Berghia Acclimation
We recommend using the drip acclimation method to acclimate your new Berghia. It’s acceptable to use any number of methods that you might normally use for a new invertebrate.
Tools needed:
- Vinyl airline tubing – 3/8 inch or smaller
- Pipette (included as a part of your box charge)
- Clean plastic pitcher or container of similar size and shape.
- Bucket
When your Berghia arrive, look for any Berghia that may have crawled into creases of the plastic bag. They will crawl all over the bag, and they can get into the creases and be smashed as the bag is moved. They can be hard to see in the plastic bag too, especially if they are balled up, so be careful when moving and opening the bag.
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 of your tank water to the Berghia bag every 5-10 minutes for 1-2 hours. You can find directions for this method at many of the online saltwater seller web sites.
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 20 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 2 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 have not eaten for 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 and powerheads. 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 the pipette provided 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. You can use a clean spoon to create current to dislodge them too.
Do your best to place the Berghia on the rock work in your tank near some aiptasia. They will either start eating or will move into crevices and disappear from view. Do not let the Berghia float into an aiptasia's mouth. They can be eaten if dropped directly in the mouth area.
You may notice a small, white, circular stand of eggs in your bag. Suck the eggs out of the bag and place them in the rockwork where the current is very low. If you are lucky, they will hatch for you.
The Berghia are at the size where they have begun laying eggs. They will typically grow to 1 ?”-2” inches in size. You may or may not see them again once they are in your tank. They eat at night until they begin to run out of aiptasia.
