How to remove Anemone from rock?

gmshady · 03-26-2007, 03:38 PM

I bought a bubble tip anemone that has now outgrown my tank.
The local fish store has agreed to take it back, but I don't know how to go about dislodging it from the rock it's attached to.

Anybody know how to accomplish it? I'd just take the whole rock to the fish store, but he's attached to a nice large piece of live rock that I'd rather not part with.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Greg

Dentoid · 03-26-2007, 03:44 PM

I've heard some people have directed a power head stream at the foot and basal area to get it to let go. A firm, but gentle stream, not anything that is going to cause damage. Good luck!

Woodstock · 03-26-2007, 03:46 PM

There are several methods... icecubes, powerhead, prying off... and one of my favorite methods I like to use if the rock isn't too large...
- gently raise the rock out of the water then back into the water with the anemone upside down) over and over again. The anemone will let go of the rock in approx 5-10 min.

sam wise · 03-26-2007, 03:46 PM

just part with the rock. I'm sure your LFS will give you one in exchange. If you cause any damage to it, it will probably not survive

Woodstock · 03-26-2007, 03:48 PM

IME, BTA's are very tough. I have had them to recover from being half-blended in a power head to splitting into 3rd's.

BoomerD · 03-26-2007, 04:10 PM

Good luck. Over the years, I've tried ice cubes on the foot, powerheads blasting at them, picking at them with a credit card to get it started, etc...NO LUCK if they don't want to let go...I had one try to attach to my hand one day...THAT was an eerie feeling...like a bazillion tiny suction cups...
MAYBE move the rock to someplace where the anemone won't like the water flow or lighting, THEN, IF you're lucky, you can catch it while it's moving...MAYBE...

lcstorc · 03-27-2007, 09:02 AM

I have given up the fight on several occasions and just removed the rock to avoid the stress. In each case the anemone has let go of the rock during transportation. Then I just put the rock back in the tank. I think the transfer stresses them enough to make them let go.

jimeluiz · 03-27-2007, 09:34 AM

We've had good success with the credit card coax -- but we've also found another approach that seems to balance irritation with real localized stress.

We have a plastic fork attached to a long stick, made up to help harvest nusance algae from the surface of the sand (which we gratefully don't have to do very often when things are going right.)

If we gently poke a bit at the anemone's foot it will retracts some and make it possible to slip the fork (or now the credit card) between the foot and the rock. Patience and a stomach for torture gets us to victory...

Good luck.

gmshady · 04-09-2007, 07:23 PM

Thanks to all for the suggestions about how to dislodge my anemone from his rock. The credit card method did the trick.

Greg

03-26-2007, 03:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
gmshady Tunicate Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3 View Gallery Karma Komment	How to remove Anemone from rock? I bought a bubble tip anemone that has now outgrown my tank. The local fish store has agreed to take it back, but I don't know how to go about dislodging it from the rock it's attached to. Anybody know how to accomplish it? I'd just take the whole rock to the fish store, but he's attached to a nice large piece of live rock that I'd rather not part with. Thanks for any suggestions. Greg

03-26-2007, 03:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,239 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: How to remove Anemone from rock? I've heard some people have directed a power head stream at the foot and basal area to get it to let go. A firm, but gentle stream, not anything that is going to cause damage. Good luck! __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

03-26-2007, 03:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,847 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: How to remove Anemone from rock? There are several methods... icecubes, powerhead, prying off... and one of my favorite methods I like to use if the rock isn't too large... - gently raise the rock out of the water then back into the water with the anemone upside down) over and over again. The anemone will let go of the rock in approx 5-10 min. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

03-26-2007, 03:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
sam wise Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: yateley,uk Posts: 22 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: How to remove Anemone from rock? just part with the rock. I'm sure your LFS will give you one in exchange. If you cause any damage to it, it will probably not survive __________________ 500+g reef system, new to the hobby but loving it......

03-26-2007, 03:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,847 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: How to remove Anemone from rock? IME, BTA's are very tough. I have had them to recover from being half-blended in a power head to splitting into 3rd's. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

03-26-2007, 04:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,631 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: How to remove Anemone from rock? Good luck. Over the years, I've tried ice cubes on the foot, powerheads blasting at them, picking at them with a credit card to get it started, etc...NO LUCK if they don't want to let go...I had one try to attach to my hand one day...THAT was an eerie feeling...like a bazillion tiny suction cups... MAYBE move the rock to someplace where the anemone won't like the water flow or lighting, THEN, IF you're lucky, you can catch it while it's moving...MAYBE... __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

03-27-2007, 09:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,412 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: How to remove Anemone from rock? I have given up the fight on several occasions and just removed the rock to avoid the stress. In each case the anemone has let go of the rock during transportation. Then I just put the rock back in the tank. I think the transfer stresses them enough to make them let go. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

03-27-2007, 09:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
jimeluiz Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Niteroi, Brasil Posts: 829 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: How to remove Anemone from rock? We've had good success with the credit card coax -- but we've also found another approach that seems to balance irritation with real localized stress. We have a plastic fork attached to a long stick, made up to help harvest nusance algae from the surface of the sand (which we gratefully don't have to do very often when things are going right.) If we gently poke a bit at the anemone's foot it will retracts some and make it possible to slip the fork (or now the credit card) between the foot and the rock. Patience and a stomach for torture gets us to victory... Good luck. __________________ Sold the tank prior to our move. Setting up our new life in Brazil.

04-09-2007, 07:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
gmshady Tunicate Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: How to remove Anemone from rock? Thanks to all for the suggestions about how to dislodge my anemone from his rock. The credit card method did the trick. Greg

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