Trying a Gigantea

[Nanook]

Again. About 5 years ago I tried a blue and green from Dr Mac and they both died He gave me full credit, but I felt like I failed. I ordered a tan gigantea with lavender highlights from Bob at IBluewater.

Moved a couple rocks and putting it here :

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Right where that glass is showing the flow is really high...moved that softy to a different place and removed a couple large rocks to the fugue.

Here is the anemone he is sending:

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[ramon1181]

Oh boy beautifull how big is it

 

[OrionN]

Dave,
I think Gigatea does not need really high flow. In the past, because they mostly died in our tank, I thought that they really need high flow to keep alive. Current evidence suggested that as long as they are healthy, they can take a wide range of flow and be fine.
I would make sure that you prepare to treat him if there is any indication that he is sick at all. For treatment, definitely the earlier, the better, buy a long shot.
He looks like he will be a beauty. Even very dabbed initially, they often color up very well once you get them in good shape and give him a lot of light.
Best of luck

PS,
That large angel you got may pick at him.

 

[Pinkskunk]

now that you need room for a gig, how about the green tree that you said you will send me when the weather gets warmer?

 

[Nanook]

now that you need room for a gig, how about the green tree that you said you will send me when the weather gets warmer?

That is my favorite coral I can see if I can find a finger to cut off for you...I rarely frag it because I like it so much and it is such a slow grower.

 

[Nanook]

Dave,
I think Gigatea does not need really high flow. In the past, because they mostly died in our tank, I thought that they really need high flow to keep alive. Current evidence suggested that as long as they are healthy, they can take a wide range of flow and be fine.
I would make sure that you prepare to treat him if there is any indication that he is sick at all. For treatment, definitely the earlier, the better, buy a long shot.
He looks like he will be a beauty. Even very dabbed initially, they often color up very well once you get them in good shape and give him a lot of light.
Best of luck

PS,
That large angel you got may pick at him.

Thanks, I will see how it comes in tomorrow. I have medication and a small tank if he needs treatment. It was in his display tank for a long time he told me, so I'm hopeful I won't need to medicate. Any tips on acclimation?

 

[OrionN]

I though long and hard about posting this since you are not a novice reefkeeper. I decided to post this anyway becasue this is a mistake I find many veterant acomplish reefkeepers do time and time again.

I do not do long drip. I make sure temp match and salinity match and do very quick get him into the QT.
In the bag, pH usually low and most of ammonia is in NH4+ wich is much less toxic. Once the bag open to air, CO2 evaborate to the air, the pH increased and any ammonia will be converted to NH3 which is very toxic to animals. This is why ammonia is much more of a problem in Marine tank than fresh water tanks.

This is not important in short trip from LFS to home but in shipping where the animal is in the bag for 30+ hrs, it can be a significant problem.

Don't open the bag as you get the temp to equilibrate. If you have salinity before hand, just adjust your QT salinity to match and just put the animal (fish or anemone) directy to the QT. If salinity is less than 2 ppt diffenrent, I just dump the animal in. If it is more than 2 ppt, then I will at least do a 50% water in then do a very quick drip 15 mins max.

Prolong drip is not good for animals after long shipping IMO.

 

[Nanook]

Thank you, Minh. I wasn't going to try a gigantea again, but the treatment threads and successes swayed me and I really want to own one of these beautiful animals. Here is my sad 4 page thread where I tried back in 2009:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1601693&highlight=gigantea

 

[taylor t]

Congrats Nanook! What a beauty! I'm looking forward to your pictures. I agree with OrionN. I'm not really a believer in drip acclimation with them either. If you think about it, they're out of the water for some time, it rains, then the tide comes in... Temp AND salinity are different than before. Flow is all over the board, individual dependent, I believe. I have 2 that had pretty low flow, and over time didn't realize they were slowly shrinking. I increased the flow and both back to normal. It was pretty subtle. What I'm trying to convey, is, they can definitely handle lower flow than once believed, but, higher flow will not hurt them though, where as lower flow I've seen them go slowly backwards. If any of this makes sense. As long as they can hang on, if it was me, I think to error on the side of stronger flow is safer than lower flow, as I've had them hang on for a long, long time with strong flow. But seen them melt quick with low flow.

I think Bob uses lower flow, so it may be used to lower flow... Take lots of pics, and even if you don't post them, compare them yourself from every day, best and worst.

One of my blues had the high lights like what your gig looks to have too. If I was to guess, your "lavender" gig may color up to a nice purple. Just a guess. Best of luck!

 

[Nanook]

Well, I would post pictures, but my anemone shipped from California to Indianna I talked with Bob at IBluewater and he said that he had 3 out of 5 boxes go to the wrong destination and they were working with Fedex to find out what happened. I hope the anemone makes it, but I doubt it makes it from Indiana to Saint Louis in time.

 

[OrionN]

I am so sorry

 

[Nanook]

I just feel bad for the animal

 

[JasonD]

Geeez thats a bummer!

 

[Pinkskunk]

i dont know what's up with Fedex but one time i ordered some items online and it was shipped by FedEx Smart Post. the items went from North East to the west coast and then back to the North East (based on the tracking online). very strange routing plans. they are trying to ship stuffs the cheapest possible way and then end up having some items traveling extra routes.

Did bob ship FedEx priority? or did he ship fedex smart post?

 

[Nanook]

It was shipped Fedex Priority Overnight and bypassed Saint Louis to Indiana. I talked with Bob who has been wonderful and he said it is being shipped from Indiana to my house tomorrow morning. Since I'll be at work, Ann will have to receive it, float for 20 minutes, then call Bob to see if it's still alive and worth placing in my system. She will have her hands full if it's dead as the last time she dealt with a dead clam with Griss she about had a fit.

 

[JasonD]

You know as long as it didn't too hot, or too cold it might come in ok. You might be surprised.. Its the heat or cold that does them in.

 

[Nanook]

You know as long as it didn't too hot, or too cold it might come in ok. You might be surprised.. Its the heat or cold that does them in.

This is what Bob said too and he knows his stuff. We will give it everything we got, believe me. For sake of ease, I am having Ann place it in my refugium. I have a nice cleared out corner where it can attach to the acrylic bottom.

 

[OrionN]

Healthy Gigantea are very hardy IMO. Best of luck with him.

 

[Nanook]

After my failure five years ago, I had thought long and hard about this decision to purchase one. In the back of my mind, I kept thinking something would go wrong, or it would die in spite of my best efforts. The elusive gigantea I hope I didn't have self-fulfilling prophesy

 

[Nanook]

The nice part is that Bob said either way he would take care of me, so hoping for the best, but knowing he has my back is pretty sweet too.