Quarantine 101

[Randall_James]

oddly captivating shot the "from the top down" one is

[TippyToeX]

Dudester those pictures are wonderful! They will make a handsome couple when the male is added. Thanks so much for sharing them. I agree, the top down picture is a sweet shot.

[Dudester]

Thanks, but we'll have to see about the coupling process. They've been together for 3 days now and I've witnessed nothing to suggest that they're getting along. The much larger female has nipped aggressively at the new little addition, taking a small chunk out of his ventral fin (fortunately without a flesh wound). She won't share her host frogspawn at all. It's early, however, and he remains healthy and eats well. I still hope that they'll pair up. But this is off-topic, sorry for the interruption of this quarantine thread.

[TippyToeX]

OK guys this is awesome! Little Charlie has been flirting with the LTA for the past two days. Yesterday he would go up to the perimeter and take a tentacle into his mouth. No biting but it looks like he is darn near sucking on it.

I woke up this morning and he was smack dab in the center! Lucy is still madly in love with her bowl but does go in to check out what Charlie is up to. It's so sweet because she acts irate that something is far more appeal to him then she is.

BAD PICTURE. I know I know. i was just so excited I grabbed the cam and took a few pics. No photoshop to clean it up any either, my laptop (that has PS on it) is in the shop. Grrr...! This is Charlie mouthing it some. Lucy goin' "what the heck are you doing young man!?"

[NicoleC]

The mouthing of tentacles seems to be common. I have also noticed a tendancy for the males to explore more and initiate moves to new hosts.

Congrats! You may see both of them in the anemone before you know it!

[TippyToeX]

Thanks Nicole. I hope Lucy will take a dive in full time soon. For now I have been sitting in front of the tank for 3 hours just watching. I bet I would have to be dragged away when she gets in too.

I've been reading about the mouthing in the CF&A forum. Some (like maroons) can get aggressive with the mouthing, ripping the tentacles off. I wonder what the true meaning is behind it.

[NicoleC]

Investigation, maybe? They use their mouths to check eggs and take care of them. Mayeb it's like fingers to them?

I would think the mouth would be more sensitive, but maybe not. Maybe it is less sensitive and helps them get acclimated to the anemone's stings? No one is every sure why clowns don't get stung!

[TippyToeX]

That makes sense. It's odd, I've been watching him do this all day and it looks affectionate but cautious to me. Like he wants to get a feel for this big purple shaggy blob, and see if they will get along.

The lights are off and he is full on in the center of the LTA. Lucy is in her pot but looks over the edge to see what he's doing.

[TippyToeX]

Update: I just got home from a trip to LA to find both Lucy and Charlie are in the LTA.

I'll see about getting some pictures up later this evening.

[NicoleC]

[TippyToeX]

Every time I get near to take a photo they both head for the top of the tank thinking it's meal time

Here is Lucy doing the whole "If I can't see you, you can't see me" deal.

[melev]

Feed them, then take the picture.

[TippyToeX]

I'll give it a try. Something tells me they are both such pigs they will just stay at the top of the tank begging even though they just ate.

[melev]

Put some food on the front of the lens to lure them down to the anemone.

[NicoleC]

Tripod and continous shot mode Something'll be a good shot!

She's looking fat and sleek.

[TippyToeX]

I need to find the setting for the rapid shot. I think my cam can do 5 in a row with one click. If I do that enough I am sure you are right and I'll get something good.

She has gotten large! It seems in the last week or two both of them have had a big growth spurt and have darkened up in color. Now I just need a clutch of eggs out of them to christen the breeding setup I am working on in the garage.

[bergzy]

hey!

long time no talk amy!!!

how ya been?

what camera are you using?

are you going anywhere for christmas?

is there water in your tank?

wow, am i full of questions!?!

seriously...

how are you doing?

oh yeah, i am on the national bone marrow registry!

[TippyToeX]

Ben! Where the heck have you been??

Originally posted by bergzy
how ya been?

I've been doing well! Getting this breeding system going slowly but surly. I should of PMed you to keep those hawk eyes out for me for brood stock. How have you been? Reeflings are trucking along?

what camera are you using?

Canon G5.

are you going anywhere for christmas?

Nope! Home sweet home for me. You been good this year? Santa might hook you up right?

oh yeah, i am on the national bone marrow registry!

Yes! I'm going to PM you in like 5 min. Pretty please respond.

[TippyToeX]

Alrighty! Time for a ton of pictures.

[TippyToeX]

My favorite

[melev]

Sweet pictures! OMG Amy, I think you used up your quota for 2005. Too many pictures at once time. Noooooooooooo.

[TippyToeX]

[scbauer]

Man, what bad timing to find one of Amy's best threads. I see in your signature that you're currently "Offline from 01/06/06 till..."

It's 1/7/06 and I just found this thread. Amy, I hope you're not moving out of LV or anything crazy like that.

Great thread... can't wait for another update to see how the clowns are doing now.

-Scott

[reefbaby]

Hello Everyone!

I was just wondering....due to the problems with nitrate and ammonia in a QT tank, would it make any sense to skim a QT tank - or alternatively, have it looped through a bucket with deep sand??

I don't have a QT tank yet, but was hoping to get one set up for our new tank. We'll be transferring most of the livestock and live rocks from our old tank, so won't need to quarantine those, but what about new live rock?? Would it be alright to just have them in a large vat with a circulation pump and let them cycle there??

Great thread...was very informative! Thanks!

Cheers!

[NicoleC]

Placing the rock in vats is perfect. Skim the vats while it's curing if you can, if not just keep the flow really good and do plenty of water changes.

There's no reason you couldn't skim a QT tank, but it's not necessary, IMO. The nitrate won't hurt the fishes at those levels, and the skimming won't help much with ammonia -- so you are still going to have to do plenty of water changes.