Anemone Removal

[Pier Pressure]

Does anyone know of a slick and easy way to remove baby anemones from live rock? I have tried this ice cube thing against the foot and that did not seem to work at all. When I have bought them at lfs they simply yanked them off but this seemed to me like it could damage the creature. Any ideas?

[Floop70]

I massaged the foot until it released and that worked for me the one time I needed to move a BTA.

[Carmen]

I have been told you can entice them to move by directing a small powerhead at them and perhaps put a small moveable rock in the direction they will be going to try to catch them on that rock?

[argan]

make sure they are healed over from splitting before you try to move them. The powerhead method worked for me, as well as taking the rock out of the water.

[Pier Pressure]

Well I have only tried to do this once before and actually the dude left with my rock! Kept it in his tank until the nem decided to move off it and then returned the rock to me. I have not tried the powerhead thing so when the time comes I shall give that a try. Thanks!

[muck]

If you have decent fingernails its not to hard to carefully peel them off the rocks. If done slowly and with a little patience there should be no damage done to the anemone(s).

[Pier Pressure]

I have heard that a credit card will work as well. I am just hopeful it is easier than the last time I tried this! Thanks for the advice and any tips or tricks are more than welcome.

[scorpio73]

well at least your credit card will know what it will be buying if damaged lol
i have always moved them into high flow also 30-45min is when mine would release

[landshark]

I have used the high flow method as well as gently prying them off. Each worked equally well. Prying is quicker but nerve wracking. These were very small bubble tips.

[Pier Pressure]

Thanks again. Going to try the powerhead thing but the majority of these little guys are in a power stream already and do not show any signs of moving!

[Patrice]

There is something about removing anemone at the end of this article (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/totm/index.php) (check for Tips and Tricks)

[OCDP]

If you have decent fingernails its not to hard to carefully peel them off the rocks. If done slowly and with a little patience there should be no damage done to the anemone(s).

I've kept a lot of BTA's and this is the only way I've removed them.. never fails. If however, they are sucked into a hole/crevice, you have your work cut out for you! Otherwise, fingernails haven't let me down.

[Patrice]

Great. I'll try that

[chandigz]

"tickle" the base of the foot.