Removing Nem from rock

Z06-Hec · Dec 23, 2014

How can i remove my nem from a rock?
One of my rocks shifted and it looks like it may fall if someone bumps into it... the nem is not in a crevice or anything its attached to the face, i lifted the rock and the nem came with it, can i just peel it off? i tried to adjust the rock back in the space but it may shift again.

On another note, i may want to place it in a basket to try and sell it, possibly...

KorD · Dec 23, 2014

there are a few ways to do so.

1) Remove rock from tank and hold it upside down out of the water.. the nem might fall off

2)Aim a powerhead at it and make it want to move off the rock and out of the flow

3)Place an ice cube in a ziplock bag and hold it near the foot of the nem, the water temp will make it want to move

4) replace the rock and leave it be

you will not want to peal the nem from the rock.. gently massage the foot of the nem to lightly get it off the rock.. it is easier said then done.. since the nem is on the rock face... I personally would just change the rocks around to make it sturdy and call it a day.

Reefahholic · Dec 23, 2014

I use a sharp blunt tip object like a butter knife to remove mine.

If I can I'll hold the rock where the nem is upside and start working my way under the foot. Once I get under the foot slightly, I begin to work my way around.

KorD · Dec 23, 2014

Reefahholic said:
I use a sharp blunt tip object like a butter knife to remove mine.

If I can I'll hold the rock where the nem is upside and start working my way under the foot. Once I get under the foot slightly, I begin to work my way around.

you are also a master of the nems... I would never try that because of injury I could cause to the foot.

Reefahholic · Dec 23, 2014

KorD said:
you are also a master of the nems... I would never try that because of injury I could cause to the foot.

Far from a master. Minh is the master.

I've injured a few, but they heal.

Z06-Hec · Dec 23, 2014

i think i managed to move the rock to be more secure... so i didn't move the nem....
hopefully its good...

KorD · Dec 23, 2014

Reefahholic said:
Far from a master. Minh is the master.

I've injured a few, but they heal.

Close enough... you have 195 more gallons of water then me.. lol

Reefahholic · Dec 23, 2014

I think a great tank is a 180/G.

May downsize later.

Really liked my 90, but the depth was only 18" and that sucked.

24" is much better. I've been enjoying it.

Eckolancer · Dec 23, 2014

Ice on foot always works for me. I don't place ice in bag just grab a few cubes and work at rubbing the base.

Z06-Hec · Dec 24, 2014

GRRRRR woke up this am and checked the tank on the way out the door to work, nem moved all the way to the back of the rock... against the lower vents of the overflow...
Going to have to move that rock and try and move him later when I get back home. He will get no light or anything back there.

lemonyx · Dec 24, 2014

I'd leave him there - he'll move eventually back to the light, just like Goldie Locks and looking a comfortable "bed". I have over a doz nems and use a dental pick that looks like a gold club, smooth and rounded to take nems out of holes. If there are on top of the rock, you have it made and it's really easy to peel them off.

AJQ69 · Dec 24, 2014

Ice on foot works like magic

Z06-Hec · Dec 26, 2014

Just wanted to give an update....
So i tried the ice on the foot, didn't work for me..
I removed the rock from the tank held if upside down and massaged the foot with ice over a basket to see if it would fall off into the basket and nothing....
1 Ice Cube completely melted.
Finally i gave up and put the rock back and was able to turn the rock around and have the nem facing the front again in its original position where it can come out for light and retract when it doesn't want any.
Its been a few days and its puffed up back to normal and nicely. So it seems to like this spot and the rock seems secure.

On another note i do need to figure how to remove one from the rock... My other quad split as well. So now I have 5 Bubble nems in the tank.
2 Larger ones about 1 is 6-7", the split from that one is about 5" open, then my other quad split the other day too. So that one is not about 3" and the one that split off of it is about 1-2", then my rbta that has not split.
4 Quads and 1 Rose.
I would be willing to sell locally if i can get them off the rock.
When I bought my 2 Quads from the seller he actually cut the rock and gave me the rock with the nem... as soon as i put that rock in my tank it detached and went to one of my rocks...

JMSKI333 · Dec 26, 2014

Z06-Hec said:
GRRRRR woke up this am and checked the tank on the way out the door to work, nem moved all the way to the back of the rock... against the lower vents of the overflow...
Going to have to move that rock and try and move him later when I get back home. He will get no light or anything back there.

I wouldn't worry about him not getting any light or anything. That is the great thing about anemones. They go where they want when they want it. He knows what he is doing.

Eckolancer · Dec 26, 2014

Ice may take a few cubes and just rub his base while the rock is in the tank. He will notice cold on the base and warm in the tank and move.
Also I agree the nems will hide and come out when they are ready. My recent split hid for about a week with almost no light then of corse moved right into a colony of sps so had to use ice to move him.

Stemick · Dec 26, 2014

Glad to see you and it came to some kind of terms. Nems do what the want when they want and sometime for no reason. But for future reference I have always just messaged the edge of the foot with my finger tip in one spot till it start to peel then slowly massage the bottom where it was peeling of rock with lite pressure and let it peel itself away as I messaged. Nems or like teenagers they think they know what the want sometime you have to let them fail with supervision.

:usa2:STEMICK:usa2:

lmccluer · Dec 27, 2014

I've always managed to get mine off by waving my hand back and forth creating blasts of water at the foot. I think it's the rise and fall of water pressure that causes it, but it's always worked for me. I would never try to pry or cut under the foot. To easy to cut the nem and with that an infection.

rosieosieee · Jan 9, 2015

zip tie everytime!

Z06-Hec · Jan 9, 2015

Zip Tie ?
Thats a little vague...
Do you zip tie the base and squeeze it tilll it lets go? Sounds a little rough, lol.

rosieosieee · Jan 9, 2015

Z06-Hec said:
Zip Tie ?
Thats a little vague...
Do you zip tie the base and squeeze it tilll it lets go? Sounds a little rough, lol.

I've literally removed over 50 anemones this way and have not lost one.

take a zip tie and gently poke around the bottom of their foot. it's flat enough to pry as well, but not sharp enough to hurt them. takes me about 5-8 minutes per nem this way.