Here's a poor pic of the Aussie Acanthastrea we bought at MACNA. Also our Yellow Gorgonian and a few feather dusters.
How hard was it to bring back livestock on the aircraft? Nice looking acan by the way...hopefully we can arange a trade down the road....I picked up a nice blue zoanthid frag at memphis.
I brought back 2 large boxes and despite some rough handeling and a couple leaks everything made it ok. Just a tip when you plan to bring back extra stuff by airline, check the number of checked items, weight limits, (water is pretty heavy with the rocks the corals are on) and size limits. I had to pay an extra $50.00 charge to get my stuff back. We are planning to be ready for next year in Atlanta. For those planning to drive I will pull my ensclosed trailer with all the lugage and tubs for what we bring back. This will allow us to save on gas by having fewer vehicles. This is a trip everyone seriously interested in this hobby should attend. We had a great time.
Blake must be busy so I'll relate what happened. He and Chris packed up everything in one box and taped it really well. Blake checked the box with his luggage. Of course taping up something like that makes security want to cut into it which they did. When we got to LR, the box was soaking wet due to several bags tearing or being cut (I don't know which) by security. The bottom of the box was close to saturation and would have probably failed if the trip had been longer. I think in the future it would be best to have a hard-sided container like an ice chest and don't tape it until after security clears it. Remember that words like "Fragile" and "This Side Up" mean nothing to the gorillas that handle checked baggage.
Sorry for the long absence. I do believe we determined that the leaks were due to the bags being filled FULL of water and/or air. If they had been left a little limp the change in air pressure in the plane probably would have been a none issue. I feel a little embarrassed about how I acted when we received the box because of the above after thought :roll: You have to learn somehow right? Anyhow, everything we brought back made it. I held Chris's critters while he and Roxanne finished their stay in the Pittsburgh.
The acans are in the same family with Lobophyllia (brains) and Blastomussa and do not require MHs. They will eat meaty foods after the lights go out. Ours really likes mysis shrimp. Our modern brain eats small silversides.
