"Newer" S. gigantea placement issue?

[zooman72]

Some might remember my recent prior thread where I obtained my first gig (a nice blue/ purple) for a 45W Deep Blue "frag" tank, and my luck in obtaining a healthy nem. It had been looking very good the last couple of weeks, and I seemed to have zero issues, but then it decided to up and move on me a few nights ago.

I placed it back on its rock easily the first time (was next to it when I noticed after lights out), and a couple of nights later it moved again, so I again placed it back on the target rock (front and center of course). I thought it might have moved looking for more light, so I increased the max intensity of both channels on the Maxspect Razor another 10%, now topping out at 80% B:70% W for three hours midday.

It seemed to settle back in, but then moved again two nights ago to the back corner of the tank, where it is the darkest and has the least flow. It has obviously moved for a reason, but I am struggling to put my finger on a reason. It moved out of the light and flow, which seems to go against normal gig behavior (or so I have read... )

What am I missing? I can turn down the lighting and flow for the spot I would like it to inhabit, and I can alter the rock base (add more?) where I want it, but I thought others here might be able to chime in with any thoughts.

Is it a light/ flow problem (new nem that wasn't bleached though), or is it "unhappy" with the rock base I would like it to inhabit? I have included a couple of pics of the rock in question - you can see the nem in the fist pic way in the back right of the tank (that Koralia is off too just in case)...

 

[addictedreefer]

IME gigs like to hide their foot in a cave or large crevice in the rock. That may be why yours is unhappy sitting on a single "exposed" piece of rock. I would try building up more structure for him where you want him.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

"Newer" S. gigantea placement issue?

I went through a similar thing two days ago. A new gig was placed in the tank and then it moved to aquarium glass. I observed the new spot that it moved to and tried to notice what was different about it. The difference was flow. I moved around powerheads to recreate the same flow in the area where I wanted the anemone to stay and then moved the anemone there. It has not moved so far.

 

[zooman72]

IME gigs like to hide their foot in a cave or large crevice in the rock. That may be why yours is unhappy sitting on a single "exposed" piece of rock. I would try building up more structure for him where you want him.

I am aware that many place their gigs in such a scenario, but I have also seen a few perched on top of rocks in a fashion similar to what I wanted, and there is a fantastic video on YouTube (Ocellaris Clownfish in the Ocean by Tony Griffitts) taken in the Philippines that primarily shows ocellaris clowns and gigs in their native environment , with several shots of gigs out in the open seemingly perched on rocks as mine was...

I went through a similar thing two days ago. A new gig was placed in the tank and then it moved to aquarium glass. I observed the new spot that it moved to and tried to notice what was different about it. The difference was flow. I moved around powerheads to recreate the same flow in the area where I wanted the anemone to stay and then moved the anemone there. It has not moved so far.

Mine has moved out of the flow and light though, and is basically getting the minimum of each in its new spot, which runs contrary to everything I have come across for these animals...

 

[zooman72]

Ok, so other than changing the rock structure a bit to give it a sheltered pedal disk, any other thoughts out there?

 

[justinky]

You can make a gig perched on a rock, you have to build a crevice for it to secure it's foot though... In the wild I guarantee you they have their foot in a crevice if perched. I built a tower once for a Gigantea that didn't survive treatmeant but I made a bowl at the top with rubble rock and epoxy. The bowl was about 4" wide and 3" deep, this would of secured the foot and gave you the perching Gigantea you're looking for. Unless you go this route to secure it's foot, you will not succeed.

 

[addictedreefer]

You can make a gig perched on a rock, you have to build a crevice for it to secure it's foot though... In the wild I guarantee you they have their foot in a crevice if perched. I built a tower once for a Gigantea that didn't survive treatmeant but I made a bowl at the top with rubble rock and epoxy. The bowl was about 4" wide and 3" deep, this would of secured the foot and gave you the perching Gigantea you're looking for. Unless you go this route to secure it's foot, you will not succeed.

Agreed. Mags are pretty much the only host anemones that prefer to perch themselves on an exposed flat surface. I would try to fix this first. If it moves again, we can explore other possibilities.

 

[zooman72]

You can make a gig perched on a rock, you have to build a crevice for it to secure it's foot though... In the wild I guarantee you they have their foot in a crevice if perched. I built a tower once for a Gigantea that didn't survive treatmeant but I made a bowl at the top with rubble rock and epoxy. The bowl was about 4" wide and 3" deep, this would of secured the foot and gave you the perching Gigantea you're looking for. Unless you go this route to secure it's foot, you will not succeed.

