new anemone advice

[gbtower]

I picked up what i believe to be a gigantea, and am just looking for some advice on the initial acclimation. I dripped for over an hour before placing in tank. My tank is BB, so first I tried a bowl with some sand, but after a day, it didn't seem to really want to take hold on the bowl. So I moved it to a rock onto which it immediately took hold. It is currently on the bottom front corner of a 20" tall tank lit by T5s.

During the day, it tends to deflate or remain constricted. Once the lights go out, it returns to "normal" until the next photoperiod (it's only been 2 days FWIW). Compared to the other selection at the LFS, even then it wasn't as inflated, and the tentacles didn't seem to vibrate as much, but the foot was intact (was on the glass at the time) whereas the other had multiple scars, so I went with this one.

This pic is after a full photoperiod:

This is the base, to help with IDs. It's a bit overexposed. The verrucae are more purple:

This is a half hour after lights out (with flash):

At first, I was isolating it with a gutterguard cylinder, which also cut down on the initial lighting. But it also cut down the flow. After removing it, the perc immediately jumped in (hence 3rd pic). Now, I fear that it may irritate the anemone. So, I replaced the screen for now. The poor perc kept circling the fence, seeming hopelessly lost, before settling on the neighboring goniopora, even though up until now he has spent most nights in a BTA on the opposite end of the tank. While replacing the screen and simultaneously trying to evict the bum, I accidentally gave the carpet a good poke, and it momentarily balled up half way fairly quick. So, that seems like a good response. Tentacles are fairly sticky, although not as sticky as a haddoni I had attempted in a previous life. Aside from the unexpected reaction to light, it keeps itself propped up fairly well, and the mouth remains closed but not really tight.

So, any pointers on how to proceed to increase the chances I can keep him happy (more shade or move up, leave or take down the fence, when to first feed)?

Thanks,
Gerald

 

[LesMartin]

Yes, it's a gigantea. I've noticed with my own anemones of various species, that if they have been kept out of intense light for a period ie at a dealers then they usually react the way that yours has done - During the lights out period they fully inflate then when the main lights come on they tend to deflate. I get around this by shading them for one to two weeks while they acclimatise to the lights, slowly removing the shade day by day. During this period I also feed them after lights out when they are fully inflated as they have a better feeding response. Giganteas aren't as sticky as haddoni's so as long as yours remains attached (and they do prefer a rougher surface) and feeding then you have a good chance of success. As an aside I've found that my gigantea prefers a much stronger flow than my haddoni so it may be worth trying to increase the flow across it if you can. Best of luck and nice anemone !

 

[gbtower]

Thanks for the response. I am puzzled by the light response since it was only at the dealer's for 2 days, but who knows where it came from before. As for flow, is there too much? Right now, without the fence, it gets alternating current on a 1min cycle and the flow is strong enough to lift the disc but not fold him over completely.

 

[Reef4Fun]

This type anemone thrives at night, completely different that what we are used to believe with our anemones, this is the reason for them looking fuller at night, they actually eat at night in the wild (this is what I have learned, but if anyone knows different, please chime in)

 

[Atticus]

Anyone else think the carpet looks dyed? I would be a little worried if it is. You will need to feed it until it can shed the dye and regain zooanthelle.

 

[BonsaiNut]

Yes it's a gigantea, no it's not dyed. I have never heard of them only feeding at night in the wild - I am pretty sure they are opportunists and will eat whenever something bumps into them. A healthy gigantea will be as sticky if not sticky than a healthy haddoni.

It actually looks like its in pretty good shape - though time will tell. It is still acclimating, and will continue to do so for a week or so. T5's on a tall 20 gallon probably won't be enough light for him. Giganteas are NOT BTA's or haddonis, but need a lot more light than either. Keep him close to the lights and in an area of high flow. Feed him tiny bits of food at first (pencil eraser size) until he comfortably grabs them and injests them quickly. Check to make sure you do NOT feed bad food - i.e. spoiled fish, shrimp, etc.

 

[adtravels]

this is observayion based only
i have dived over 100 dives in the asia pasific region (i live here) and Have seen may giganticas from cambodia to indonesia
All I have seen all have been on reef flats i.e 1-3 metres of water and whether snorkelling diving or seeing them exposed at high tide!!! they have been getting a severe pumelling from swell/waves.
it is not just a coincidence that peoplr who keep them succesfully have whopping amounts of light and a reliable surge device without these I believe they will perish

I want to see anyone who has kept one in a lower light low flow tank, you simply wont find it.
An anemone for the dedicated hobbyist or lottery winner
leave them in the sea and let nature do the work

get a bta

 

[BonsaiNut]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8471332#post8471332 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by adtravels
this is observayion based only
i have dived over 100 dives in the asia pasific region (i live here) and Have seen may giganticas from cambodia to indonesia
All I have seen all have been on reef flats i.e 1-3 metres of water and whether snorkelling diving or seeing them exposed at high tide!!! they have been getting a severe pumelling from swell/waves.
it is not just a coincidence that peoplr who keep them succesfully have whopping amounts of light and a reliable surge device without these I believe they will perish

I want to see anyone who has kept one in a lower light low flow tank, you simply wont find it.
An anemone for the dedicated hobbyist

I agree with this completely. I only became successful with giganteae AFTER I learned to keep them in shallow tanks, with super bright lighting and STRONG random flow. It almost can't be TOO strong. Maybe there is someone out there who has managed to keep one alive under flourescents in a deep tank, but I don't think so.

