Too many anemones

Dash · #1 03-09-2017, 11:00 PM

Hi everyone...first time posting

I've read up on this but haven't had any success. Started with one rbta 10 months ago and now have 11. It's a bit too much of a good thing, I'm afraid. They're all on the original rock except for one who moved onto the adjoining one by like an inch. Any tricks for getting them off? I only have a 75 g so I'd love to get some real estate back. I don't want to break the rock as it's my fave.

Here's a pic of them before lights came on so you get an idea of the rock. They love all the crevices!

Thanks!
Maggie

smokinreefer · #2 03-09-2017, 11:52 PM

Whoa! That second pic is really nice!

Neglect will eventually rid yourself of them, but it takes a while. Real story, but not my recommendation.

Some people will recommend using ice at the foot to get it to release.

Blasting the foot with a powerhead.

Hang the rock upside down out of the water, but over a bucket of water.

Personally I gently peel the edge of the foot, also use forceps to cut away at the rock just beneath the foot and essentially chisel a mm of the rock under the foot of the nem and peel back if you can.

Do wear gloves as it won't be pleasant if you touch it.

Good luck! Beautiful nems!

Dash · #3 03-10-2017, 12:13 AM

Thanks for the input, Shao. Not sure if you can see it but the green toadstool under nems is the first thing I ever bought from a Canreefer - you

it's grown a lot.

I've tried picking at the foot but got spooked cos I thought I might be tearing it. Can they spend a bit of time out of the tank while attempts are made?

Dash · #4 03-10-2017, 12:15 AM

Don't get me wrong - I still like them, but I stopped feeding them after there were 4

FishyFishy! · #5 03-10-2017, 02:56 AM

Are they all on the same rock? Or a couple different ones?

I'd say remove the rock. I had to start a tank over due to these things. They stung and killed a bunch of my SPS.

Dash · #6 03-10-2017, 03:32 AM

Same rock. These guys don't move and have been model citizens. They have a toadstool, cali tort & pearlberry nearby without incident. The only thing untoward is that both my green spotted puffers got stung but that was them trying to steal food. Their spots turned pale for a couple of days but were otherwise fine and have learned to stay clear. If anything, I just wish my clowns would show some interest

msjboy · #7 03-10-2017, 05:45 AM

I had a rbta split once into 4 at once instead of the usual two…. did yours split in two's?

Dash · #8 03-10-2017, 06:08 AM

Just one into two. At first I fed once a week, then less, and now not at all. They probably get enough of the bits left over from my fish (all meat lovers haha)

jason604 · #9 03-10-2017, 06:15 AM

i took like 6-8 out last month.. i just wear gloves n forcefully peel it away with my hands or if its rly in the rock i get a dull knife n dig it out trying my best not to harm it. But of course those who have tried knows that its super hard not harming it sometimes and i do get huge tears or sometimes rip it in half. I toss them in my sump and they all seem to just heal again no problem.

smokinreefer · #10 03-10-2017, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dash

Thanks for the input, Shao. Not sure if you can see it but the green toadstool under nems is the first thing I ever bought from a Canreefer - you

it's grown a lot.

I've tried picking at the foot but got spooked cos I thought I might be tearing it. Can they spend a bit of time out of the tank while attempts are made?

Oh that's awesome to hear about the toadstool! I didn't realize haha cool!
That tyree toadstool won't get large. I find it reaches a small max size before it starts to fold up to self propagate, but I usually help it along when I see that happening.

Not sure about the out of water thing. I probably wouldn't do that myself.
I've only Removed splits a handful of times, but I do it in tank, because if I remove the rock the aquascape falls apart lol.