Agreed. Mags are pretty much the only host anemones that prefer to perch themselves on an exposed flat surface. I would try to fix this first. If it moves again, we can explore other possibilities.

Well, I have some live rock about to be available from another smaller tank breakdown as I am in the process of consolidating a pair of smaller ones into a larger cube, so I will see what I can come up with for a sheltered crevice of sorts...

Thanks

 

[blackgate]

Yup, mags are the only nems that I have ever seen expose their columns, and feel good about it. I have yet to see any other nem stay put with their foot exposed.

 

[clorox]

+1 what Justinky and Addictedreefer said.

In that video you posted, those gigs are established and evidently found the spot they like. Like it has been observed, most likely their foot is planted in a crevice. The folds in the oral disc touching the substrate act as further protection of the column from potential predators. In essence, they shape up like a 'fort' ready to fire nematocysts when they sense an enemy's chemical signature.

In general, when I first introduce a gig, I prefer to set it on a smallish rock and let it slowly set it's foot, then I will surround the foot by other relatively small rocks (relative to the gig size) so that the oral disc is supported. They like to stick with their verrucae to the surrounding rocks. That's a very typical behavior when they are first introduced into a tank.

After some time they might reposition themselves slightly. However, once they are planted on a rock they like, they will hardly move at all.
The nice thing about having them plant their foot on a smaller rock is that you can reposition the nem on the rock around the tank with very little stress to the animal.

If I was you I would place the gig back in the same spot you had it originally, but surround the perimeter with smaller rocks to form a sort of crater shape.
Chances are it will stay put. Once you achieved that first step you can begin playing with flow and lighting.

 

[OrionN]

I find that my Gigantea like crevice, or at least a vertical surfactant to hide his foot. This is very different than Magnifica which prefer a flat horizontal surface to attach to.

I think you will have better luck by getting a different rock for him to attach. He may stay if you get a larger irregular rock for him to attach.

 

[zooman72]

+1 what Justinky and Addictedreefer said.

In that video you posted, those gigs are established and evidently found the spot they like. Like it has been observed, most likely their foot is planted in a crevice. The folds in the oral disc touching the substrate act as further protection of the column from potential predators. In essence, they shape up like a 'fort' ready to fire nematocysts when they sense an enemy's chemical signature.

In general, when I first introduce a gig, I prefer to set it on a smallish rock and let it slowly set it's foot, then I will surround the foot by other relatively small rocks (relative to the gig size) so that the oral disc is supported. They like to stick with their verrucae to the surrounding rocks. That's a very typical behavior when they are first introduced into a tank.

After some time they might reposition themselves slightly. However, once they are planted on a rock they like, they will hardly move at all.
The nice thing about having them plant their foot on a smaller rock is that you can reposition the nem on the rock around the tank with very little stress to the animal.

If I was you I would place the gig back in the same spot you had it originally, but surround the perimeter with smaller rocks to form a sort of crater shape.
Chances are it will stay put. Once you achieved that first step you can begin playing with flow and lighting.

The new tank comes in on Tuesday, and I plan to have it up and running ASAP, and when I do I will have some leftover rock to "play with" here for this tank and nem. I am considering placing a really flat piece in that spot (moving the substrate out of the way) and using the existing rock and others to frame a hole/ crevice on top of it to keep the overall height down...

Thanks, and wish me luck...

 

[zooman72]

I find that my Gigantea like crevice, or at least a vertical surfactant to hide his foot. This is very different than Magnifica which prefer a flat horizontal surface to attach to.

I think you will have better luck by getting a different rock for him to attach. He may stay if you get a larger irregular rock for him to attach.

It is interesting that you mention a vertical surface for pedal disk attachment - it is currently attached vertically to the overflow wall in the back corner, and was attached at the LFS vertically to a large piece of liverock.

Maybe I will rethink my plan to use a flat rock surrounded by a ring of smaller rocks on top, and maybe use a larger piece with some height (current one on its side?) with a smaller rock or two in front so that it can "wedge" itself in?

I will see what fits when I break down my pair of smaller cubes and have a few pieces to "play" with...

Thanks for the continued thoughts and pointers... :thumbsup:

 

[addictedreefer]

Keep in mind that even with a vertical surface, the gig will need additional structure to prop up its oral disc.

 

[zooman72]

Keep in mind that even with a vertical surface, the gig will need additional structure to prop up its oral disc.

The plan is to use 2-4 rocks, not just a single vertical...

 

[justinky]

Edit: Pics too large I'll have to wait until I get home.