Green Gig

[mmmmmmm]

I received this green gigantea yesterday and it looked healthy in during acclimation so I put it into a mature holding tank. It has looked about the same for the last 24 hours and only had one deflating cycle. I changed 50% or so of the water and it perked right back up.

Its mouth has been slightly open for most of the time but has closed a couple of times. Should I transfer to a qt and start treating or wait for a regression of health?

 

[World Citizen]

I expect other people to advise a move with treatment,

I would not do that, but please listen to other people.
If I look at it, it is not looking bad. Having it's mout open, with even a little bugle from flesh... is not necessarily a problem. When they start to expel stomach parts... it's a different story.

The crown looks healthy and is blown up. The mouth is just open which I see so often with mine. Even more dramatic as your pic.

If the crowns is going to deflate for very long, and it is not retracting in the sand, and you see curtain like structures coming from the mouth... its bad.

BUT!!! The problem is, maybe you are to late if you wait for that. I can't tell... so I expect other people to advise treatment right now.

 

[World Citizen]

For the record, I don't even do anything when they look like this:

Anemone Lovers Thread!

Sure thing, it is not just an opinion of mine but more or less a fact. This is why we see them expel bits of junk after a large meal. Bones, or shells from crustaceans are always expelled I do not mean to sound like anemones do not or will not eat whole fish/inverts. I just find it unnecessary...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[D-Nak]

Was this a newly imported specimen or is it an established one, say, from another hobbyist's tank?

If newly imported, i would keep a close eye on it. In the photo it looks good, but that can quickly change. It if deflates one more time, I'd consider moving it to a QT tank. The initial deflate could be it just acclimating to the new tank. My gigs never deflate, so I wouldn't expect a healthy one to do so.

 

[World Citizen]

How is it doing now? A new pic from now... could help.

 

[mmmmmmm]

Newly imported as it’s from an online retailer. Not much change. Tents look like the have extended a tiny bit more. Looks like it is expelling some brown waste right now.

 

[World Citizen]

That is looking not bad.

Is the rest of the tank doing good? Other coral is working out?
(the stone looks pretty healthy to me... so I must assume the tank is older?)

 

[mmmmmmm]

Tank is about 4 years old. No changes in the last couple months besides some diatoms from some new sand added. Gig has been expelling some little brown bits and has shrunk a decent bit.

 

[World Citizen]

Tank is about 4 years old. No changes in the last couple months besides some diatoms from some new sand added. Gig has been expelling some little brown bits and has shrunk a decent bit.

I cant really see the whole tank, and don't know if you have a sump and sorts.

Your nem is acting up. It is either adjusting... or it is going down hill.

There is a a treatment thread which you should read. You need to consider treatment, but that is out of my book.

Consult someone who is known with treatments.

Protocol for using antibiotics to treat infected anemones

This is a re-post of what I wrote in ReefCentral on 3/09/2013 Many anemone keepers know, the collection and shipping process from ocean to local fish store (LFS) is a stressful event. Most host anemones do not survive this process without help, especially H. magnifica and S. gigantea. Other...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[mmmmmmm]

Deflated quite a bit but still holding its shape and firmly attached to the rock. Wanting to think it is just acclimating as it has been in the tank for barely 24 hours but I will probably pull it and start treating unless someone with more experience says otherwise.

 

[mrpizzaface]

I think the generally accepted advise is to alway treat newly imported gigantea/ magnifica with cipro.
250mg per 10 gallons of water dosed at nite after lights out (uv will effect the antibiotics). 100% water changer performed daily just prior to dosing the meds.
The post above is from the anemone expert Orion, and is followed by many. I am currently treating 3 gigs using this method, and they all came in just like yours (i am guessing from the same online retailer).

 

[D-Nak]

I recommend treating it, now that I've seen it deflate twice. It's expelling dead zooxanthellae (the brown bits) which is a sign of infection. My gigs never do this.

 

[blackgate]

I agree, I’ve kept many gigs and mags and that is the point where I start treatment. Gigs are just difficult to find in the first place and the risk of letting the infection linger is not worth it IMO

 

[mmmmmmm]

Just added to qt and starting first cipro dose. Hopefully no more deflates and the mouth tightens up soon. Thanks all for the help!

 

[386reeftrader]

GL with it. That will probably be a nice one when it comes around looks like it might even have some yellows in some of the tents

 

[Hot2na]

Anything that is SHIPPED I usually treat regardless...FWIW

 

[D-Nak]

Keep us updated and good luck!

 

[mmmmmmm]

Mouth still open but no deflating as of now.

 

[386reeftrader]

It seems in ok shape. I think it was a good idea to start treatment when you did, it’ll have a better chance the quicker it gets the infection out. If that’s from CA consider yourself lucky they have poor quality gigs IME usually too far gone on arrival.

 

[backbayreef]

Good luck with yours - I lost 2 gigs after shipment, even after Cipro. I'm done with gigs for a long time... easier to keep SPS than gigs! :(