How to remove an anemone from a rock?

jdbox · 03/02/2011, 10:53 PM

I have a large (about 7-8 in when fully open) RBTA that has gotten too big for my tank and has started to sting my other corals. I am having problems removing it from my tank.

It is stuck to the side of a very large base rock that is not very accessible. I removed several layers of top rock and was able to get to the foot of the anemone. I tried icing the foot with ice cubes and then a cold pack to loosen it but had no luck after several attempts. I also tried to carefully pry the foot off with a plastic credit card but quickly discovered that the anemone was stuck on too strong and I didn't want to damage it by prying.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get it off the rock without damaging it? The base rock that it is stuck on is too large to easily remove from the tank.

Thanks for your help!

firereef · 03/02/2011, 11:08 PM

If those methods didn't work, your best bet is to take the Rick out and chisel it off.

psykokid · 03/03/2011, 01:27 AM

point a powerhead at its foot.

Sisterlimonpot · 03/03/2011, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psykokid

point a powerhead at its foot.

That's exactly what I was going to suggest. aggravate the anemone to the point he's going to start looking for a better place to settle. when he does you have a better chance at getting to the foot. I usually use an old credit card to pry the foot off of rock.

kichimark · 03/03/2011, 02:39 AM

+3 on aiming a powerhead at it. It will become unhappy and move.

pciscott · 03/03/2011, 03:02 AM

I had one that had his foot so burried in a rock that had half my corals on I tried scraping him off with a credit card and tore part of his foot off. The anemone healed and on top of that the very small piece of foot grew a new anemone that is about to give me the same headache again. What I am saying is pretty hard to hurt your nem that bad. Good luck.

bullitr · 03/03/2011, 03:18 AM

I just remove the 2 RBTA from large rock with very large acropora colony.
Using my fingernail slowly detaching the foot from the rock since it stinging my large acropora colony I can't use powerhead to blow it because it will hurt my acro.
After having a couple of incident my rainbow decided to do a walkabout and get chop my the Tunze and survive RBTA are pretty tough

It just stink

Ketchup · 03/03/2011, 03:20 AM

what some people use is to disturb the base with something blunt for a while. It will get smaller and close up and hopefully dislodge.

slief · 03/03/2011, 08:15 AM

Take a cube of ice and rub it around the base of the anemone. It should begin to release immediately so you can easily pull it right off.

BeanMachine · 03/03/2011, 11:11 AM

what about a saw? pull the rock and cut a chunk off with the nem attached.

KillerReef · 03/03/2011, 03:17 PM

i used a turkey baster and relentlessly blew at its foot til it was loose enough to pry off. Worked for both of mine...

aleonn · 03/03/2011, 04:03 PM

^ What can't a turkey baster do!

. But seriously, didn't your hands get tired? Whenever I dust my LRs with the turkey baster, it's like a work out LOL.

KillerReef · 03/03/2011, 04:08 PM

It really didn't take that long. Using the TB instead of a PH gave me the ability to use the other hand to work the foot off the rock. 5 minutes tops and no damage to the foot....

jdbox · 03/03/2011, 05:52 PM

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'll try the powerhead method next.

slief - I tried the ice and no luck

firereef and Cody - the rock is pretty large and would be a pain to remove - this would be a last resort but something I may have to resort to.

killerReef - this sounds like a lot of work - LOL - but I'll keep it in mind if the power heads don't work.

Thanks to all for your comments.

MammothReefer · 03/03/2011, 05:59 PM

I use my finger nail to gently pull out a lip from the foot and the rock, once you do that you can carefully peel try to get your finger all the way between the 2 and work from the inside out.

