How to catch a wrasse....

Aynesa

Aynesa

New member
Okay, so I have a tank with an insane amount of rockwork. I don't know anyone local that has a saltwater tank, and I used to have 2 other tanks. AS I took the other two tanks down, all the live rock ended up in my 100 gallon, so I have rock walls from sandbed to the rim of the tank on 2 sides, plus decorative rocks around the sandbeds.

Lately alot of my tiny fish have fone missing. Mostly damsels, a Coral Beauty, then this morning I found one of my clownfish torn apart. I kept a closer eye on my tank all day today, and found the problem, my Lunare wrasse is tearing them apart! Now the hard part, and the question:

How the heck do a I get a wrasse out of a tank with so much rockwork? Time is of the essence, without realizing what had happened, I bought some new damsels last night and I'd rather they not all die. I'd also rather not take out all the rocks and put them back in. That's so hard for me, I've got arthritis... if any of you have some ideas for clever traps let me know. Right now I just put the net in the tank and I'm trying to let them acclimate to it so they won't be afraid, but it doesn't seem to be working

HELP!!!
 
Wait until your lights go out and watch and see where the lunare buries himself at night. When he does this scoop him out of the sand. Shouldn't be too hard, but maybe easier said than done ;)
 
I've seen him swimming at night. :( I don't think this one buries himself, or if he does, it's in the rockwork.... Thanks for the suggestion, any others before I start tearing apart my rock walls?
 
the fish trap i have to say its the BEST invention ever i have caught every and any fish i have needed to catch with out distubing anything i usaully putthe fishes favorite foods inside the cylynder itself and wait for it to goin simple yet very affective
 
Just two weeks ago I caught my Lunar wrasse without disturbing anything in the tank. And it only cost me $2! A homemade fish trap.

All I did was use a 2 liter soda bottle. I cut off the neck slightly & punched a small hole near the bottom on the other end. I put a little sand in the bottle so it looked natural. Each day i would squirt food into the bottle using my long squirter. Eventually the wrasse became comfortable & fed inside the tube. Once he was in, then I blocked the entrance with the back of my long handled scraper & reached in & pulled him out. Only took 3 days & 2 hours. !;)
 
Try the fish trap first but.....if that does not work a #26 fly fishing hook and some 2lb fly line baited with a nice mysis is irresitible. Of course remove the barb first before you go fishing.

This was the only way I could catch my six line barring draining 350 gallons of water.

A 100 gallon cube I might consider draining first but catching them definietly works.

Have a towel and a pair of small forceps to remove the hook once caught if you decide to go that route. Two people are better than one when removing the hook, hopefully it's not a freaked out spouse who thinks your crazy.

Of course this is strictly catch and release fishing :lol: Check with your local fish and game for license requirements :D
 
Last edited:
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13430068#post13430068 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grouperhead
:rolleye1:

I guess this is post padding too. Some of you are funny.
Click to expand...

Yea, after 7000+ posts I am padding.

Sorry of you think trying to make sure members follow the rules they agreed to is funny.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13430276#post13430276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Toddrtrex
Yea, after 7000+ posts I am padding.

Sorry of you think trying to make sure members follow the rules they agreed to is funny.
Click to expand...

I was referring to my response as being padding. Sorry you like being high and mighty.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13430984#post13430984 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grouperhead
I was referring to my response as being padding. Sorry you like being high and mighty.
Click to expand...

High and mighty? Not sure what your issue is, but you seem to have some issue with me, and more power to you, doesn't bother me one bit.

I am just doing what I was asked to do, too bad you have a problem with it.
 
What is wrong with saying "Good Luck".

you will need luck catching a wrasse without tearing your rockscape apart. So, I say, "GOOD LUCK"

By the way, if you find a trick (other tan the bottle trick) let us know. Again, may "Good Luck' be with you.

Am I padding - NO, been around toooooo long for that.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13431362#post13431362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rhiggsbear
What is wrong with saying "Good Luck".

you will need luck catching a wrasse without tearing your rockscape apart. So, I say, "GOOD LUCK"

By the way, if you find a trick (other tan the bottle trick) let us know. Again, may "Good Luck' be with you.

Am I padding - NO, been around toooooo long for that.
Click to expand...

In general, nothing. But, when someone has made about 40 similar posts to that in less then 2 hours, with the sole reason of getting to 50 posts, that is when it becomes an issue.
 
Try using fresh meaty chunks of raw seafood as bait.

Fresh chopped clam, shrimp, octopus, and squid get insane feeding responses from my fish. If I had to bait a fish trap, that would be the first thing I would try.

Good luck catching the little monster.
 
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