How to Catch Fish and Critters in Displays

[Jadran]

if I may add that "teamwork" trap works like charm and not only for fishes

it might be really helpful if you trying to catch shy fishes that run for cover as soon as you approach the tank.. In pipe you can throw frozen cube which is going to melt slowly and start to fall down to trap as it melts.. Its attractive to fish and they'll come to investigate.. Nice trick is to place the trap into the tank for day or two for fishes to get use to it and than start fishing.. Ive been able to catch all kinda fishes with this tool...

simple to make and highly effective

happy fishing

 

[baobao]

How do you make this? Is there a good one commercially available? Thx.

 

[Jadran]

I never saw these in shops.. This one is DIY made my local fellow
reefer. Maybe I didn't look hard enough, dunno, but most of the
traps I saw dont have that feeding pipe.. Feeding pipe is cool
trick cause it allows you to move away from the tank and you don't have to take it out every time when you putting bate inside, which makes it more efficient with clever fishes such as pigmy angels, dottybacks, hawks etc. Maybe you can buy pipeless one and drill hole yourself, put bulkhead on it and connect it with pvc pipe..

Otherwise if you're just bit handy with glass, acryl or plexy you
can easily make one yourself. Its nothing but transparent box.

When you planing your design make sure that upper side of the box is let's say one inch smaller than sides and bottom, so you can work with doors,..

on the each side glue with silicone two rails which are going to make trap door mechanism work..

TIP: dependable how thick your material is do not crate rails to tight to each other so doors can fall down easisly..Top side should sit on the sides and inner rails..

Drill top, place bulkhead on it and connect it with pvc pipe.. Pipe shall be higher than water level in you tank to prevent happy free escape artists to sneak trough it.. That way you can use the trap as container for fish till you dump it to fellow aquarist

Naturally doors will have to have drilled tiny hole on upper part
to attach rope.


hmmm... to many images..ill split it

 

[Jadran]

And thats it... more or less..
It works great for small tanks (100-200 gal.) As I mentioned in my
120g. I was able to catch all kinda fishes with it, used on
bottom.. But if you run deep or huge tank you can use trick like
one on Anthonys pic to attach it to glass Or to make something
like this to screw it on the side..

hmm.. I'm not really happy with way I explained that, my English prohibits me to do it better and more detailed, trap is really simple so I hope that together with pics that would do.. But if I left anything unclear feel free to ask about it..

 

[mhe]

OK, so I caught the fish I wanted to get out (a clear specimen container with some algae clipped to the bottom for bait and a spare piece of clear acrylic to slap over the opening made for my "fish trap"), but of course now they guy I was going to get the fish to doesn't answer the phone (it is late on a Sunday night, so I can't be too upset that he's not available).

My question: I have the fish in a 1 gallon ziploc, floating in my sump. How long can a fish stay healthy in a bag floating in my sump? Is there a pattern of water changes I should start with?

If it's going to be "too long" I can release the fish (a Rabbitfish) into the sump, it'll be a lot easier to catch him again in there then it was in the display, but I'd prefer to keep him bagged - I just don't know for sure what the right things are to do, and how long's too long to keep a caught fish bagged up.

Please help!

Thanks,

- Michael

 

[NicoleC]

Don't leave him bagged up for long. He could poison himself, especially since he's been eating. A few hours will be fine, especially if you freshen the water every now and then. Or, drill holes in the specimen container and hang that in the sump where the water can flow through.

Fish are shipped in tiny amounts of water and are in there a long time, but it's very stressful for them. And shippers usually don't feed the fish a day or two before shipping, so they won't poop in the water and give themselves ammonia poisoning.

 

[mhe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6266041#post6266041 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NicoleC
Don't leave him bagged up for long. He could poison himself, especially since he's been eating. A few hours will be fine, especially if you freshen the water every now and then.

Yeah, my concern is that it's going to be at least all night, and maybe a day or two. Perhaps I should just release him into my sump?

Catching him again will be stressful, but perhaps not as bad as leaving him in the bag?

Would it be safe to leave him in the bag for 12 hours until I can see if I can get him to the new owner? If it's going to be longer I can release him into the sump, and if I can get him moved in the morning it'll be less stressful?

Again, appreciate any thoughts/advice...

Thanks,


- Michael

 

[NicoleC]

Yes, I would release him in the sump, provided there are no unprotected pump intakes he could get sucked into and injured.

12 hours... I wouldn't.

 

[cityofangels]

Thanks Jadran for the illustrative pics!

 

[locito277]

Mr Calfo Ive read your coral propogation book and learned a great deal from your writings... I have 4 Lg Damsels I need to get rid of. Problem is I cant empty out my 240 Gallon tank and I have corals Growing on my liverock. How can I get them out because they wont go near a trap.:mad2: Since Wilma came through Miami and my big boys passed the damsels have become even more aggresive.... Help Please.. Ps Cant wait to the next book

 

[Anthony Calfo]

did I mention the blow dart method?

Or the CO2 barf-stick?

Hmmm...

 

[bacaksiz]

Not really. is anything even remotely similar to this trap being sold in the market?

 

[ACBlinky]

I just wanted to post and say THANK YOU for this thread. I had to catch a very fast Potter's angel today to put him in a hospital tank. He's already injured, so I didn't want to stress him by chasing or trapping him and I didn't have days (weeks even) to train him to eat from a net. Draining the tank and cornering him worked like a charm, thank you so very much - I doubt I would have thought of something so brilliant and yet simple on my own

 

[3S1K]

Re: How to Catch Fish and Critters in Displays

What do you recommend for catching a 4" yellow tang?I want to add a smaller Blue Hippo so I want to remove him for a bit so the Hippo will get used to the new home.

 

[DJG]

Suggestions on how to snag a large and very aggressive maroon clownfish are most welcome.

David

 

[simonmr]

I caught my maroon clown the other night while he was asleep. put the net next to the anemone and gave him a little push with a shick went into the net before he could wake up.

 

[pitt_prodigy]

Anyone got a good trick to catch a dragon goby? Cant bait him cause he's a sandsifter. Tried to corner him and he just runs into the rockwork and refuses to come out? Too much rock to net him + he's too quick.....any ideas??

 

[Anthony Calfo]

ACBlinky... you are very welcome my friend. And thanks for the update on your attempt and success. Very helpful for the consensus my friend

pitt_prodigy, DJG, and 3S1K... in answer to your questions, please do read (or re-reread) the beginning of this thread. A hearty amount of info and suggestions for you to consider and try.

 

[DJG]

Anthony-

With all due respect, and after carefully reading the post, I was inquiring about a method that might be "species-specific". SimonMR suggested such a method that actually worked well!

David

 

[dave11]

Thanks for advice - used the drain down method to catch the fish - made life for them and me much easier - the last time I had to catch them they were all pretty logy from box toxin and easy to net - now all healthy again and putting them back in main display tank its much more of a challenge - thanks again