Removing Bubble Tip Anemones (I feel bad for even thinking about asking this)

NigelRichardson · Aug 26, 2023

Is there a safe way to remove (dare I say kill) Bubble Tip Anemones?

I see so many threads about how to keep RBTAs - and I have the other problem.... They're so happy in my tank that they just won't stop splitting, growing and splitting again...

And of course they're all doing the magical trick of hiding their feed under ledges and in spots where its impossible to prise them out...

Short of telling people "Free to good home - the only catch is that you need to come to my house and work out how to remove them yourself", if there anything I can do? I've pondered experimenting by hitting one with some Aiptasia-X, but figure there's a reasonably good chance that could nuke my entire tank.

Please don't hate me for asking the question - I'm genuinely stuck, and they're causing a lot of damage to my SPS corals that are - apart from this - doing really well...

Cheezle · Aug 26, 2023

I have the same problem, don't beat yourself up too much! I was told to take my power head and point it directly at them. Once they start moving you can easily remove them from the rock. You can use an old gift card or your nails if they're long enough to remove em with ease. Just have to get them to start walking, that makes plucking then off the rock easier and harm free.

Idk about you but I'm actually at the point of just trading whole rocks in because there's 14 or 15 nems just sitting on them, lol that seems easier to me!

mav3rick478 · Aug 26, 2023

Pull the rock out and use ice or hang them upside down over a bin with water and they will eventually let go

stoney7713 · Aug 26, 2023

This is a good option if you can't remove the rock. Contact a LFS and see if you can trade them in or give them free to get rid of them.

Thread 'Safe and Easy DIY way to remove Nems' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/safe-and-easy-diy-way-to-remove-nems.861213/

Lost in the Sauce · Aug 26, 2023

Cheezle said:
Idk about you but I'm actually at the point of just trading whole rocks in because there's 14 or 15 nems just sitting on them, lol that seems easier to me!

This is a decently good option.

Pistondog · Aug 26, 2023

Safe and Easy DIY way to remove Nems

Due to seeing numerous post recently about how to remove anemones and shrooms without hurting them or destroying rock work. I felt like this was in order. First off, a little back story. Years ago, when I lived in Florida and collected aquatic life on a regular basis, we always had issues with...

www.reef2reef.com

kdsmithey · Sep 1, 2023

NigelRichardson said:
Is there a safe way to remove (dare I say kill) Bubble Tip Anemones?

I see so many threads about how to keep RBTAs - and I have the other problem.... They're so happy in my tank that they just won't stop splitting, growing and splitting again...

And of course they're all doing the magical trick of hiding their feed under ledges and in spots where its impossible to prise them out...

Short of telling people "Free to good home - the only catch is that you need to come to my house and work out how to remove them yourself", if there anything I can do? I've pondered experimenting by hitting one with some Aiptasia-X, but figure there's a reasonably good chance that could nuke my entire tank.

Please don't hate me for asking the question - I'm genuinely stuck, and they're causing a lot of damage to my SPS corals that are - apart from this - doing really well...

I’ve had success with using a dull toothpick to get under the BTA’s foot, then roll the toothpick around a bit and lift. Took some time, but it came off and survived. You can definitely get them off with this method, but not sure if they’ll always survive like mine did.

biecacka · Sep 1, 2023

stoney7713 said:
This is a good option if you can't remove the rock. Contact a LFS and see if you can trade them in or give them free to get rid of them.

Thread 'Safe and Easy DIY way to remove Nems' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/safe-and-easy-diy-way-to-remove-nems.861213/

Great idea. But some of my rocks/structures are larger and would need bigger rubber bands/zip ties. But might try it anyway. I’ve tried the power head and it didn’t work, but maybe I didn’t do it long enough.

corey

Uncle99 · Sep 1, 2023

Put constant flow on him, some rubble rock near, maybe he’ll move onto the rock.
That how I got these two from display.

stoney7713 · Sep 1, 2023

biecacka said:
Great idea. But some of my rocks/structures are larger and would need bigger rubber bands/zip ties. But might try it anyway. I’ve tried the power head and it didn’t work, but maybe I didn’t do it long enough.

corey

Did you try a notarized eviction notice?

biecacka · Sep 1, 2023

Yeah. I had the sheriff over, show his badge and his pistol. Scared the anemone so bad it split……..then I knew I was screwed!
hahaha

corey

stoney7713 · Sep 1, 2023

biecacka said:
Yeah. I had the sheriff over, show his badge and his pistol. Scared the anemone so bad it split……..then I knew I was screwed!
hahaha

corey

Oh gosh, yes you are. They get to claim citizenship now.

biecacka · Sep 1, 2023

Squatters rights…..ya know!

corey

Rp8 · Sep 1, 2023

Lost in the Sauce said:
This is a decently good option.

That’s what I did. Although, the pwr head trick does work. It may take a couple days tho. The ice trick worked too, but you constantly have to keep rubbing them to make them uncomfortable enough to move. My hands were in the tank so long the dried and cracked the next day. That’s why I just sold the rock.

Rob-

MyFirstCar · Sep 1, 2023

Pistondog said:
Safe and Easy DIY way to remove Nems

Due to seeing numerous post recently about how to remove anemones and shrooms without hurting them or destroying rock work. I felt like this was in order. First off, a little back story. Years ago, when I lived in Florida and collected aquatic life on a regular basis, we always had issues with...

www.reef2reef.com

I swear by the "nem cannon"