Need to move my BTA to a new tank...sucker is stubborn...suggestions?

[Newtybar]

So I've moved most of my livestock over....but have been trying for days to get the anemone to release its feet.

 

Blasted it with direct powerhead flow for an hour...nothing happened

Tried again...nothing...then finally just blasted it all night...still nothing.

 

It has a grip inside the crevice of the rock so I can't get to its feet with an ice cube and ziplock.

 

I tried chiseling, but am afraid i will blast through the rock and spear the dang thing.

 

Turned the rock upside down for an hour.

Turned the rock upside down and lifted it in and out of the water for 10 mins...

Finally just left it upside down for a day.

 

None of this has worked...I need to get this thing over but do not want to bring the old rock. I also want to get this tank ready to sell asap (Fusion 30L).

 

 

[HarryPotter]

So I've moved most of my livestock over....but have been trying for days to get the anemone to release its feet.

 

Blasted it with direct powerhead flow for an hour...nothing happened

Tried again...nothing...then finally just blasted it all night...still nothing.

 

It has a grip inside the crevice of the rock so I can't get to its feet with an ice cube and ziplock.

 

I tried chiseling, but am afraid i will blast through the rock and spear the dang thing.

 

Turned the rock upside down for an hour.

Turned the rock upside down and lifted it in and out of the water for 10 mins...

Finally just left it upside down for a day.

 

None of this has worked...I need to get this thing over but do not want to bring the old rock. I also want to get this tank ready to sell asap (Fusion 30L).

 

based on what I've seen, I would try putting other small rocks around its foot- touching it. Leave it for a few days, it will become irritated and climb onto them if you leave it along and/or modify the lighting.

[righttirefire]

Has it moved?

[Newtybar]

Nope, tried everything.

 

The rock is upside down now, so no light hits it. Been days, hoping sucker will move for light, but has not.

[righttirefire]

I have one that likes the dark. It'll come out maybe 2 hours a day for light... just another reason to love BTAs! They'll walk for no reason and return to the original place. Other times, in your case, you can't force them to move.

I know mine like to move at night. An 8 hour light cycle ending at 8pm. By 4am when I wake up its like an Easter egg hunt

[Psychosis]

Can I get a picture of the rock? Might give me an idea.

[lkoechle]

If you can take the rock out, mine always releases when he is in a bucket. I don't know why, its the only thing that works.

[pntbll687]

was talking to my lfs the other day about this, im in the same process of setting up another tank. He said that when he has a stubborn bta that wont move he puts it in a bucket with no flow and LIGHTLY brushes the bta with a soft tooth brush. Just something to try, I haven't attempted yet.

[Newtybar]

Can I get a picture of the rock? Might give me an idea.

 

Here's a picture of the anemone and where its footing is. Any ideas would be helpful.

 

[HarryPotter]

Oh man that foot is deep in the rock!!!!

 

No idea, good luck!

[righttirefire]

My green was like that when I bought it. And my LFS chipped it out... I was nervous as hell watching it. Can you transfer over the whole rock? Or chip it small enough to transfer it

[Newtybar]

Oh man that foot is deep in the rock!!!!

 

No idea, good luck!

 

HAHAHAh

 

 

My green was like that when I bought it. And my LFS chipped it out... I was nervous as hell watching it. Can you transfer over the whole rock? Or chip it small enough to transfer it

 

Yeah you can see where I started chipping then I got nervous! Don't want to transfer anything over from old tank to new unless I have to - trying to start fresh...

[righttirefire]

Well good luck. Do you have a trusted LFS? I would have no issue putting the rock in a bucket of water and driving to LFS and having him help me

[Newtybar]

I do...but I didn't buy the BTA from them lol.

[Admonition]

You said you turned the rock upside down and the out of water- how long did you leave it out of water? The way I've done mine was to turn the rock upside down out of water (with a container underneath to catch it) and wait. Eventually he'll detach and drop out. Shouldn't take too long.

[Newtybar]

You said you turned the rock upside down and the out of water- how long did you leave it out of water? The way I've done mine was to turn the rock upside down out of water (with a container underneath to catch it) and wait. Eventually he'll detach and drop out. Shouldn't take too long.

 

Interesting...I will try this tonight. I left it out for only a minute or so at a time.

 

How long do you leave it out of the water for?

[rengb6]

I used a toothpick and an ice cube to detach one of mine. If you continually and gently poke the foot he'll slowly release. Obviously don't stab the anemone, you don't want to damage the foot. It took 20 minutes but I finally got him off of the rock. He's been fine for over 2 months now.

[Newtybar]

It's been upside down out of the water for 30 mins now...and has not detached.

 

I'm getting a bit nervous and feel i should put the rock back in the water.