Anemone Holds tight!

ReefDoctor · Jan 17, 2009

Ok so I have tryed it all LOL

Power heads
Ice
Force
Food

You name it

Whats the secret to get a large anemone to let go????

fashionphile · Jan 17, 2009

everytime mine does that I touch him with cold metal tweezers and he lets go

seafansar · Jan 17, 2009

It takes a while, but if you don't have to worry about it touching corals, you can move its light source. I had a condy in a 20 gallon that I wanted to get rid of. I moved the lighting fixture to the side and waited for the anemone to move towards the light. While it's moving, it's not attached to the rock that well and is easy to remove. It took a couple of days though, and you have to catch it while it's moving, not after it's moved to a new spot it likes.
But if you have corals in the tank, I wouldn't try it that way.

ReefDoctor · Jan 17, 2009

The light Idea is intereswting??? HMMM any other tricks??? someone has to be able to do this???

I thought Ice was THE way But NOPE 1hr of ice LOL she still holds tight???

mak060 · Jan 17, 2009

I can't think of anything easier than the light idea. Have a RBTA that never moves, unless its light source is moved. Once, insufficient light caused it to wander inches every day until it was back under halide. I'm eager to hear of other opinions.

Mockery · Jan 17, 2009

hold the rock upside down! works almost every time!! Good luck. how big is the nem?

ahayes13 · Jan 17, 2009

we had a huge riterri that held on pretty well. we just carefully used our fingers to gently get your fingers under one side and then just slowly wiggle your fingers under further and further til you have him ... just dont go to quickly so you dont rip their foot

fishes2889 · Jan 17, 2009

Maybe a tickle???

I only had to ever remove one anemone and i moved the rock it was on to aggrevate it enough so it would not get enough light. Light source would be the best bet.

ARB_REEFER · Jan 17, 2009

gently massage the foot, then slide a piece of plastic or credit card once it comes up, to keep it from going back down, you have to be patient, grasshopper.

Saltysteele · Jan 18, 2009

i've always been able to get under mines edge, by kind of pick/pealing at it like you would a piece of tape. once an edge comes up, kind of roll it back.

softiegirl · Jan 18, 2009

I hear ice is not good for them? :squigglemouth:

ReefDoctor · Jan 18, 2009

Great info guys Thanks!

This is a Family of BTAs that has anchored themselves into the crevaces of my rockwork so accessing the foot is near impossible... I have Literally spent hours trying each of the methods you discuss here... About 3 months ago I ended up tearing one into pieces

LOL each piece grew, I am blessed. My rockwork is VERY large (over 500 lbs) and is permanant, non mobile, a part of the tank. The Anemones have thier foot anchored UNDER a large Archway, in crevaces of the rockwork and then each day extend themselves up and around around the arch to bask in the 400s just inches above them. The light trick seems to be the next way to go! I will place a plastic cutting board over them to shield them from light. Fingers crossed

Thanks again for the replies everyone!