Brooks_McClary
New member
Anyone have good techniques that work for catching a damsel fish that is getting a wee bit too big for their tank? Mine needs to go and I don't want to rip the whole tank apart to get him. HELP!!!
Gotta catch a fish...
- Thread starter Brooks_McClary
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aural
New member
the best way to get a damsel out of a tank is to not put said damsel in the tank in the first place.
that being said - you will probably have to tear most of your tank down to get it out. damsels will wedge themselves into a hole in your live rock and stick there. but hey - you could get lucky. i hope you do!
that being said - you will probably have to tear most of your tank down to get it out. damsels will wedge themselves into a hole in your live rock and stick there. but hey - you could get lucky. i hope you do!
clown fanatic
New member
i used this one trap that H2joe made up, you cut the top of a gatorade bottle off and then you reinsert it into the bottle backwards (the hole you drink from facing in towards the bottle) use something like staples to hold it there, cut a hole in the front and attach some fishing string. i left it in the tank for a couple of days and then put some formula one food down into the trap, sure enough the damsel swam in. i gave the trap a little jerk so that his entrance was now in a diffrent spot thinking that he would be confused and not know how to get out. well he did and hasnt gone anywhere near the trap... so if you choose this trap, you really only get one, maybe a couple shots.
p.s i hope you could make heads or tails from my description
p.s i hope you could make heads or tails from my description
Salty Brother
New member
Right before the lights go off, look what rock he usally goes into, then at night time, try to take rock out and get damsel out.
Good luck
Good luck
the method that has worked for me is:
buy a clear piece of plexi-glass that's higher than your tank and about the width of the tank. Put it in the water near one of the corners then feed your fish, once they pass to the corner, close the access with the plexi-glass. Maybe you'll have all the fish in the corner but it's easier than trying to get it out, him swimming all around the LR
buy a clear piece of plexi-glass that's higher than your tank and about the width of the tank. Put it in the water near one of the corners then feed your fish, once they pass to the corner, close the access with the plexi-glass. Maybe you'll have all the fish in the corner but it's easier than trying to get it out, him swimming all around the LR
chocolateblnt
New member
Easy to catch the fish ...
take a water bottle cut the neck off turn it around and stick it back into the bottle to make a funnel into a chamber type of trap. Stick food in it put it in the tank and wait for a fish to go in. Caught a damsel in under a min. this way.
Here's Proof it worked not only for me but this guy too!
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=836664
take a water bottle cut the neck off turn it around and stick it back into the bottle to make a funnel into a chamber type of trap. Stick food in it put it in the tank and wait for a fish to go in. Caught a damsel in under a min. this way.
Here's Proof it worked not only for me but this guy too!
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=836664
spf9992001
New member
I'm sure folks have tried it, but no one will probably admit it...
Has anyone tried a small barbless fishing hook with a little bait and some line?
Has anyone tried a small barbless fishing hook with a little bait and some line?
Brooks_McClary
New member
I am going to try the cornering tick with a net and food. If that does not work, I'm going to try the bottle technique.
If both don't work, I've devised a small rubber band powered spear gun...
Just kidding about the spear gun. ;-)
If both don't work, I've devised a small rubber band powered spear gun...
Just kidding about the spear gun. ;-)
30galreefkeepr
New member
best way to catch a fish is train them to eat out of nets, that way they correlate net with food so they swim in theirselves.
Brooks_McClary
New member
You are brilliant 30 gal.
chocolateblnt
New member
:hmm3: all you guys think @$$ backwards ... listen to Clown Fanatic and I ...
Tearing down the tank is bullfeathers so it's out of the question; what if you're almost done stocking your tank and you add a fish that starts hassling other's ... are you gonna tear down the whole thing?! NO!
Waiting for nighttime to catch a fish is ridiculous; Not only will your damsel go to sleep somewhere you can't see but your light is also off so you yourself can't see.
Chasing any fast/smart fish can take hours; are you prepared to chase a fishes fight/flight instinct in their own territory?!
Draining a tank down is as great of an idea as tearing it down; why don't we stress the entire tank because of one witch fish!
Eating from a net?! No one wants to get a net out every time they feed their fish; It's cumbersome and tidious.
A lesson to be learned is like Aural said ... don't put fish in that could be potential problems ... if you're cycling then don't configure or add enough rocks so they can hide.
Tearing down the tank is bullfeathers so it's out of the question; what if you're almost done stocking your tank and you add a fish that starts hassling other's ... are you gonna tear down the whole thing?! NO!
Waiting for nighttime to catch a fish is ridiculous; Not only will your damsel go to sleep somewhere you can't see but your light is also off so you yourself can't see.
Chasing any fast/smart fish can take hours; are you prepared to chase a fishes fight/flight instinct in their own territory?!
Draining a tank down is as great of an idea as tearing it down; why don't we stress the entire tank because of one witch fish!
Eating from a net?! No one wants to get a net out every time they feed their fish; It's cumbersome and tidious.
A lesson to be learned is like Aural said ... don't put fish in that could be potential problems ... if you're cycling then don't configure or add enough rocks so they can hide.
30galreefkeepr
New member
well, chocolate blunt, IF you are too lazy to feed them from a net, I don't see why you even have a reef tank to begin with. Lets think logically, if you feed with a syringe, which in many cases you should, why would feeding from a net be tedious and cumbersome?
No lets think logically for just a moment. Could we possibly just put the food into the net and attach it to something so you don't have to hold it? Yes, we could, this is neither tedious or cumbersome.
In my experience the only way to catch fish without stressing each and everyone out is to feed from a net. It works. Believe me.
No lets think logically for just a moment. Could we possibly just put the food into the net and attach it to something so you don't have to hold it? Yes, we could, this is neither tedious or cumbersome.
In my experience the only way to catch fish without stressing each and everyone out is to feed from a net. It works. Believe me.
30galreefkeepr
New member
oh and feeding from a net keeps excess waste out of the aquarium too. Nitrate free and happy
chocolateblnt
New member
Dude you're missing the point! ... 1st of all of course I use a small kitchen strainer to dissolve any frozen food so I don't feed extra watered down junk; so this disproves your theory of me being lazy ... however I don't sit there with the strainer or net in the tank I'd rather dip the strainer in release the shrimp and enjoy watching my fish eating. I don't feed with a syringe because I have nothing to target feed. I see your point and the above is my opinion and use however I don't see the logic when there is a much easier immediate solution that requires no training of your fish.
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