 

[gbtower]

Thanks again for the help. I will slowly move him up towards the top center of the tank. He appeared better acclimated yesterday, so I removed the fence.

When I first saw him, I also thought it must be dyed, but never heard of that with giganteas, so took the chance that it wouldn't be.

As for flow, I had read that it shouldn't be strong enough to fold him over. Is that NOT correct? I have 2 6080s on occillators, plus some extra maximods I haven't used yet since I haven't seen the need, so I can supply more flow if needed. As an aside, I thought giganteas were natural hosts for percs, and that percs were considered relatively poor swimmers. In the ocean, how do they stay with the anemone, or are they not found in those locales? If they are found in some locales, then those areas must have lesser flow? Just thinking.

In descriptions I've seen, they mention non-adhesive verrucae, but I noticed yesterday that a few of them were clearly adhering to the surrounding rock. No, it wasn't snagged. Just some myth-info I had read?

For lighting, I had switched from MH to T5 since I got better overall results for the SPS. Note, these are overdriven on individual reflectors. I can always revert back to MH or set up a dedicated tank if needed. The question is how to know that the lighting is inadequate? I don't want to wait till it's too far gone, but given my experiences, with corals at least, I feel compelled to at least attempt with the T5s. Would it be fair to see, once it has been moved to it's "final" spot, if it decides to further move, then the lighting is inadequate? If this is a lost cause though, please let me know.

 

[gbtower]

It's been 2 weeks, and the anemone appears more acclimated each day (i.e. expands more and for a longer period during the photoperiod). About a week ago, I attempted feeding a small eraser-sized piece of silverside and it grabbed it immediately, out-fought the perc who tried to steal the morsel, and gobbled it in less than a minute. So, I took that as a good sign.

However, the mouth never really remains tightly closed for too long. It will, but most of the time, it's more like the first pic in this thread. Sometimes, it will invert some of the inside out, particularly on one side of the mouth. Upon closer inspection, it appears to have some little bumps, or fuzz, or mini clear tentacles, most of which appear on the side which gets extended out. Is this an infection? Also, the perc is always trying to get into the mout, or is it trying to clean it out? Is this causing more irritation, or is this normal?

Thanks again

 

[gbtower]

Here is a picture of the mouth area:

The fuzz doesn't come out too well (I need a better camera). I also forgot to mention that there appears to be a cut or break of some sort on the edge of the mouth.

 

[mobert]

I tried to feed my new Gigantea today and noticed the same thing inside the edge of its mouth. I thought it looked like a cut or tear and it is only apparent when the mouth area is puffed up. I hope it is just how they are.

 

[gbtower]

Did you see a corresponding "cut" on the other side of the mouth as well? I also can't see it unless the mouth is puffed out, but never really noticed the other side since that side doesn't come out as much (and happens to be pointed away from the front pane). So, maybe it is normal and the mouth is more eye-shaped than a pure circle. The whole sensitivity of these animals make me hypersensitive to most events, but hopefully it's all just "normal" and everything will work out. Good luck to yours as well.

Also, an update - I increased the flow last night and now most sides of the disk have adhered to the rock to avoid being flip-flopped all over. I will have to see about possibly moderating the flows some.

 

[mobert]

Day 4 for mine. Most of the time the mouth is smooth and tight and then every now and then it looks like this:

 

[gbtower]

That mouth looks pretty good and what I would expect. I did notice another "horseshoe" on the other side of the mouth yesterday, so I guess that's normal.

I also guess I had too much flow directed at it since it was deflated the most I had seen it when I got home. I reduced the flow and it inflated to it's more normal condition pretty quickly.

 

[gbtower]

3 weeks so far and things seem to be going better each day. More extension for longer periods. Feeding every other day small portions. Takes silversides and reconstituted freeze-dried krill, but let go of a chunk of formula one. Mouth is less gaping, but still not consistently tight. Added a little more lighting and changed out existing bulbs. Didn't realize how much the spectrum shifts in less than a year on those T5s.

 

[gbtower]

4 weeks and still good.

Question about positioning and movement - The nem is on a relatively flat rock about 1.5 times the diameter of its base. It shifts its foot maybe a 1/2 inch in any given direction each day, but even after all this time has ended up in still the same place. Is this fidgetiness an indicator of suboptimal conditions?

I originally intended to put it in a bowl shaped rock, but it adhered to this rock quickly and I didn't want to stress it further. I had attempted to place the rock sideways next to the intended rock, but it refused to move.

 

[gbtower]

5 weeks almost. Overall, still good.

Below is a pic of how the mouth normally appears. It has a slight gape, but since it does at times close nicely, I still am hopeful that at some point it will be tight most of the time rather than the opposite.

Here is FTS to show the positioning of the nem in relation to the lights and pumps.

Finally, I shot a quick 30sec vid to show the flow the nem recieves. The 6080s cycle on a 1min period so the clip pretty much just repeats constantly with variations from cycle to cycle.

 

[OrionN]

You S. gigantea lasted more than a month. I think it will be OK but you may want to provide it with more light if you can. Good luck.
mobert,
How is your's doing?

 

[mobert]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8675482#post8675482 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OrionN

mobert,
How is your's doing?

RIP