Removing a six line wrasse!!!

[christianfow]

Fellow men and women of the trade I need ideas ASAP!!!

I have had a six line in my reef for almost 2yrs now and I'm tired of him...I would like to get a mystery wrasse but worried about it getting torn to pieces!.

I've tried DIY traps, purchased traps, the good ol' fashioned net and dare I say a DIY pole spear to "remove" him...he's murdered a mystery wrasse, two carpenter wrasse and a yellow wrasse. The only thing I can think of is a Sabiki hook to catch him

Thanks for any advice ahead of time!

Christian

 

[DustyReefer]

This is why I never got a sixline... They are impossible to remove without taking down the tank. If you've tried everything else then I'd say the only route is to remove all your rock if possible. That being said I don't know your tank size so that might be a pretty large task.

 

[christianfow]

Just re-scaped it not to long ago and don't wanna go through that headache again... I even tried starving the sucker out pffft little bugger became vegetarian smh

 

[natebedwell06]

take your trap and put a mirror inside of it, ive caught six lines doing this plenty of times, they hate seeing themselves

 

[johnike]

I finally caught my BiColor Angel last night. Here's how I did it, took about an hour.

 

[SDguy]

I use a trap I bought from Marine Depot. There has never been a fish I couldn't catch with it; everything from tangs, wrasses, angels, anthias, blennies... you name it. Just need patience.

 

[skimeister56]

I finally caught my BiColor Angel last night. Here's how I did it, took about an hour.

What is the water going into? Looks like an old waterbed matress. (Guess I am dating myself)

 

[christianfow]

@johnike sweet waterbed !! Haha @sdguy anyway you can provide a link to the trap you purchased?

 

[Hnguyend83]

I did got mine the other night. I use eggcrate to block off the section he is in and moved most of the liverocks/corals to the other side, wasnst too bad as tearing down the whole tank.

 

[solitude127]

I caught mine by using a fish trap but instead of feeding the trap, put a mirror in there. It only took me about a day to catch the wrasse after I put the mirror in there.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2138768&highlight=trap+wrasse

 

[Ladipyg]

I caught mine with a Sabiki rig...very small, filed off the barb and baited it with a piece of squid...very tough, stays on the hook. Only took me about 2 minutes to catch him. Didn't have to rip the tank apart at all.

 

[johnike]

I work at a plastic fabrication shop, just something I whipped up.

 

[christianfow]

@ladipyg that's what im going to do!!! Will take pics if it works (warning to all fish police, don't judge me he's a serial killer)

 

[Ladipyg]

It worked great for me. Just remember to file the barb off the hook...make the piece of squid just about mouth size, push it on so just the smallest tip of the hook is showing. Don't feed for a day. Throw a couple of really small squished up pieces of squid in the tank to get his appetite going and then show him the piece on the hook. Be careful when you jerk him out so you don't send him flying.

 

[NYCBOB]

i have kept 6 lines many times throughout the reef hobby and never had a problem with them. i added wrasses afterward with no issue.

 

[christianfow]

i have kept 6 lines many times throughout the reef hobby and never had a problem with them. i added wrasses afterward with no issue.

I wish I could say the same... He's costed me 4 wrasses so far and all were much more expensive then he was

 

[christianfow]

It worked great for me. Just remember to file the barb off the hook...make the piece of squid just about mouth size, push it on so just the smallest tip of the hook is showing. Don't feed for a day. Throw a couple of really small squished up pieces of squid in the tank to get his appetite going and then show him the piece on the hook. Be careful when you jerk him out so you don't send him flying.

I think this is the best option...gonna set up the rig tomorrow..will keep you posted!!

 

[Ladipyg]

I hope you have as good a result as I did catching mine. Can't wait to hear. I miss Florida. My mom used to have a home in Dunedin and left it to me after she passed away. Problem was, the townhome assocation gave me a hard time about having 7 dogs. So I told them to shove it and sold it. Now I have a 22 acre farm, plenty of room and no close neighbors.

 

[downreef]

I tried traps for a month for domino damsels I tried Ladipygs way 10 mins, baited the hook with shrimp bang done .

 

[Ladipyg]

I tried traps for a month for domino damsels I tried Ladipygs way 10 mins, baited the hook with shrimp bang done .

That is so cool. It is great when it works just like I say it will. Plus, you don't have to rip your whole tank apart and stress out the other tank inhabitants. You don't knock over corals, drain water or trying to dig them out of every nook and cranny.

Thank you so much for letting me know it worked. I have been keeping saltwater tanks for 42 years now...you learn a few tricks when you've been doing it that long. Work smart....not hard:beer: