Damsel removal

[Maybaer]

Does anybody have any ideas about how to catch unwanted damsels without tearing down your roskscape?

I inherited 3 damsels with this new tank and despite the abuse they took during the tank move (2 1/2 hour drive in a driving rain storm and they spent the night in a cooler). I really want to get rid of them once I'm ready to introduce new fish to the tank. There's 150 lbs of LR and I don't know if I can replicate my rockscape if I tear it all down to catch those guys.

 

[Andrew]

I put those small citter cages that have the screened lid and flap on top and put that in the tank and put food in it for a few days and then once he got use to it and knew it was safe, I put food in later on and he went in and I just pulled it up. Worked for my in my 75 gallon tank.

 

[Maybaer]

Cool idea! thanks.

 

[mastermind73]

andrew, how many days was the "few days"? nice idea

 

[Lv2_play]

if you dont have one of the critter cages handy or dont want to spend on it. try the 2 liter bottle trick. cut off the end of a 2 liter clear bottle, invert it, cut out hole big enough for damsel, add food, etc.

 

[Andrew]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6540087#post6540087 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mastermind73
andrew, how many days was the "few days"? nice idea

I did this awhile do but I added the food to the cantainer for 3-5 days and then after he got use to the container and knew it was safe.

 

[ste6168]

to catch the two i had in my tank i waited until they were sleeping and grabed them with a net, never knew it was comin...

 

[graveyardworm]

Figure out where they hide and get'em at night like ste said. Although I did have 5 gal acrylic tank in my 90 for mushroom prop. My yellow-tail blue damsel swam down in and couldnt figure out that if he swam up he'd be out. I watched him for hours until finally I had to help.

 

[ksufiji]

barbeque skewers... really fun, and challenging to stick em'

 

[fishaholic911]

put misis shrimp in a net when they come to eat scoop them up

 

[dlish89]

The 2 liter bottle trick works like a charm. Just set it and forget it !

 

[ReeferKeith]

This thread has a lot of excellent ideas on snagging those elusive fish from our reefs. :thumbsup: