Red Gig
- Thread starter emdr888
- Start date
D-Nak
Active member
Just to clarify, as I understand that my definition of "red gigantea" might be different than others, i am looking for a photo of a red gigantea that is blood red -- not maroon, not magenta, not pink. For reference, something like this:
I've posted similar photos before, and the consensus was that these are haddoni. I agree with this assumption.
In order to qualify (again, this is my opinion) the photo must show a gigantea that is red, possibly a dark, dark orange, but bright like a stoplight, and must show some visible verrucae. It cannot be bleached, otherwise we don't know what the "final" color will be. All of the "pink" gigantea I have seen turn out to be purple gigs once the zoox population returns to normal.
I've posted similar photos before, and the consensus was that these are haddoni. I agree with this assumption.
In order to qualify (again, this is my opinion) the photo must show a gigantea that is red, possibly a dark, dark orange, but bright like a stoplight, and must show some visible verrucae. It cannot be bleached, otherwise we don't know what the "final" color will be. All of the "pink" gigantea I have seen turn out to be purple gigs once the zoox population returns to normal.
D-Nak
Active member
That's close, but I'm betting a lot of people will say that it's purple/magenta.
The pic on the front of Martin Moe's "Marine Aquarium Handbook" (the older version) shows a pic of bleached gig with pink tips. If the anemone had zooxanthellae, I bet it would be red like a RBTA.
I hate to say this every time this topic comes up, but I swear to you I have seen 2 red gigs, as red as any red haddoni. It was at Quality Marine in the early 90's. The floor manager called me over when I came in because he knew I was an anemone/clownfish geek. There were two red gigs in the tank along with a couple greens and blues. He said that they had one in the week before as well that died. After getting me all excited, he told me they were very expensive but even if I had the money, he wouldn't let me buy them. He then flipped them over and showed me that they both had deep holes in their feet with the "spaghetti" fibers sticking out. If I had known they were the last ones I would ever see, I might have taken a chance on one anyway.
They would have died, but at least I would have some pictures.
Are you talking about this cover?
If so, I personally think the color is waaaay off on the printing of the book (it's an old book and an older photo), and the flash completely blew out the color. Unfortunately, I think it's a bleached purple gig.
Regardless, can you elborate on the red gigs at Quality Marine? Other than the filaments coming out of the foot, what was the overall condition? Were they bleached? Were they bright red? How was their tentacle extension? I'm just trying to imagine myself as you looking at these in amazement. :eek2:
phender
Active member
Remember, its been twenty years. 
I remember them as being in a condition that I would consider buying. Their mouths were tight, the tentacle were not sparse on the oral disk. The tentacles were what I would consider standard length for a gig in a LFS. The tentacles were not like shag carpet, but there were a good 1/2". They were not bleached at all and there was no hint of purple in the red. Like I said, they were are red as any haddoni I have ever seen without any orange tint.
Realize in those days, the exploitation of unusual specimens had not started yet. Blue, green or turquoise gigs ran about $25-$40 wholesale, depending on the size. The wholesale price on the reds was somewhere between $100-$200, I don't remember the exact number, but that was a lot more than anything that the warehouse workers were used to seeing. It was not however, more money than I had in my pocket.
The holes in the foot were larger than the diameter of a pencil. I think one had a couple holes. I don't know if they were a result of damage while removing them from rocks or from bacterial infection. I'm (and was then) pretty picky about anemone purchases and except for the holes in the foot, these were healthy enough for me to buy regardless of the color. Like I said, I had no idea they were the last ones I would see. Heck, I think it was another 10 years before they started bringing in red haddoni.
I remember them as being in a condition that I would consider buying. Their mouths were tight, the tentacle were not sparse on the oral disk. The tentacles were what I would consider standard length for a gig in a LFS. The tentacles were not like shag carpet, but there were a good 1/2". They were not bleached at all and there was no hint of purple in the red. Like I said, they were are red as any haddoni I have ever seen without any orange tint.
Realize in those days, the exploitation of unusual specimens had not started yet. Blue, green or turquoise gigs ran about $25-$40 wholesale, depending on the size. The wholesale price on the reds was somewhere between $100-$200, I don't remember the exact number, but that was a lot more than anything that the warehouse workers were used to seeing. It was not however, more money than I had in my pocket.
The holes in the foot were larger than the diameter of a pencil. I think one had a couple holes. I don't know if they were a result of damage while removing them from rocks or from bacterial infection. I'm (and was then) pretty picky about anemone purchases and except for the holes in the foot, these were healthy enough for me to buy regardless of the color. Like I said, I had no idea they were the last ones I would see. Heck, I think it was another 10 years before they started bringing in red haddoni.
