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Anemone Problems - HELP!

Euphyllia

Euphyllia

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So my green bubble-tipped anemone went into the back of the aquarium about a month or more ago. I had been figuring it would come out in a week but it never did. I've been waiting for it to come out any day now, but it just seems to be stubborn. I've only been able to feed it once in the last month. It is not showing any signs of starving, but I'm a bit worried it might start to bleach soon. I need a quick, easy way to get it to release from the rock where I can move it elsewhere without stressing or harming the anemone. I've heard that putting an ice cube to its foot will make it release but I wanted to check exactly how to do that before I did anything. I've tried constantly blasting the base with a turkey baster but that doesn't work very effectively. What are the exact instructions on the ice cube to the anemone's foot method? Are there any other ways of getting it to release?
 
Removing anemones from rocks is not easy. Best method I have found is to take a focused powerhead like a maxijet and point it at the base of the anemone. Be sure it isn't too focused so you don't tear the foot with the jet of water. The anemone will begin to move away from the jet. At this point, I try to take blunt tweezers and slowly pry the foot off of the rock. If you go slowly, you may eventually be able to get the whole anemone off.

If it doesn't work... stop, let the anemone rest for a week then try again.

An alternate approach if the anemone is on a rock that can be moved is to just move the rock. Much less stressful for the anemone.

You don't need to feed your anemone *that* often. As long as he can catch food that drifts by and has adequate lighting, he should be fine. Might not want to move him until you're sure he's not doing well. Chances are you might do more damage trying to remove him.
 
IMO the best method is to hang the rock above the water if you can and the anemone will release. This is how many are collected in the field. Another alternative is to press a ice cube against the foot. That works *sometimes*.
 
Euphyllia said:
... I'm a bit worried it might start to bleach soon.

... What are the exact instructions on the ice cube to the anemone's foot method
Click to expand...


1. Why do you "think" your BTA is going to bleach soon? To me, that sounds like an odd statement, mainly because I've never heard it before :) Bleaching it just about a last ditch effort in an attempt to try and survive -only in aquaria, often times it just makes things worse for the specimen, sometimes ended in its death. How about trying to find out what the problem is that is casing the BTA to "look like it might bleach soon?" If water conditions are right, most anemones (especially BTA's!) should be able to make a nice, but slow recovery.

2. I just sealed a couple ice cubes in a thin ziplock bag, and very gently rubbed the foot of the BTA. Mind you, when I did it [for about 15-20 minutes], it showed no sign of budging or moving -stubborn lil bugger. I found it easier to just take the entire rock out. See if you can get a very blunt object underneath a convenient area of the foot ... if you can get even just your pinky finger under, you're pretty much home. All you need to do from there is very slowly and delicately remove the anemone from the rock. I've used this method a couple times, as I'm sure others have as well. Be sure not to damage the foot. If, however, the foot is tucked in a deep niche like many BTA's tend to do, you're SOL :D
 
I can't take out the rock/move it to another location because it is one of my main base rocks. The anemone is hard to access and I can't really manage to even get my hand back there. Last week I sat in front of the aquarium for an hour or more and blasted the foot with a turkey baster which caused the anemone to move slightly to the left about 1/4". I guess I'll have to use the turkey baster method unless I can find an easier method for my case. If that doesn't work then I might need to try something else.
 
My vote is either get the rock out of the tank like Gresham suggested or just keep your eye on it. Really.....be patient with your tank and if the anemone is happy in the back, well then.....it's happy there.
 
Ive tried the ice cube thing also and it didn't work. It most likely moved cause it didn't like the conditions were it was, if you make the anemones current location undesirable it may move on its own, like eight said about the powerhead but maybe leave it for a while, change your flow and it may move on its own.
 
I would temporarly add an additional powerhead in the direction of the anenome. This will hopefully move the anemone over time. Once the anenome has moved (to a better location for it and you) you can remove the powerhead. NOTE: do this while youre at home (weekend) so you can keep an eye on it. It might take 24 hrs before it has finished moving.

For a safer way you could shade that portion of the tank... it might move to a location with more light.

Jimmy
 
The anemone will move itself.

If it's p'o ed and hanging out at the back it'll be even more p'ed if you manually try to move it.
 
Powerhead is the only non-intrusive method that I can think of. If you can't really get your hand back there, then it'll be very hard to physically remove it.
 
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