Need to catch a sixline wrasse -- best DIY trap?

N

Newreeflady

New member
Hi all,

I've never had to catch a fish that I've been unwilling to break the tank down for, but I just got my 60g rockwork exactly where I want it and don't at all wish to remove it to get this guy out. I wish I had not put him in, but alas I had hopes it would work out and it looks like it won't because I need to put in a slow feeder and the wrasse will outcompete for food. I may even have to remove the percula clownfish for the same reason, but he's not as hard to catch as he stays with his corals.

So, I have seen a couple of DIY fish traps. What worked for you? Or, if you're local to Ithaca and want to loan one out, lmk. :)

Further, if you would like a sixline wrasse that is about 2" long and will eat anything, lmk.

Thanks!!
Angela
 
I used a DIY water bottle trap to catch my evil blue damsel. Worked in just a few minutes. I cut the neck of the bottle off so the fish could fit in, put a rock inside to weigh down the bottle, food inside to entice the fish inside, and had a fishing line tied to the bottle so I could quickly pull the bottle up to the top of the tank. Some people had suggested feeding out of this trap for a night or two to get them used to the trap being in the tank, but my damsel will eat readily and went in within a few minutes.
 
My advice, shoot yourself in the head and break down the rock stack ;). I've never had any luck with either the bottle trap, OR one of the larger commercially available types. It's like whenever I try and catch one, the fish I'm trying to catch KNOWS it's the target, and just won't go in the damned thing...
 
Hello Angela, haven't seen you here for a while.
Never could catch the one I wanted to remove several years ago. It was terrorizing my fairy wrasses. One night I inadvertently left the tank uncovered(no subconscious or conscious motivation, I think,) and the next day I found a sixline potato chip on the floor.The bottle might work.Didn't for me.
 
I waited on my sixline. I watched where he was sleeping and carefully snuck the rock out of its normal home and placed it in a tupperware container and removed it from the tank. I have no sand, so he slept in rocks instead of sand, try to find his sleeping spot and take him out that way.

They are tough to catch, good luck!
 
I've spent time this week trying to catch fish. I've tried the bottle trap, nets, and night hunting without success. I suppose I could use a small hook w/o a snell and line and fish him out, but I'm scared I'll hook another fish. So I'm breaking it down!
I hope you have an easier time of it. Good luck!!
 
A plastic bag works wonders. Go big as you can. Walmart bag should be fine in a 60. Try and set it up in a corner or a pinch point. I try and bait with a fully frozen piece of food deep inside the bag. Gentle chasing also works.
 
Just take a few hours and remove the rock. You will waste a ton of time catching that thing and you can get a tweaked new rockwork at the end.
 
I used to have a big net I would use, about 8" x 8". I would leave it half in the water and put food in it. When he fish came into the net I would snap it up. Sometimes I would get another fish with the offender but it's better to get too many than miss your target. I've also isolated fish using egg crate to make capture easier. Depending on your rock work you can keep working the fish into a smaller and smaller area.
 
Hi Tom, good to hear from you. I've had sixline potato chips before myself, but this tank was topless for 2 weeks and he didn't jump. Sounds like you just got lucky. :P

You know, Buffalo, I have considered trying to sequester the fish into a corner. I am not sure if there is eggcrate small enough that he couldn't get through, he isn't huge. In this case I could just remove maybe one or two small rocks that aren't part of the structure and put the crate in for a day or so then feed over there and trap him. I like the idea! A piece of acrylic would work, too, though I don't have any extra lying around.

I feel like I have to at least try not to break down the rock. I'm going to give myself 3 weeks to catch this guy and if at the end I've been unsuccessful I will concede and sadly pull the rock. You don't understand, the delicate balance has created the perfect rock structure. I have had many many tanks and this is my favorite ever rock structure. I don't think I can recreate it. :/
 
If he swims a pattern at night, you may have better luck with nets or bags after lights out. I had a Kleins Butterfly who would taunt me and the nets, but at night he swam a predictable circle and it took a minutes or two and he was mine, verses the hour I spend when the lights were on.
 
Hmmm. Actual fishing. That's an interesting prospect. Would Walmart have this stuff, or is it specialty gear? I haven't been fishing since I was a kid. lol!
 
Yeah, Ithaca kinda sucks as far as shopping is concerned. I'll check over at walmart and see. I hate shopping there. :/

Wonder how I can keep the other fish away from the bait. Probably have to have a wand in there to wave them off with the other hand. Also, I didn't realize fish hooks worked without barbs. How does it hold him on? Does it not hurt him? He has a tiny mouth (obviously.)

Thx!
 
Ahahahaha!!! This bottle trap is a joke. I am pretty sure he will never go in there, but I'll leave it in there just in case I'm wrong. :p
 
iamwrasseman said:
#3 fly fishing hook with .004 line and remove the barb ,works every time .of some plexiglass to make the tank smaller
Click to expand...

I've often thought to do this! lol Fly fishing hooks are usually #8 to #22, 22 being the smallest (about eight inch gap!)

With a little six line, I'm thinking nothing bigger than a #18!

If you need a hook assortment, let me know, I'm in CALS!
Good Luck!
David
 
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