Moving an anemone

magicwhistle · Nov 15, 2020

Hey guys. So I was at Big Als the other day and they had a BTA for a decent price (80$ I thought that wasn’t too bad). So I grabbed it.

I put it in a spot I thought it would like and I’d like (fully knowing odds are high it would move around). But I gently stuck its foot into a crevice so it could get nice a firm grip and maybe stay there. Well... it did stay there... except it went through the crevice to the other side so now it is under a ledge and on the backside of my tank. Not ideal for me (I’d like to see it lol) I’ve tried coaxing it off with a power head aimed at it but it’s not letting go. I’ve also tried to lift its foot gently with the power head aimed at it but it’s holding on for dear life.

Am I just gonna have to live with it there? Anyone got any tips for moving them?

Its kind of weird because initially I was fine with it being under there, I figured it just needed to feel comfortable before it started moving around. But after a few days of it being there it only extended its foot (kind of like stretched out) to go around the ledge to the back of the tank to get some light. And it’s been doing that since then. Was really hoping it would have actually moved cause of the shade hahaha.

Double unfortunate because I got it hoping my two clowns would host it but they don’t seem interested at all.

Uncle99 · Nov 15, 2020

Sorry, you have mostly no control.
You could change the flow a bit and see what he does but.......he goes where he wants.
In as much as he is not where you want him, that may change on its own, serve real times.

GaryE · Nov 15, 2020

They don't give a dang what we want....

magicwhistle · Nov 15, 2020

Hahaha. Practically everything in my tank is hidden.
Anemone. Diamond Watchman Goby spends most of his time burrowed under the rocks in the back. Sand sifting starfish I haven’t seen since I added it (this I expected fully though lol)

need to get some more bold brave fish.

TriggersAmuck · Nov 15, 2020

Any chance you can relocate the rock (which would probably tick off the anemone and have it move once again LOLZ)?

TriggersAmuck · Nov 15, 2020

TriggersAmuck said:
Any chance you can relocate the rock (which would probably tick off the anemone and have it move once again LOLZ)?

Ha.....just realized the forum software does automatic replacement of certain words, for instance I didn't say "tick" it off!

Might have rhymed more with picked it off.

George81 · Nov 15, 2020

When I got my anemone it came attached to rock, there was no way I was putting that rock in my tank the person I got the orange bta from said she had asteria star fish and was like everyone has them!. I stumbled on this by accident, I took a turkey baster and was trying to blow off the rock and Was continually blasting water at it trying to dislodge anything that might be hiding in the rock and the bta let go. maybe try that.
But yeah get used to it moving around. Mine stayed put for almost a month where I put it then decided to move around for a week non stop, it settled in my clowns found it...now I think it’s going for another walk...I hope I’m wrong. I’m sick of moving coral out of its way.

TriggersAmuck · Nov 15, 2020

I had to put a floating acclimation box in a small nano a couple weeks ago, so the flow did change a bit. A large BTA which had stayed front and center in the perfect spot for so long decided it was time to take a vacation, and it is now completely blocking the light of two much smaller BTAs (expensive ones......rose/watermelon) which are now shrinking. So despite what everyone says that they will always relocate to find the right conditions, I have had a number of examples over the past year where that clearly wasn't the case. Stupid 'nems!

magicwhistle · Nov 15, 2020

TriggersAmuck said:
Any chance you can relocate the rock (which would probably tick off the anemone and have it move once again LOLZ)?

Unfortunately no. It’s a big piece of LR

mehaffydr · Nov 15, 2020

How long have you had it? Sometimes it takes clowns a while before they will interact with a new Anemone.

magicwhistle · Nov 20, 2020

mehaffydr said:
How long have you had it? Sometimes it takes clowns a while before they will interact with a new Anemone.

It was relatively new at that point.

One of my clowns has left his buddy and is in the anemone. Just happened today.

I tried keeping the power head pointed at the anemone and it looked like it was being annoyed pretty good but man he hung on for over a day so gave up. Ended up just spinning the large rock he’s attached to so it’s more in the front. Might have to adjust some aquascaping but he’s stayed there now for almost a week.