How to remove my anemone

[K-pow]

Any ideas on how to remove my curly cue anemone without hurting it? It has placed itself in a hole in one of my live rock and I want to remove him from my reef tank in to a different tank. But it won’t let go and just pulls back into the hole when I touch it. I don’t want to kill it.

 

[andywe]

Have you thought of relocating the rock with him in it? I know many times not possible, but if an option the least resistance method.

 

[K-pow]

Well the rock it is on also has coral on it.

 

[Lizbeli]

Anemones usually stay put when they are happy. What I would try is use a power head (a safe distance away of course) and aim the water flow at it to make it want to move. Or, if you can still touch it while its in the hole you can put some gloves on and gently rub its foot if you can reach.

 

[ZoWhat]

Only way to get an anemones foot to voluntarily "give it up" is to put ice on its foot outda water....Word to your mother

 

[DarthSimon]

I have found the best way to do it is take the piece of live rock and hang it upside down on top of a bucket of your salt water, and let it fall out and into the water. Sometimes it happens quickly, sometimes it can take 30-40 minutes. This method does work most of the time. I had to get about 40 Rose BTA's of rocks last year...

 

[jordan10]

Going need lot ice never worked for me only thing that works for me is to put a power head by and and just beat it up with current and it will move. When u see it's foot puffing up u should be able to peel it off.

 

[Greg P]

If the above suggestions don't work, place the rock with the 'nem in a vessel with only light from above. The 'nem may move up the walls of the vessel towards the light.
I've had success using this with RBTAs in a bucket and also a kritter keeper.

 

[Greg P]

Something I just remembered ... and don't know what diameter your critter is so no idea if it's of any use to you ...
A local reefer told me how he put some foam on the end of a length of PVC pipe, placed the assembly against the rock surrounding the 'nem and hung a light over the top of the pipe.
Apparently the 'nem climbed up the inside of the pipe.