Best way to catch a tang?

[lewk]

I recently added a powder brown to my 135, and he has since wreaked havoc on my yellow tang. He started nipping at his fins recently and the YT has been in hiding for about a week now. I ended up taking the YT back to the LFS just to get him away from the powder brown in hopes that he can pull through. He was an easy catch since he was so worn out.

What's the best way to try and nab this powder brown? I'm a little worried that he may keep doing this to all new fish. Although, he leaves pretty much every other fish in the tank alone.

 

[steelhead77]

Powder Browns are known to be aggressive towards other Tangs. Try moving your rock around so that it is a new habitat for him and try again with the YT. Also, sometimes it is recommended to add fish after lights out so that when they wake up, the fish is in there and he may leave it alone.

But to answer your question, probably removing most of the water and most of the rock would be the best way.

 

[julie180]

For aggressive fish, I have had great success with a trap that has a mirror attached to the back side. The fish swim in to check out the "new" tank mate. I have a hawk fish that will just go sit and look at himself in the mirror. It cracks me up.

I hope the yellow tang makes it.

Good luck.

 

[lewk]

I like the mirror idea, I may give that a shot.

And steelhead77, I just moved the fish into this tank last night, so it's all brand new to them. However, the powder browns jerkitude went up a couple notches after the move. I was hoping the new environment would change things up a bit, but no luck.

 

[davocean]

2 ways, either drain tank and scoop em out, the pump water back in(can be done in about 10min)
Or trap him w/ the 2 liter bottle trap and nori as bait.

 

[Palting]

I think your best bet is the 2 liter bottle deal as above. Use sea weed or caulerpa. My tangs go nuts over caulerpa. I had an in-tank refugium with caulerpa before I switched tanks, and this refugium had it's open top at water level. Darn if all 3 tangs ended up in the little refugium at one time or another and could not get out again since it was so small.

 

[sabazerehi]

i tried the bottle trap with a blue tang in my tank that was too big and it was too fast for it, by the time i came to take the bottle out or even got near it, it would just swim right out. i would definitely try a trap with a door, used one and caught the tang within 5 min, and the mirror idea sounds good, but food always works anyways. good luck!

 

[AMIFL]

If the bottle trick works, then that's awesome. Easiest and less disturbing method for the tank. Depending on how much coral you have, tearing it apart is a little too much for me. Go to a fly fishing shop. They have some ridiculously small hooks. A little piece of krill and problem solved. Have some one near by with a net to scoop the fish once you've hooked it so you don't have them hanging out of the water. I use hooks so small that the fish probably don't feel much. Good luck!!

 

[julie180]

If you do use a hook cut the barb off first. I have also used this method and it works. The hardest part was getting something to stay on the hook and attracting the right fish.

 

[RBGreef]

Can you use a piece of acrylic or eggcrate to section off the tank and trap the fish in a smaller are for capture. I used this method on my 225 to capture a few rabbitfish and tangs. Worked great!

 

[davocean]

Here's a really simple trap that has worked for me.
The larger opening works well for skittish tangs.
I use a rock weight to hold it down, a couple magnets pinching a piece of nori at bottom, and fishing line on the drawbridge, and I make that long enough to keep my distance so tang is less skittish.
And it's cheap and easy to make.
As for really stubborn fish the tank draining is also quick and non invasive, and no need to tear anything apart, just make a well in the sand for fish to collect, doesn't harm corals to be water free for a spell.
Either works well for me.