How do I coax an anemone to relocate?

[KK22]

What is the best way to coax an anemone to relocate?

Reason? About 2 months ago, I was doing some re-arranging in my tank and I discovered an unknown (to me) anemone in what was in an unviewable portion of my tank. I decided to just let it be while I researched to find out what it was. In the mean time, the anemone proudly relocated itself to the front of our tank and backed it's base into a rather deep hole in one of my base rocks.

I've identified the anemone as a tree anemone and I really would like to remove it from our tank. We've had a couple of fish "disappear" over the last few months and believe this anemone may be the culprit. The last straw was coming home a couple of days ago and seeing our Foxface lifeless in this anemone's tentacles.

The anemone is quite beautiful when it is fully open (about 7" across) and I refuse to kill it. I don't want to remove the rock it resides on either. My LFS has offered store credit if I can successfully capture it.

My initial thought it to point a powerhead directly at it to see if it will start to relocate and capture it while its on the move.

Good idea? Bad idea?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[2fishy]

[welcome]

That would have been my first recommendation, as they sometimes don't appreciate the extra flow. I've heard ice cubes can work, but that could be too difficult, and time consuming, if it's buried deep into the crevice.

 

[Tonester_man]

yea ice cube or flow should help, also you could consider redirecting the light to another area, that might help too

 

[KK22]

I'll try the powerhead first. The hole in the rock is about 2 inches deep. If that doesn't work then I'll try the using the powerhead to flow across an ice cube to chill the water in the hole.

Thanks for your responses.

 

[kimsie]

Can we see a pic of it? I've never heard of a Tree Anemone... Just would like to see it before you say bye!

And Welcome To RC!

 

[KK22]

Kim,
I'll take a photo this evening and try to post it tomorrow. Thanks for the welcome.

 

[kimsie]

Great! Since you're new - I might as well tell you now - you might want to read up on how to post pics! It can be a bit tricky at first - but then it's very easy! You'll probably have to resize it then upload it to your gallery here, or to photobucket or imageshack..

Can't wait to see!

 

[KK22]

Kim,
I've uploaded a couple of photos into my gallery here

Tree Anemone Photos

I haven't had the opportunity to try the powerhead to get him to move yet.

Soon ... very soon

Attempt to remove so far: 1

Score:
Tree Anemone - 1
KK22 - 0

 

[shabreeson]

it looks almost like it is a hells fire anemone. maybe you should touch it for a positive ID. JK

 

[KK22]

LOL

I've read about those while researching. All attempts to capture this critter will be made wearing hospital quality gloves

 

[kimsie]

Wow - I've never seen anything like that! Where did you find information on them? What is your LFS going to do with it?

 

[KK22]

Ultimately, I fount it on fishregistry.net

(specifically here - http://www.fishregistry.net/registryitem.asp?tabactive=1&ImageShow=372&ID=211)

followed up by a positive ID from a LFS.

I assume my LFS is going to resell it since they are going to give me store credit for it.

 

[KK22]

Ultimately, I fount it on fishregistry.net

(specifically here - http://www.fishregistry.net/registryitem.asp?tabactive=1&ImageShow=372&ID=211)

followed up by a positive ID from a LFS.

I assume my LFS is going to resell it since they are going to give me store credit for it.

 

[kimsie]

Wow - very cool... sorry it's eating your fish!

 

[KK22]

Not for long!!!

My Cleaner Shrimp are worrying me though. They will actually steal food from it when I feed the tank.

My next attempt to move/capture it will be tomorrow evening and I won't be feeding them before then.

 

[KK22]

The powerhead I have available is too strong and creates a big mess (sand storm) when pointing at the tree anemone - I need to dig out a powerhead with an adjustable flow rate ...

Attempt to remove so far: 2

Score:
Tree Anemone - 2
KK22 - 0

 

[kimsie]

Bummer!!!

You really don't want to take the rock out - huh?

 

[KK22]

The rock this anemone chose is supporting several other rocks and corals above it. I'm trying to avoid re-aquascaping. If I absolutely have to, I'll go ahead and take the rock out, put it in a quarentine tank with a powerhead. My "last resort" will be to remove the whole rock and bring it with the anemone to the LFS.

At this point I think I'm simply trying to prove to myself that I can outwit an anemone

 

[kimsie]

HA! Good luck!

 

[KK22]

I've finally succeeded in safely removing the tree anemone from my tank. I was in the process of removing the rock from the tank when I noticed the anemone's base was visible in a hole in the bottom side of the rock. A little bit of ice and a lot of powerhead action pointed at the base and voila! The anemone is now safely at the lfs awaiting its new home.
Note to all: Wear thick gloves when handling these critters. They can sting you through thin gloves and it's a really uncomfortable burning sting that lasts about 30 minutes :-0