Recommended Berghia Care + Information (Provided by breeder)
Berghia Acclimation
Tools needed:
1) Vinyl airline tubing - 3/8 inch or smaller
2) Pipette (included with your Berghia)
3) Clean plastic pitcher or container of similar size and shape.
4) Bucket
Sometimes the Berghia are sluggish. This does not mean they
are dead. When they die they turn into a little pile of shapeless goo.
It is common for Berghia to lose some size in shipping. They will
regain their size after they are acclimated to your tank and have eaten.
Begin Drip Acclimation Process
This method is geared toward sensitive reef inhabitants. You will need
airline tubing and must be willing to monitor the entire process. You may
also use a similar technique that does not require dripping. The basic
technique involves adding very small amounts (an ounce or two) of your tank water to the Berghia bag every 5-10 minutes for 1-2 hours.
Gather a clean, 3 or 5-gallon bucket designated for aquarium use only and a
clean plastic pitcher (clean of soaps and residues).
- Start by floating the closed bag to acclimate water temperature for about 15 minutes.
- Carefully open the bag.
- Carefully place the Berghia bag in to a tall container like a plastic pitcher. Try to extend the sides of the bag up the inside of the pitcher. The water may in the end drip over the sides of the pitcher so you may want to put the pitcher in a bucket as well.
- Using airline tubing, set up and run a siphon drip line from the main aquarium to the pitcher sitting in the bucket. Tie several loose knots in the airline tubing, or use a plastic or other non-metal airline control valve, to regulate flow from the aquarium. It is also a good idea to secure the airline tubing in place.
- Begin a siphon by sucking on the end of the airline tubing you'll be placing into the bag in the pitcher. When water begins flowing through the tubing, adjust the drip by tightening one of the knots or adjusting the control valve to a rate of about 4 drips per second.
- Watch the over the process carefully. Do not let the Berghia spill or float over the edge of the bag. The Berghia will sometimes float on the surface tension of the water while they are in small containers and they could float over the edge of the pitcher. They may also actively crawl around the bag during acclimation.
Since the Berghia may have not eaten for close to 24 hours, you may try feeding them while they drip acclimate. Scrape a small or medium sized aiptasia off the glass or other smooth surface with a razor blade (or similar tool) and drop it into the bag with the Berghia. They may or may not eat. It's a good idea (but not mandatory) to try this so they are fed before they go in your tank.
At the end of at least 1 hour and better yet 2 hours of acclimation, feed
your fish and then turn off your lights, powerheads and pumps. You want no water movement in the tank during the time you place the Berghia in the tank. This will create the best environment for the Berghia to go in your tank and successfully grab onto the rockwork.
Don't try to handle the Berghia, they are very fragile. Use a pipette (or baster) to suction the Berghia out of the bag one at a time. If they are
attached to the bag dislodge them by gently blowing some water at them with the pipette.
Do your best to place the Berghia on the rock work in your tank in an area that might be protected from your highest flow and near some aiptasia. Be careful not to drop the Berghia into the aiptasia mouth or so close to an aiptasia that is could lean over and grab the Berghia. Most of the time the Berghia will move into crevices and disappear from view within 5-10 minutes. Occasionally they stay out and begin eating an aiptasia. Either way, turn all of the pumps, powerheads and lights back on after 10 minutes.
Some Berghia are laying eggs at 1/4". All are laying them by the time they reach 1/2". They will typically grow to 1"-1 1/4" in size. You may or may not see them again once they are in your tank. They usually eat at night.
The best time to spot your Berghia (using a flashlight) is about 2 hours
after your lights have been off at night or in the morning before your
lights come on.
