Catching Damsels

[raswank1]

So last night I tried a trick referred to me from a reefer friend. Cut the top off of a 2 litre bottle, invert it, place some food in it. The damsels will go into it, and not be able to come out. The come out part is correct. Except it was starfish, snails, shrimp. No fish at all, and the serpent star I have had for 8 years died in the process. Any other ideas on how to catch these little REEF DEVILS. I have added two Flame angels, and they have killed them both, just by chasing it around for so long. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[baondayko]

m80

 

[baondayko]

You could try a small fishing hook and food...heard it being done with pretty good success,

 

[michealprater]

The trap you are refering to is the most effective method. However, you should supervise the trap to make sure other inhabitants do not get caught in it. Traps never fail, but trap users do.

Continue to spread the word about damsels. So many people put them in the tank without ever thinking of the future.

 

[raswank1]

Thanks michealprater.

 

[michealprater]

One method that will help. Dont put the lid on it and feed in it everyday until the damsel is rather used to going in and eating. Then one day, put the lid back on, and feed in it.

 

[Avi]

the method that I've had the most success with in removing fish for one reason or another is putting a net in the tank...leave it for a couple of days...then start putting food like mysis in the net and let the fish see it and let it out from the net so they can eat it slowly...then keep the net open in the tank with the food in it and after some time...usually a few days, fish will go into it to take food. Damsels are bold so they more than likely will go in there so you can quickly scoop them up and out of the tank.

 

[digitalchrisg]

I had seven of the little bastards, and ended up getting an egg crate and trapping them on one side of the tank. Then one by one removing rock until I could get to them. An hour later, and the suckers were out and into a 55 gal. I had put them into the larger tank to see something in there while waiting for the cycle was almost done. Didn't start the cycle with them though, used raw shrimp and bacteria packets.

 

[maynardjames]

have about 5 i need to get out. got them to add more movement to tank. but have gotten some other fish that do the trick & want to get damsels out to reduce bioload. have a blue im going to keep, its pretty & one of my oldest fish. have used the 2 liter bottle to catch green wrasse in the past worked great for that. may have to make another one

 

[Flems]

While some are beautiful, they all are a PITA to have/remove from a tank. I frantically tried for 2 hrs trapping mine in the corner with glass, but the moment there was a gap it fled. This was after moving 40lbs of rock forcing me to re-scape half the tank . I'll definitely be trying the bottle method and check back to let you know how it went.