Anemone stuck in filter. Ideas?

[TheGrog]

OK, my rose BTA that has been happy and content at one end of the tank has overnight transversed the length of the tank (almost 6' 125 gal tank) and this morning I found it half sucked into my HOT filter intake!!

The filter is a Whisper 6 series and the intake strainer is rather coarse (about 1/8" between slots).

All tank parameters are fine......so far.

I of course shut the filter down right away.

Now, I am unsure if it can get itself unstuck. It's foot is attached to both the strainer segment of the filter, the upper segment AND the back glass. The mouth is not sucked in, just about 1/4 of it's body. So anything I do will have to be where it is located. Tried taking a pic but my camera batteries are dead.

I am thinking of waiting and watching if it can get itself unstuck without any help from me. I wish I had some stainless cutters that I could cut the plastic strainer away so it could easily get itself out, but I don't. The plastic is pretty tough so just breaking it is not an option without risking hurting the anemone any more.

I am mixing water up right now for a change if necessary and trying to find another filter to run carbon.

Does anyone have any other ideas/input?

Thanks

[Aaarrrggg]

http://www.karensroseanemones.com/coverpowerheads.htm recommends NOT trying to remove the nem yourself.... so I guess it's cross your fingers time.

Sounds like you're doing everything you can do, it's up to him now. As long as he doesn't start to smell real bad you may have a chance. Good luck!

[criccio]

I would just leave it, it should work it's way out.

[TheGrog]

Thanks.

Informative site. Was wondering how to cover up my Seio's.

I managed to get a small pair of hemostats (helps to be a surgeon sometimes) inbetween the layers of the screen and snap it off. Worked my way around the tube and got it totally off. The anemone is now free from the screen. Does not seem to be badly damaged and the mouth is still intact.

Now I am just crossing my fingers and watching while I mix up more water. Don't have enough salt on hand (being shipped to me) to get the QT tank up and running though so I will have to keep my fingers crossed that the rest of the inhabitants are not badly affected.

Stay tuned

[1F2FRFBF]

The RBTA in my tank is in the process of taking its third trip through my overflow (a CPR) - somehow it manages to squeeze itself through a fish screen and all the twists and turns till it gets hung up on the sponge that's around the drain. Scared the heck out of me first time it happened, but it came through fine. Second time I just picked up the sponge with the anemone on it, put it in a container of water from the tank and "encouraged" it off with a small plastic spatula. Then back into the tank, where it was actually looking quite healthy, until it decided to go 'splorin' again.

This time I'm just annoyed. Either this thing is trying desperately to escape my tank (all drains lead to the ocean?), or it has a death wish. Methinks it will be going back to its original owner.

But as far as yours goes, don't worry about handling it too roughly when removing it. I mean, don't be outright haphazard about it, but the BTA's seem to be quite resilient. I'm not really sure the hospital tank will be necessary, but if you want to keep an eye on it for a few days after you get it out, I wouldn't blame you. Lots of luck with it!

[FullPull]

As long as none of your fish nip at it then, I had a carpet get sucked into a PH. Seemed ok when I got him out, but by morning my Coral Beauty Angelfish picked the hell out of it.