Peachpitt · 08/09/2015, 12:42 PM

Just used a TB to remove a bta off a rock, worked BEAUTIFULY!!!!!

jaggerbub · 08/16/2015, 10:32 AM

Turkey baster works all the time

laverda · 08/16/2015, 11:21 AM

I have removed many anemones over the years and tried all the methods mentioned. Never had any luck with any, but using a thin plastic scraper. I now have several small plastic tools I have made for the purpose. But it st just about impossible to do so in the tank. Most of my anemones like to have their foot in a hole in the rock making it all but impossible to remove them. In those cases I have get the anemone to retractn then put rocks around it so it would have to move to get to the light. It can take more rock then you thinkvas the can get pretty elongated. Then you just remove the rock the moved to.

westminsterfrag · 08/16/2015, 07:18 PM

A screen driver at the base works. The rock usually can't just scrape off since its semi sift. Once you get part of the base to peel up. You can start keeping all of it. The base itself is usually a little more leather like so if you can get some of it lifted off you can pull it all off. I've done this many times but with the rock out of water. Since its harder to work with it in the tank. If you can get the rock out you can't also turn it upside down to where the nem is barely touching water. Usually itkk release itself to get back into water.

03/02/2011, 10:53 PM	#1
jdbox Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 183	How to remove an anemone from a rock? I have a large (about 7-8 in when fully open) RBTA that has gotten too big for my tank and has started to sting my other corals. I am having problems removing it from my tank. It is stuck to the side of a very large base rock that is not very accessible. I removed several layers of top rock and was able to get to the foot of the anemone. I tried icing the foot with ice cubes and then a cold pack to loosen it but had no luck after several attempts. I also tried to carefully pry the foot off with a plastic credit card but quickly discovered that the anemone was stuck on too strong and I didn't want to damage it by prying. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get it off the rock without damaging it? The base rock that it is stuck on is too large to easily remove from the tank. Thanks for your help!

03/03/2011, 03:02 AM	#6
pciscott Pirates Cove Reef Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cypress, CA Posts: 2,582	I had one that had his foot so burried in a rock that had half my corals on I tried scraping him off with a credit card and tore part of his foot off. The anemone healed and on top of that the very small piece of foot grew a new anemone that is about to give me the same headache again. What I am saying is pretty hard to hurt your nem that bad. Good luck. __________________ Scott Steinberger SCMAS/SCRK/MASNA member There is more than One Way to skin a Reef! Current Tank Info: Pirates Cove 400 Gallon Peninsula with 10 Ecotech Gen 4 Pro Lights, SPS heavy mixed Reef, Tank Controlled by Apex back up monitoring by Profilux, Tropic Marin Pro Salt, Brightwell Suplements and Bio Bricks, Way too many Fish! Keep it simple!

03/03/2011, 03:18 AM	#7
bullitr broke but happy Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: stevenson ranch, ca Posts: 14,053	I just remove the 2 RBTA from large rock with very large acropora colony. Using my fingernail slowly detaching the foot from the rock since it stinging my large acropora colony I can't use powerhead to blow it because it will hurt my acro. After having a couple of incident my rainbow decided to do a walkabout and get chop my the Tunze and survive RBTA are pretty tough It just stink __________________ Lawrence SFVR member 435 gallon display in wall see through no more hyposalinity... Current Tank Info: 96x36x29 inwall

03/03/2011, 08:15 AM	#9
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	Take a cube of ice and rub it around the base of the anemone. It should begin to release immediately so you can easily pull it right off. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

03/03/2011, 11:11 AM	#10
BeanMachine Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 11,200	what about a saw? pull the rock and cut a chunk off with the nem attached. __________________ 300 Gallon 72x36x27 AGE- 4x Ecotech XR30G5 Blue- AA PVC Hybrid Sump- Dual Synergy Shadow Boxes w Bean Animal- RO 220INT Elite- AquaMaxx cTech T3 CaRx- RD3 230- Apex- Tunze 6155, 6255 & 6150- MP40

03/02/2011, 11:08 PM	#2
firereef Moved On Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Long Beach Ca. Posts: 4,641	If those methods didn't work, your best bet is to take the Rick out and chisel it off.

03/03/2011, 01:27 AM	#3
psykokid Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 1,454	point a powerhead at its foot.

03/03/2011, 02:39 AM	#5
kichimark Μολὼν λαβέ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SFV, S. California Posts: 1,304	+3 on aiming a powerhead at it. It will become unhappy and move.

03/03/2011, 03:20 AM	#8
Ketchup Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 71	what some people use is to disturb the base with something blunt for a while. It will get smaller and close up and hopefully dislodge.

