Netting a dottyback

[Teen Aquarist]

I have a purple stripe dottyback and he non stop chases my little diamend goby around. I tryed to get him a few weeks ago but the instant i put the net in the water he goes and hides. I have the net just sitting there on the water right now. How can i net him thanks.

 

[demonsp]

They can be aggresive and plenty of LR with hiding spots helps but i think hes to small for your tank as with the goby. But i would let the net hang in the water for a few days and feed around the net then 3 or 4 days later feed and try and scoop him up.Or remove LR and drain a little.

 

[Deprecated]

Dottybacks are ridiculously fast and can be tough to catch as you have figured out. I would try some homemade traps, like a soda bottle with the top cut off and inverted. Put some food in the bottle and take a seat, hopefully he swims in and you can yank it out.

Good luck, when I removed a dottyback from my last tank I had to remove all of the rocks and drain it down to about 6inches of water. That was a pain!

 

[Teen Aquarist]

Well i cant take any rock out because I have coral on them. He is already swimmy around with the net hanging there. Does the pop can rust in the water?

 

[B.Pereira]

I would suggest to wait untill he/she goes to sleep, gently places a container in the tank and scoop he/she then place in qt or w.e works for me

 

[snorvich]

Not pop can, pop bottle. Or, you can buy a fish trap. Good investment even though I use it infrequently.

 

[reefheath]

may be easier to remove the goby. On the other hand, your tank is crowded...the dottyback would probably find someone else to bully after you remove the goby.