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 RFA and Warty sea nems being taken off of the rocks safely/ensuring no damage was caused to the foot. Had the same issues with ricordia, as well. As I hate to injure or damage those critters, my brother and I came up with a different way to collect them. We used pipe tied over the critters with fishing line. This worked some of the time, but most times the critters would just crawl to the side of the pipe and back to square one. At this point we pilled sand around the pipe and that really helped get the critters to crawl up the pipe. The issue with that, was tide change. Sand would wash away during this time. While at the hardware store to get some stainless steel screws for rod holders we were adding to the boat, my brother saw some grout sponges and a light bulb went off. He bought all they had lol. The next weekend we meet up to go collecting and he showed me his super idea. Cut a hole in the sponge for the pipe, insert pipe and place over the critter. We would then use rubber bands to fasten the pipe to the rock, pieces of rock, etc. So we tried it. Placed them out first thing in the morning, came back up and fished our usual spots until that afternoon. At that point, they were wet for about 7 hours. When we dove back down, we were amazed that all but one pipe had an RFA at the top. The one just did not want to budge. We removed all of the sponge/pipe combos and have been using them ever since for nem and shroom collection. With this said, I then started to use them to remove BTAs when mine decided to try and take over my tank years ago. Worked like a charm for them. Since then, I have tried to assist other reefers with nem removal by using this method. Best thing about it, NO DAMAGE TO NEM!!!!! It forces them to move on their own. Same applies to shrooms, but you use a shorter pipe of a smaller diameter. So I cannot take full credit for this. The pipe was my idea and the sponge was his. So, much thanks to him years ago for being the smart one lol. (He still is the smart one and works for FWC now and does not have to deal with the Corporate IT world like I do lol)
One note: For BTAs, the pipe needs to be a little longer than you may think. Sometimes BTAs will just stretch and never move their foot. If longer is not an option, placing the pipe sort of sideways always seems to make them crawl and not stretch.
Edit Note: (THX
@F i s h y) for tight places or to extend the pipe length to where it may be needed, but space is an issue, use a 45 degree or 90 degree elbow to extend the pipe. The elbow can also be placed on the sponge side for more hard to reach places.
Hope this helps someone and saves a new from having its foot torn and causing damage to it.
Pics are credit to
@Lost in the Sauce, as I am worthless and do not have any pics lol. The name is also thanks to
@Lost in the Sauce.
Small "Major Eagle_Steve Nem/Shroom Cannon"
Large "Major Eagle_Steve Nem Cannon"
