Help Needed - Anemone Got Into Trouble

[intenseimage]

Well, I thought I had anemone proof'd the tank and almost succeeded.

I got home last night and the anemone was COMPLETELY deflated and rolling around the tank (he had a large meal the night before so I contributed digestion to some of it) ... but the tank had also gotten up to 83* during the day. I quickly opened the windows and turned on the fan and within minutes the temps dropped to 81* (and I did my half gallon top off during that time as well) and he perked right back up and climbed up on his rock like nothing had happened.

THEN ....

Overnight he got a small piece of his foot sucked through the overflow grating slots. There is about a quarter sized piece of him pulled through the grate right now (wouldnt look so bad it it wasnt inflated). When looking at his base you could see a bit of white tissue (not much) that I am guessing was getting cut up a bit from the edges of the slots. I turned off the pump that was creating the suction through that area before leaving for work in the hopes that he pulls himself back out.

Do you think it will be ok? Will the damage to his tissue heal?


If I get home tonite and he is still there how can I get him out without doing more damage? I dont just want to pull him back out since I fear he will tear apart and I highly doubt I can take a razor and make a clean cut along the grate to free him from his "trapped" section

 

[dantodd]

You did the best thing. Let him try and extricate himself if at all possible. Give him a day or 2. Also, don't forget to keep some aeration or circulation in the sump since you don't have the flow from the tank.

 

[intenseimage]

Thats the thing, its a small 22 gal cube (the RBTA is small now, when it grows it will get a larger home) ... I dont have a fuge so its sitting still till I get home tonite. The tank temp should be stable even with the pumps off and with the skimmer off as well I will have less evap so thats on my side. Plus I only have the RBTA and 2 small clowns so bioload isnt crazy either.

 

[stykthyn]

if the foot wasnt damaged too badly it should be alright. Is 83* detrimental to an anemone? At my previous home my tank went above 85* regularly. the corals didnt mind in the least. well, they looked healthy anyway.

 

[Sk8r]

Get a cheap pump and an airstone to keep aeration going in your display while you try to persuade this wayward fellow out. I don't know what to suggest. I wonder (if a day passes and he's still trapped) if a gentle very little jet of iced ro water from a turkey baster on the trapped side might help him reduce that extrusion and encourage him to get that part of him out of the grate. That's just a suggestion. Anyone have an idea on that?

 

[intenseimage]

Well we got home last night and the little bugger was free and sittin on the rock in fully glory like nothing happened -- of course he was all deflated and slouched over this morning, but that seems to be its typical behavior overnight

 

[dantodd]

good to hear things are back to normal.

 

[intenseimage]

Well things MIGHT have taken a turn for the worse ... I just have no clue at this point ...

to recap ...

he got stucked into the overflow grate a bit and a little damage was done to its foot

pumps were off all day and he pulled himself out and was in fully glory behind a rock

overnight it climbed up a rock and this morning was attached to the rock but deflated and slouching over

Figured it would perk up a bit during the day ... got home and nothing changed but as the night is progressing it seems to be "sliding" off the rock ...

Sorry for the bad pics ... its gettin late, im tired, and depressed - I really dont want to loose this one ...