Questions on picking up a new Stichodactyla gigantea

[hansonfam]

HI there.

I am going to pick up a 10-12 inch new gigantea tommorrow but was wondering the best and less stressful way of bringing it home. It is about a 3 hour drive to get back from where i pick it up. I have read, water,no water,very little water. Bag,bucket...lol

I am not sure how to do this. It is very healthy at the moment and i would like to minimize any extra stress.

Thanks

 

[E.J. Coral]

Dry shipping is for shipping with no oxygenation or flow. However, on a road trip you can provide both of these. last year I made an 8 hour drive with a large magnifica. I put it in a bucket with 2 battery powered air stones and kept it in the cab where I have A/C. I brought an extra 5 gallons of water in case I needed a water change due too excess sliming .... i didn't. The anemone looked good the whole time.... A thermometer comes in handy as well to help you regulate temp. That being said, on a three hour drive you may be ok with just a fish bag ..... Is this coming from an lfs or a reefer??

 

[hansonfam]

Thanks for the reply. It is coming from a lfs so of course i am a little worried for moving it again. They do shoot oxygen into the bag as i have bought stuff from them before. So should i just have them put it in a bag and hope for the best?I guess it got there in a bag.

 

[delphinus]

Hey, you need to update your location.

Anyhow, given that the weather is not overly hot right now, if it was me, I think I'd just keep it in the bag. If nothing else, at least overheating is a pretty minimal risk.

Given the size of the anemone you're looking at, I think what I would do is put the whole bag into a bucket that is sitting in the sump, slice away the bag and then do a drip acclimation with an airstone for water movement. Having the bucket sit in the sump will help with the temperature equalization. I'd do with a fairly fast drip, and also do partial water changes every 1/2 hour or so. When the time comes that the water is more or the less same between bucket and tank, then you can tip the bucket into the tank and let the anemone drift down.

It will want to attach near the rock/sand interface. If you have a BB tank, let it float towards some rocks and let it go to where it wants. You may need to have current off or reduced until it's attached.

Best of luck and please let us know how it goes!

 

[hansonfam]

Okay so we made it home

This thing is a monster..lol All looks good so far mouth is open a bit but nothing huge and gapping. I have him in the bag in the sump at the moment and i think i will do what you suggested Tony. I am so excited. But yes you were right i am still stunned at the sheer size of it...lol

Will post pics when i get it in the tank. And thanks again Tony for going and looking at it for me