How to move BTA?

[elegant_reefer]

My BTA has been in his spot for several months now, but its now growing larger and hitting my zoa's and lps causing them harm. How can I remove it from the rock and move it to a more suitable spot safely?

 

[uchin]

Ice cube at the base/good luck.

 

[noobreef408]

just pry them out from the rock, they let go.

 

[colorfan45]

Take a turkey baster and shoot water at the base where the footis attached. After a few minutes it will let go

 

[gparr]

Note that one of the drawbacks of keeping anemones is that they will go to the spot where they are most comfortable. They do not necessarily stay where you want them. If yours hasn't moved in some time, my guess is it has found the spot it likes. I would suggest you move corals before trying to move the anemone. If you do try to move the anemone, be patient and careful. If you damage the foot, you could lose the anemone. Also note that, if they are in a comfortable place, they will grow. You must plan your coral placement in anticipation of that growth.
Gary

 

[gflat65]

I second Gary. It will continue to find happiness in places you don't want it to, but they are generally not an issue once settled in. They do need a wide berth, though.

 

[Kent D.]

1+ with the ice cubes. I have known people to use credit cards or gift cards to move the anemone off of a spot if you are planning on using the forceful method.

 

[livingcorals]

Now would that ice cube be in the tank or outside of glass?
Ice cubes can be as harmful to the anemone. I guess you can put the ice cube in a bag than rest on the BTA. (just make your own RO/DI cubes) I heard people placing PVC pipe over them which draws them out to move into the pipe...

Good luck.

 

[Leadfooted]

My BTA has been in his spot for several months now, but its now growing larger and hitting my zoa's and lps causing them harm. How can I remove it from the rock and move it to a more suitable spot safely?

Mine split today and I had no time to wait for trials. I put on my glove and used my hand to get the BTA to retract. Then used my food baster ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009YF4BC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) to first gently blast the foot area. Once I saw an area that was lifting off the rock I increased the water pressure pulses. As the foot lifts in one place, it will try to attach from another part of the body or foot. You have to use your hand to keep it from re-attaching the whole time. I continued this method, gently pulses, then hard as I worked around the whole foot area and the whole time using my other hand to gently pull and lift other areas off the rock. Definitely a two hand operation but worked in about 15 minutes.