gig in contact with clowns, they've tried to get into the mouth, as if they knew something was inside that was harming the nem. They never did this to a healthy gig.

Yes, I observed the same behavior with mine (the ones that were sick and didn't make it). They would nosedive into the mouth and shake vigorously as if pulling something out.

 

[D-Nak]

Yes, I observed the same behavior with mine (the ones that were sick and didn't make it). They would nosedive into the mouth and shake vigorously as if pulling something out.

That's exactly it. My interpretation is the same -- it's as if they can smell something that needs to be removed. It's different than when they try to steal food -- once they know the nem has the food in its grasp, they give up. But in this case, they forcefully try to enter the nem's mouth as if nothing will stop the.