Green BTA won't leave container

[bearman88]

Hello - my GBTA here has been in my tank for 3 weeks, and I cannot get him to leave the plastic container, lol.

I have tried increasing flow on him, shading him from the light, and can't get him to move. The bottom of container is touching a rock, I was hoping he would cruise out onto the rock but nope.

I am afraid of trying a credit card or something to 'pry' at the feet, don't want to hurt it.

Any pro tricks here? Thanks!

 

[Uncle99]

Carefully, using your thumb, push on the edge of the foot, where the foot meets the plastic.

On this smooth surface, The foot will release, a little at at time. Might take about 5 minutes.

I Do it all the time to remove from glass or any smooth surfaces.

Does not work on anything that’s not smooth, like rock.

 

[Jekyl]

Nem canon

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/safe-and-easy-diy-way-to-remove-nems.861213/

 

[Rocks reef]

^This....

But... go SLOW... there is no rush

 

[bearman88]

Thanks for sharing! i just ordered materials for the nem cannon. That is so awesome

 

[D-Nak]

I prefer gift cards or hotel key cards because they're usually slightly thinner than credit cards and more pliable. As long as you don't rip the foot, you should be fine moving it. Even if you do create a tear, BTAs are very resilient and usually pull through. That said, definitely be a careful as you can.

 

[D-Nak]

Thanks for sharing! i just ordered materials for the nem cannon. That is so awesome

Nem cannons are good for when a BTA has its foot deep in a crevice and you want it to physically move on its own. In your case, you can easily remove it. Since it looks like a disposable-type plastic container, worst case is that you simply cut the plastic away and leave the area its attached to. It'll eventually crawl off and onto a rock and will bury its foot. You'll want it to happen sooner than later though, because BTAs are notorious for over-inflating and floating away like a balloon. Unfortunately, they inevitably end up in powerheads and get chopped up, which could nuke the entire tank.

 

[exnisstech]

As small as it is I would just work it off using my finger nail.

 

[bearman88]

ok yeah he is pretty tiny, and I think I oversized my nem cannon (3" ID). Challenge is, getting a nice coverage over/ around him, since he's in the corner of container. (see new photos).

I thought about cutting container, but it is going to take some decent sheers to get through the plastic thickness, or hacksaw. But that seemed problematic also because A) plastic shavings getting into water and B) dont want to expose nem to air if I raise it up to saw it. Any ideas?

Or like @exnisstech says, do I just go more aggressive with nitrile gloves on, gently prying at it's foot with my finger nails?

 

[BonnieB]

ok yeah he is pretty tiny, and I think I oversized my nem cannon (3" ID). Challenge is, getting a nice coverage over/ around him, since he's in the corner of container. (see new photos).

I thought about cutting container, but it is going to take some decent sheers to get through the plastic thickness, or hacksaw. But that seemed problematic also because A) plastic shavings getting into water and B) dont want to expose nem to air if I raise it up to saw it. Any ideas?

Or like @exnisstech says, do I just go more aggressive with nitrile gloves on, gently prying at it's foot with my finger nails?

Personally, being so small, I’d do what @exnisstech recommends and either use your fingernail or a very thin gift card and go slowly and gently as you pry it, then place on the bottom rocks in your tank where it will get flow and light and be able to move to where it wants to reside!

 

[bearman88]

ok thanks @BonnieB and @exnisstech, and @D-Nak I will just try to patiently pry. I'm assuming it will take upwards of 5-10 minutes process of gently prying?

 

[bearman88]

Success... so far. My damsel wants to host him apparently, and my maroon clown hasn't paid much attention yet but it's only been a few minutes.

 

[Jekyl]

Success... so far. My damsel wants to host him apparently, and my maroon clown hasn't paid much attention yet but it's only been a few minutes.

Be wary of this. Fish can really beat up a hosting nem. You'll really want a nem at least the size of the fish if not double or triple.