Caring for Rose Anemones the right way

The Anemone Sting is no fun

---

Again I was not very smart.
Yesterday 7-10-09 I decided that I had had enough of a very large wrasse in my 75
gallon tank. And I wanted him out.
But because the tank was so overgrown with Mushrooms and Anemones.
I had to tear it apart.
I did want to move some of the shrooms to the larger tank anyway
and so made room down front for them in the 125 as I have
a Dragon Wrasse in it that loves to dig in the sand I have
have southdown sand it it.
And so he creates a large sandstorm when he goes to digging.
But because I love him so.l wanted to fix the problem of his digging.
Also in my 75 which now has 14 Anemones in it, and very little usable rock for
them to get their foot down deap, I decided to empty the 45 gallon
that has been in my office for year and use that rock to build a rock
structure for them and their budding family.
So I want to drain the 75 gallon tank to capture out the wrasse
and to move the shrooms I had picked for the big tank.
Well of course, not thinking I had anything to worry about
with not wearing gloves, and that being the stupidest thing
I have done in a long time.
I got out the wrasse.
Started to move the shrooms I wanted to move to the
125 gallon.
I did a massive water change , taking the 75 down to only enough
water to cover what was left in the tank, Anemones and shrooms.
3 yellow damsils and my spawning pair of Clarki clowns.
So, after moving the rocks to the large tank. Rearanging what was left
of the rocks with shrooms all over them.
Scrubbing the rock from the 54 in my office had taken place a few days
before hand.
They where now ready to be added to the tank to build a suitable rock pile
for all of the Anemones.
They where then added.
(did I mention that my hand was burning a bit?)
(Don't ask me what I did with that dumb Wrasse)
Lets just say , after all of the splashing all over the back walls
behind the tank, salt water running down the walls on all 4 sides
from him jumping and splashing during feeding time and
eating anything in the way of a cleanup crew that I put into the tank for years.
All of the time spent to wipe the desk next to the tank to get
rid of the saltwater spilled everywhere , then turning into salt.
And wiping down the underside of the light fixture ever since
I bought him.
(did I mention my hand was starting to burn more?)
He is now if fish heaven.
I know I know, but It felt like justice for all he had put me through over the years.
And no one wanted him so it had to be done.
Anyway.
As I went about my task of scrubbing the filters, skimmers and powerheads
in bleach water getting them just like new.
I was ready to start adding new fresh saltwater back that I had prepared the
day before.
(did I mention that my hand was starting to really burn?)
After adding the water, I moves some of the remaining rocks that had
not been moved, only to stir up lots of greenish brown yuck. So I did another massive
water change.
Now to let it settle.
All was finally done. I had done a total water change, siphoned out all the
brown gunk that had been under the rock for 4 years now because
the rock work had never been moved.
What a mess I had on my hands.
(speaking of hands. I was now starting to hurt. But no signs of anything bad yet)
So now, all of the shrooms I wanted to move are now in the 125,
the tank is cleaned up and a second batch of water is added.
The baby Anemones that I found throughout the rock work have been set front
and center now so that they can be fed.
During this time, all of the Anemones have went from a dark pink to a dark
Red in color, being very happy to be in a new tank.
(MY hands really are hurting now).
So, it is filled, I am running 2 outside filters now to help clean up what
I had still stirred up in the tank.
But I can see now how to arrange the rock as it was clear enough now.
Finally after 7 hours or work., I was no longer able to put my hands in
the tank, let alone under tap water. Oh did they hurt. But my
right was the worst.
Now showing signs of the abuse I had put it through.
Finally the first blister was starting to appear.
As where spots on my finger, especially the middle one.
So, now that I am done with the swap, water change and rearranging things
my hand have suddenly enlarged to twice it's size.
Remember, I was not wearing gloves.
(big mistake)
So now, I am in pain that if fierce and I put Ice on it.
That is , after I put peroxide on my hand and scrubbed with soaping
water as much as I could stand.
So, 3 hours after finishing a 7 hour job, my hand is done for.
There will be no sleep for me tonight and there wasn't.
It is 6:18 in the morning of the day after the big swap
and I have been up all night with weeping blisters.
Huge itching whelps and severe pain.
What did I not use my gloves.
Here are some pics I took early this morning after getting
out the magnifying glass and tweezer trying to remove anything
that may be embedded in the now festering blisters.
As I type, they are oozing yellowish water from each of them.
But it burns to touch them with a Kleenex   so I just dab at them all.
This is what happens when I forget or don't want to be burdened
with taking gloves on and off for 7+ hours.



So please everyone, wear gloves when you are working in your tank.

---

I was stung
by my Snakelock Anemone
and I have to tell you, it has not been a fun
experience.
I have hurt, then itched then the scabs started to
come off, more itching.
More salve for the itching applied and it continues
to itch.
These are the Anemones that I got to close to
while cleaning the back of the tank.


And here is the colony that I have that got me good.



I have become immune to the stings of BTA's and they
no longer bother me but these guys I am not.
As I try to avoid them as best I can.
Here is what they left on my under-arm.




Sorry about the blurryness of them. It is hard taking
pictures with your left hand and your not.
And also pushing the button on the camera.
But I think you get the idea as to just what these creatures
can and will do if you get to close.
I have been using Neosporin
for infection and to cut the itching down.
Next time I will be wearing my gloves when I do the back glass.
So keep in mind that most things in your tank will sting, bite or
poop on you.

Another danger is the Electrical part of Reef keeping.
I had this happen some time ago, the outlet had fallen
from it's screw under a tank and of course, got saltwater
into it, causing a small fire and of course, it burned out the outlet
extension and tripped the breaker in the panel.
Here is what it looked like, to bad I can't add the smell that came
with this. Yuck.







As you can see in the last picture, the electricity blew a hole in the powerstrip
which was found laying on the carpet.
So always, have the powerstrips mounted with a drip loop under your tank cabinet
not on the floor.