New anemone went into a tiny hole and is stuck

Superd513 · May 18, 2023

So my new bubbly tip anemone is not acclaiming very well. He went into this tiny hole fore some reason. I freaked out and tore my whole aquascape apart looking for him. I was about to give up when I saw him moving in this hole. I tried to break open the rock with a screwdriver but I was afraid I’d hurt him. Do you think he will be able to get back out?? What should I do?

Idech · May 18, 2023

I doubt it’s stuck. I would just leave it alone. Let’s wait for experts though.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · May 18, 2023

Idech said:
I doubt it’s stuck. I would just leave it alone. Let’s wait for experts though.

Agreed. It's not stuck, just getting used to the tank and deciding where it wants to live. Leave it alone and it will come out when it wants to

Superd513 · May 18, 2023

He’s wiggling his tentacles like crazy. I hope he can make it. He only been in the tank 6 hours. I’m sure he was stressed from the 15 hour ups trip from wwc.

JonoH · May 18, 2023

Mine went into a hole at the start, then came out when ready, still moving around but i bet he will settle right next to a coral!

Superd513 · May 18, 2023

JonoH said:
Mine went into a hole at the start, then came out when ready, still moving around but i bet he will settle right next to a coral!

Sounds about right. Lol

52728299 · May 18, 2023

Before I got mine I went out and specifically bought a rock I hoped I could place him on to attach to with nice crevasses in it. Should feel lucky heh

Superd513 · May 18, 2023

Think I should move the rock closer to another rock so he can grab ahold of something and pull hisself out? I’m afraid if I move it he will go back in and waste all that energy he’s using to get where he is now.

Aluco said:
Before I got mine I went out and specifically bought a rock I hoped I could place him on to attach to with nice crevasses in it. Should feel lucky heh

I bet his butt don’t go cave diving anymore. Lol

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · May 18, 2023

Superd513 said:
Think I should move the rock closer to another rock so he can grab ahold of something and pull hisself out? I’m afraid if I move it he will go back in and waste all that energy he’s using to get where he is now.

I bet his butt don’t go cave diving anymore. Lol

No! Leave it alone. The more you mess with it, the longer it's likely to hide.

Superd513 · May 18, 2023

I turned the rock upside down so maybe his weight and movement will help him out

Brandont21 · May 18, 2023

Its very unlikely that its stuck. Its getting used to the tank. Leave it alone

jabberwock · May 18, 2023

Stop messing with it... You can't really help it, or dictate where it will go. Focus on water quality, lighting, and flow. It will find its place.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · May 18, 2023

Superd513 said:
I turned the rock upside down so maybe his weight and movement will help him out

Seriously! He is fine! Leave him be or you'll stress him out even more!

jabberwock · May 18, 2023

I guess the obvious questions should be asked. What are the tank parameters? How old is the tank?

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · May 18, 2023

For reference, my bta split into 3 a few weeks ago and one of the babies is STILL in a crevasse... You said you just put yours into the tank -- you're risking its health by messing with it constantly.

Kittypowpow · May 18, 2023

Superd513 said:
So my new bubbly tip anemone is not acclaiming very well. He went into this tiny hole fore some reason. I freaked out and tore my whole aquascape apart looking for him. I was about to give up when I saw him moving in this hole. I tried to break open the rock with a screwdriver but I was afraid I’d hurt him. Do you think he will be able to get back out?? What should I do?

I find a lot of my new ones do that. I used to stress, but as long as I left them alone, they come out eventually. He can squish himself up super small and get out if wanted. Maybe try turning your flow down a bunch, if your tank can handle it, to keep his tentacles from being blown around so hard.

Poseidon03 · May 18, 2023

Superd513 said:
I turned the rock upside down so maybe his weight and movement will help him out

They can easily move in and out of small slots in the back of an AIO tank. If it wants out, it will get out.

One of the best tips I've learned is less time your hands are in the tank, the more time your corals have to grow. This is especially true because you deposit oils every time you put your hand in the tank.

mabner · May 18, 2023

It's not stuck. I've had one of mine pass thought a 3mm slot hole twice, once found it in the overflow and the other time inside the sump.

We can't really define where it's gonna stay, like we do with some corals. My bigger bta stayed in the same place for more than a year and all of a sudden it started moving around the tank, and so it did for about 2 months until it found a new place to stay.