Dangerwill
New member
I have a giant carpet anemone that is outgrowing my tank and I have tried to pick him up to take him out and he just shrinks up and holds fast. I don't want to hurt him but I need him out. Ideas?
anemone moving tips or tricks
- Thread starter Dangerwill
- Start date
Tmoriarty
New member
If he is attached to the glass, slowly massage his foot and work your way around, he will peel off slowly. Make sure you dont tear the foot, the process could and should take 10-60 minutes if you do it right depending on size and how firm it is holding.
If it is attached to a rock (shouldn't be its a carpet) then sell the rock with the nem, it is far easier then trying to get these nems off of rocks.
Hope this helps and I am sure others will toss in some advice as well.
If it is attached to a rock (shouldn't be its a carpet) then sell the rock with the nem, it is far easier then trying to get these nems off of rocks.
Hope this helps and I am sure others will toss in some advice as well.
D-Nak
Active member
If it's a gigantea or mertensii it could be attached to a rock. I agree that the rock should be sold with the nem, and most people who are serious about the purchase will definitely prefer to buy the rock to prevent injury to the nem. When I purchased my gigantea from a fellow reefer, I took the rock and nem and placed it in a plastic cooler.
If we're talking about a haddoni, just be patient. As you've witnessed, they're not like BTAs where once you start to remove them, the rest of the foot detaches -- not so with haddoni.
alexandernewell
New member
If you absolutely must get it off the rock, I use either a smoothed down wooden pencil tip [the graphite doesn't seem to bother them] or the tip of an unused superglue tube. The key being any smooth rounded tool that comes to a blunt point. Fingernails and over zealous hands can do more damage to the foot than a well placed lift with a smooth point.
Ditto on selling the rock too if you can, its better for the anemone.
Ditto on selling the rock too if you can, its better for the anemone.
Ron Reefman
Active member
I use one of the flat plastic tools that people use to rub down decals, vinyl lettering, window tinting and fiberglass or bondo body work. It isn't sharp and it's a bit flexible. I actually use 3 or 4. I put them in the freezer for 10 minutes and then pull them out one at a time to use. The flat, cold edge usually gets the foot to start releasing. After that it's easy. I've had it work on some rock attachments too (but not all). The tool has a rounded corner and I use that against the foot as far down as I can get it. I've also used the rounded ice cubes from our ice maker in the refridgerator (we use RO water and filtered again at the ice maker). The rounded, pointy edgw of the cube can be worked against the bottom edge of the foot. It works, but the ice melts pretty quick in 78 degree water!
alexandernewell
New member
Never thought of using cold to facilitate foot release. Thats a great idea.
Dangerwill
New member
Thanks for the suggestions guys, I am seriously getting irritated with this dude. He keeps going farther back under my reef. Unfortunately my tank is on the tall side which makes it even more difficult to do the detail work. Even with my long arms I can't touch the bottom of my tank. I have tried a pancake spatula to get under the foot which worked but before I could grab him out he went deep and the only thing I managed to do was break a colony of birdsnest… AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!
