Stuck between two world

[lickyricky]

So a few days ago my BTA anemone got him stuck in one of the vent plugs on my Red Sea tank. I’ve tried coercing him out, blowing powerheads at him, everything I could think of and he still has not been able to free himself. Finally today his foot shrunk up enough that I was able to get the plug out altogether but now he’s just sitting in my tank with half his body out one side and half out the other. Is he going to be OK? what else should I try? I’m kind a hoping he’ll just split to free himself but not sure how that works. As you can see from my pictures he is beautiful and my favorite part of the tank so I really want him to be OK and will try anything.

 

[DSC reef]

The best course of action might be to let him be for now. That's a tough call though, it's really nice.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Oh geez! What a picture !

Well, nems do walk so hopefully it does.

@Amoo , you're a Nems fan.

 

[smh254]

Does the foot go through the plug?

 

[lickyricky]

Does the foot go through the plug?

Yes, he has foot on both sides somehow

 

[smh254]

Well that sucks. He looks really healthy so I think he will be fine if you just leave him be.

 

[lickyricky]

Well that sucks. He looks really healthy so I think he will be fine if you just leave him be.

I’m just worried he has no way to pull the plug off now since it’s no longer stationary if that makes sense

 

[smh254]

Maybe you could prop him up against a rock in a low flow area.

 

[lickyricky]

Maybe you could prop him up against a rock in a low flow area.

Yea but the plug will just move with him since it’s not fixed to the wall now

 

[smh254]

He may attach his foot to the rock and walk out of the plug.

 

[Flippers4pups]

@Amoo, what do you think?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I’m just worried he has no way to pull the plug off now since it’s no longer stationary if that makes sense

Think slug. Not foot, as far as how they walk.

 

[Donovan Joannes]

That poor creature will find its way out by itself. My BTA tried to escape from a cage through a 5mm hole. Half of the stump was already passed thru. They are flexible enough to fits in any holes they like. They can deflate and inflate easily.

 

[Amoo]

If it was me I would just pull it out of the tank and gently work it out of the ring, but some people seem to think I'm crazy so YMMV

 

[lickyricky]

If it was me I would just pull it out of the tank and gently work it out of the ring, but some people seem to think I'm crazy so YMMV

The problem is it’s not just a ring, it’s a vent with lots of small holes and he so wrapped up in there there was no way I could get him out, I tried

 

[smh254]

Did your BT ever climb out?

 

[lickyricky]

No! I finally got balsy and snipped the grate off the plug and tugged him free. He’s doing much better now

 

[smh254]

That's good news