Tips for moving a Nem

[Txag96]

I have a very nice nem that is doing well enough it split, the problem is he has posted up right in the middle of my zoa garden and is keeping everything around him closed up. The edge of the rock has a spot deep in it where I can't get my finger under his foot. Any ideas on how to get him out? I put both power heads pointed at him from the ends of the tank and that hasn't done anything at all. Suggestions?

 

[Txag96]

Here is a shot of it

 

[Daniel Waters]

If you can remove the rock (and assuming it's not too heavy), you can pull it out along with enough tank water to mostly fill a bucket or other container. Turn the rock upside down so that the anemone tentacle ends are slightly touching the water. The anemone will stretch towards the water (partly from gravity), and you should be able to see and access its base better (depending on how deep in a crevice it is wedged). The foot may eventually let go or you can carefully pry the base from the rock if it is accessible. Just be very careful that you don't cut the foot of the anemone. I've used credit cards or even a tiny eye glass screwdriver to wedge underneath the anemone foot and the rock and gently pry the edges up. Once you get part of the base unattached, it is a lot easier to work around and get the base unattached from there. When you get the anemone removed, you may want to put it in a separate container in your tank so that it doesn't roam around into a powerhead. If placing it on a new rock, keep flow lower till it gets its foot planted. It may decide it doesn't like it's new location and wander around on you, though.

Your zoas on the rock should be fine for the short amount of time they are out of the water. Some corals I might be more hesitant to pull out of the tank, but zoas are usually very resilient. You shouldn't have the rock removed for more than 5 to 10 minutes I would guess.

 

[Txag96]

If you can remove the rock (and assuming it's not too heavy), you can pull it out along with enough tank water to mostly fill a bucket or other container. Turn the rock upside down so that the anemone tentacle ends are slightly touching the water. The anemone will stretch towards the water (partly from gravity), and you should be able to see and access its base better (depending on how deep in a crevice it is wedged). The foot may eventually let go or you can carefully pry the base from the rock if it is accessible. Just be very careful that you don't cut the foot of the anemone. I've used credit cards or even a tiny eye glass screwdriver to wedge underneath the anemone foot and the rock and gently pry the edges up. Once you get part of the base unattached, it is a lot easier to work around and get the base unattached from there. When you get the anemone removed, you may want to put it in a separate container in your tank so that it doesn't roam around into a powerhead. If placing it on a new rock, keep flow lower till it gets its foot planted. It may decide it doesn't like it's new location and wander around on you, though.

Your zoas on the rock should be fine for the short amount of time they are out of the water. Some corals I might be more hesitant to pull out of the tank, but zoas are usually very resilient. You shouldn't have the rock removed for more than 5 to 10 minutes I would guess.

Getting that rock out is not possible. It is a support ledge for a good bit of my aquascape structure.