How to catch a fish...

[SirToadie]

Is there an easy way to catch fish from one aquarium to move them to another without taking apart your reef in the aquarium they're currently in?

 

[thegrun]

Either buy or borrow a fish trap or make your own from a plastic soda bottle. If you search for fish trap instructions on how to make one should pop up.

 

[flooddc]

Fish trap is your best bet. However, some fish are so smart that they will not enter the trap.
Another method is to quickly drain your tank, catch the fish and refill.

 

[Brieninsac]

Fish trap works best but you have to be patient and ready to act as soon as the fish you want goes in. I think the other fish see one getting trapped and stay clear after that. So kinda a one time shot at it. You can also put a little Mysis in the trap, which will help get them to go in.

 

[pwwfish]

Make your trap with a 1-liter bottle. Cut the bottom out and punch out 2 holes for some string. Then, punch a hole in the cap to let water out. Lay the bottle on its side with some food in it, and when the fish goes in pull on the string to snare it. To maximize your chances you can put small mirror inside the bottle. It took me 15 min to catch my neon dottyback.

 

[Tanthaitrung]

I usually catch my fish at midnight

 

[Sk8r]

half liter wine carafe slightly tilted, a net, and raw shrimp.

 

[SirToadie]

HA HA!!... water bottle fish trap works. It will take me months to move fish over so there may be some that won't fall for it.

 

[MrNurse]

HA HA!!... water bottle fish trap works. It will take me months to move fish over so there may be some that won't fall for it.

All alluded to in another post, some reefers will wake up early (before the lights come on) and then turn the lights on full blast. Some say this temporarily blinds the fish which makes them easier to net if in open water.

 

[AlSimmons]

Is there an easy way to catch fish from one aquarium to move them to another without taking apart your reef in the aquarium they're currently in?

How big is your tank? The High & Dry method outlined in the link below has always worked well for me.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/sp/index.php

 

[Nimitz87]

I've found after the fish go to sleep flashing them with an extremely bright light stuns them and makes them super easy to scoop up.

Chad

 

[Mark9]

Aqua medic fish trap. Works, but some fish take longer than others.
If you only feed in the trap, clownfish quickly learn this and practically live in it.
Tangs are quick to enter as well.
Angelfish a bit longer, takes me like 5 days or so.
Some wrasses are nearly impossible.

 

[kmbyrnes]

I had a large Clarkii clown that wasn't into nets or traps. After 3 weeks the only option was a barbless fly hook and a piece of shrimp. 10 seconds and done.

 

[jmf305]

DIY bottle fish trap worked for me, if it doesn't work the first time don't feed the tank for a couple of days and then put the fish trap back in the tank with food and the fish almost always go in when hungry.