03/03/2011, 03:17 PM	#11
KillerReef Wrasse-a-holic Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: So Cal Posts: 2,083	i used a turkey baster and relentlessly blew at its foot til it was loose enough to pry off. Worked for both of mine... __________________ 80 gallon Jebo 48x18x21 Bubble Magus BM-180 Cone 110lbs Live Rock 1-2" Sandbed Mag 12 Return Pump 2 MP10s, One Left Rear, One Right front Opposite each Other 2x65w pc 03 Actinic 2 250W Lumatek w/ SE Phoenix MH about 4" above water Livestock: 10 yr. old Purple Tang, Orchid Dottyback, Melanurus Wrasse, Pink Margin Wrasse, Pair of Clowns, Bartlett Anthias, Diamond Goby, 18 yr. old Lemon Peel Angel, Blue Flasher Wrasse Mixed Reef, mostly Zoanthids

03/03/2011, 04:03 PM	#12
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	^ What can't a turkey baster do! . But seriously, didn't your hands get tired? Whenever I dust my LRs with the turkey baster, it's like a work out LOL.

03/03/2011, 04:08 PM	#13
KillerReef Wrasse-a-holic Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: So Cal Posts: 2,083	It really didn't take that long. Using the TB instead of a PH gave me the ability to use the other hand to work the foot off the rock. 5 minutes tops and no damage to the foot.... __________________ 80 gallon Jebo 48x18x21 Bubble Magus BM-180 Cone 110lbs Live Rock 1-2" Sandbed Mag 12 Return Pump 2 MP10s, One Left Rear, One Right front Opposite each Other 2x65w pc 03 Actinic 2 250W Lumatek w/ SE Phoenix MH about 4" above water Livestock: 10 yr. old Purple Tang, Orchid Dottyback, Melanurus Wrasse, Pink Margin Wrasse, Pair of Clowns, Bartlett Anthias, Diamond Goby, 18 yr. old Lemon Peel Angel, Blue Flasher Wrasse Mixed Reef, mostly Zoanthids

03/03/2011, 05:52 PM	#14
jdbox Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 183	Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try the powerhead method next. slief - I tried the ice and no luck firereef and Cody - the rock is pretty large and would be a pain to remove - this would be a last resort but something I may have to resort to. killerReef - this sounds like a lot of work - LOL - but I'll keep it in mind if the power heads don't work. Thanks to all for your comments.

03/03/2011, 05:59 PM	#15
MammothReefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA Posts: 3,442	I use my finger nail to gently pull out a lip from the foot and the rock, once you do that you can carefully peel try to get your finger all the way between the 2 and work from the inside out. __________________ Reefin @ 8298' Current Tank Info: 105 Peninsula

08/09/2015, 12:42 PM	#16
Peachpitt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1	Just used a TB to remove a bta off a rock, worked BEAUTIFULY!!!!!

08/16/2015, 10:32 AM	#17
jaggerbub Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 19	Turkey baster works all the time

08/16/2015, 11:21 AM	#18
laverda Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,902	I have removed many anemones over the years and tried all the methods mentioned. Never had any luck with any, but using a thin plastic scraper. I now have several small plastic tools I have made for the purpose. But it st just about impossible to do so in the tank. Most of my anemones like to have their foot in a hole in the rock making it all but impossible to remove them. In those cases I have get the anemone to retractn then put rocks around it so it would have to move to get to the light. It can take more rock then you thinkvas the can get pretty elongated. Then you just remove the rock the moved to. __________________ 240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube

08/16/2015, 07:18 PM	#19
westminsterfrag Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: westminster Posts: 758	A screen driver at the base works. The rock usually can't just scrape off since its semi sift. Once you get part of the base to peel up. You can start keeping all of it. The base itself is usually a little more leather like so if you can get some of it lifted off you can pull it all off. I've done this many times but with the rock out of water. Since its harder to work with it in the tank. If you can get the rock out you can't also turn it upside down to where the nem is barely touching water. Usually itkk release itself to get back into water. __________________ Fraggers anonymous - Hi my name is Derk, and I'm a fragaholic

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