How to remove a RBTA from rock

[droinablunt]

So i went to bed at 2:30 last night with 1 rbta in the 150 then woke up at 4 or something (hunger calls) and i had 2.

Now i want one out but i cant get it off the rock!

Any tips?

[David Grigor]

There are several tricks that have been discussed before, pointing a powerhead at it, moving rock to low light. Icecube on the foot ( if you can reach it ).

For me, none of these are very successful. I just take the rock out with the anemone, or bust with a hammer and flat screwdriver the portion of the rock and sell it with the clone, or just wait until it starts moving on its own. When the foot is inflated for movement they are pretty easy to get out.

[J_T]

I like to shadow them. Get them to take a small walk onto something you are willing to part with.

[tashier]

Originally Posted by David Grigor

There are several tricks that have been discussed before, pointing a powerhead at it, moving rock to low light. Icecube on the foot ( if you can reach it ).

For me, none of these are very successful. I just take the rock out with the anemone, or bust with a hammer and flat screwdriver the portion of the rock and sell it with the clone, or just wait until it starts moving on its own. When the foot is inflated for movement they are pretty easy to get out.

Ya, none of these worked for me. If it's foot is easily accessible it's pretty easy to get off the rock. Just slowly using the tip of your finger press on the edge of the foot and it will roll up. Keep rolling your finger around the edge of the foot and the foot will slowly detach and roll off. Eventually you'll get it completely off. Now if the foot is in a hole as I've found very often you can't reach it with your finger. Then your options are very limited. I eventually just sold the whole rock.

[epidemic]

just use your drivers liscence and pry it off the rock if you can

[droinablunt]

Can I hurt the foot?
Or kill it?

[epidemic]

not if you are carefull. If I can I will take the rock out of the water for a while that usually gets them to to start letting go, then just get between them and the rock.

[mtfatwork]

I spent an hour yesterday peeling one off a rock. Best advice is go slow, and dont tear the foot. Slow and steady without too much pressure.

[epidemic]

slow is key.

[droinablunt]

How long can one be out of water?

Should I let them heal for a few days after the spit to do this?

[mtfatwork]

sure. It can be left out of water for a long time. There are alot of companies that ship them dry overnight.

[droinablunt]

And ya how do I get their smell off my hands?!!!!!!!!!!!!

[David Grigor]

Just to give you an idea how hardy they are. I had one stuck in a bulkhead strainer. Part of the foot severed. Not tentacles, no mouth nothing. I left the PVC in the tank with decent flow and about 1-2 months later with actinics only on you could see tentacles developing under the skin. Sure enough 6 months later no one would have ever known it grew from just a severed little piece of a foot.

Not that I advocate not being careful pulling it off but it's pretty difficult to kill. Outside of it physically getting shredded up pretty darn hardy.

[droinablunt]

Originally Posted by droinablunt

And ya how do I get their smell off my hands?!!!!!!!!!!!!