LTA Anemone Problem with Strainer

[Gieser]

We woke up this morning and our anemone was stuck to one of our drain strainers. It will help to know that we have 8, 1 1/2" drain strainers against the back wall of our tank. These strainers are split into two groups of 4 and are part of a closed loop driven by 2 Reeflo Darts. I say all of that because the drain strainers as individuals are not overpowering sucking strainers. Yesterday, we introduced the anemone to the environment and it looked great, and settled in nicely, so we don't know why it moved, but we know that they can move often. We thought it chose to be stuck there until we saw the below picture. IS there anything we can do to help it free? Right now, he is in a container in the dark.

 

[Gieser]

...it may also help to know that a small part of the pedal disc is actually sticking through the strainer, not just tentacles.

 

[clowns101]

Can you remove part of the drain straniers were the anemone is attached and slowly put him down on the sand?Also can you shut the slow suction down that way he cant be suked in any more?

 

[Gieser]

We removed the whole strainer (anemone attached), so there is no current suction. He is in a container outside of the tank. We were hoping it would relax and let go by itself. We are debating whether or not to pull him off physically, but were afraid of ripping his disc.

 

[davocean]

I'd set it down at bottom of tank and let it work itself free.
Should be ok as long as foot is intact.
Once free, try to tuck it in between a couple rocks on sand bed.
I had same setup on 180, those strainers don't have that much pull, which is lucky for you and nem.

 

[syrinx]

Agreed- he will be able to get out when he decides he wants to.

 

[Gieser]

syrinx,

He is free. Thanks for the response. It let go with a gentle pull and has no damage. Now, we are trying to find it a spot where it will be happy.

 

[apayne]

My LA likes areas of lower flow, and likes to be in the sand under a rock or rocks.
I hope it does well for you,
Aaron

 

[Gieser]

So today, everything was perfect and he stayed in the same place and settled in nicely. As soon as the lights went into "dusk" he balled up and then was getting blown all over the place... is he going to do this every night? I guess he wasn't attached, yet.

We put him back where he was, and turned the flow off on that side of the tank so if he did ball up, he would get blown everywhere.

 

[tufacody]

Don't panic. This happened to me last month, and he pulled thru like nothing happened. Be creative but don't do anything drastic. I cut the overflow to let mine out.

 

[Gieser]

I'm glad it's okay!!! Ours came out of the situation good this morning, but now, he is a ball at night, and if I turn all the flow on, he will float around and get stuck again. I guess if it were attached, it wouldn't be a problem.

 

[tufacody]

Yours looks like Macrodactyla doreensis. It likes a sand substrate. Try digging a hole and putting him in there. If he's moving he prolly wants more light. It looks beautiful.

 

[Gieser]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15462400#post15462400 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tufacody
Yours looks like Macrodactyla doreensis. It likes a sand substrate. Try digging a hole and putting him in there. If he's moving he prolly wants more light. It looks beautiful.

That is exactly what it is. It is beautiful. I dug a hole and buried it all the way up to the tentacles. He is deep in there, but it looks like he is trying to get out...dangit!!!

 

[tufacody]

I wouldn't trust that nem to anything but metal halide. What are you using? Has it ever attached? If not, I'd suspect a torn foot when being removed. I had a BTA with that problem and I had to tuck it into some rockwork until it healed. Took about a month. I've always dosed some iodine ( a little!) with possibly injured nems. Not sure if it works but I've had both the bta and the gigantea recovery after injuries while dosing. However I dose so minimally that I don't feel the need to test for it.

 

[davocean]

Mh not a must have for LTA, moderate light has worked best for me really on each I've owned.
T5's no prob.

 

[Gieser]

My lighting is MH & T-5. I am considering "trapping" him in the place with rocks so it can't get away. Maybe a bad idea? I may give him the day to see if anything changes with the attaching. f not, I may use rocks to hold him there.