Removing fish from sps tank

[BrentH]

I have a few getting big and to many ... Wondering if there's a way to remove the fish without dismantling the tank which would kill everything ? Any methods that people have used that worked would be appreciated

 

[DomC]

Looking into a fish trap. LFS usually can rent them to you. Just place some fresh bait.

 

[Wazzel]

If you have room a baited wide mouth jar works. I just got a nippy dwarf angle out my tank using one. Once the fish went in I netted the opening and took the jar out with the fish in it. It took about 45 minutes for the fish to get the nerve to go into get the food.

 

[BrentH]

A jar what bait? I looked up online the 2 liter bottle trap

 

[superdragon]

There are many fish traps out there as mouse traps, but fish learn and are smart.

My neighbor and I tried to catch his 4" blue damsel for 2 months in his 180g. What eventually worked was a large Seaside Aquatics trap. It figured out every trap we used. What seems to work best is traps that have a sliding door, a small hole to squirt food, long fishing line to control the door, and patience. Took 4 days but we finally caught it with it's favorite food, PE Mysis.
The damsel = credit at the fish store for... more PE Mysis. Good luck.

 

[Wazzel]

A jar what bait? I looked up online the 2 liter bottle trap

Mine is a 1/2 gallon wide mouth we had got with some cherries. For bait I used mysis shrimp.

Here is a jar like mine.

http://www.specialtybottle.com/widemouthclearhalfgallonglassjar64ozwwhitemetallid.aspx

 

[shih87]

 

[Heisenreef]

I was able to catch and overly aggressive flame with a DIY trap. I put some nori and mirror in the back of it which caught his attention along with everyone else in the tank. Took me no longer then 10 minutes.

 

[droth335]

Not to hijack but what about an 11" sailfin tang? He is starting to frag some corals (usually when chasing food) and it is time to rehome him before he really does some damage. Since he is too big to hide in the rocks so I was thinking at night with a flashlight might work. Has anyone tried that?

 

[ros_sco]

If you have a little time, start feeding out of a net, make sure the food just barely comes out. Soon you will be able to catch all your fish in one scoop.

 

[cdmurphy]

This is what I've done with good success. Take a two liter plastic coke bottle and cut the top off about 3/4 up the bottle. Cut the lid portion off the bottle large enough for the fish you want to catch to be able to go in. Then invert the led into the bottle and secure with fishing line and attach line to bottle to be able to retreive it when the fish go in. Place some food in the bottle and submerge into tank and wait. When fish goes in quickly pull the bottle out with the fishing line.

 

[Aquattro]

Anytime I need to catch a fish, I just drain the tank. I have several 50g drums that I use. Fairly quick and trouble free. Remove water, pick up fish, replace water.

 

[ramon1181]

I feed my fish with the food in the net they have to go in the net to eat took them about a week to get used to it just removed my anthias trio today they went in the net to eat mysis and ended up in the sump hope it helps

 

[cassklar]

+1 on removing water it's what I do very simple don't have to move rock or anything

 

[BrentH]

I wish I could remove water 600 gallons though? I have about 32 fish and somewhat high nutrients ... The hook and the hippo tang ....crazy but worked I'm trying the nighttime flashlight method and feed in the net I already caught a large swallowtail angel by just being quick from
The top with a net

 

[droth335]

Definitely going to try the feed in the net approach. Removing water would work but don't have the storage for 200+ gallons. Good ideas. Thanks!

 

[dadummy]

sabiki rigs work great, tip the hook with shrimp or squid, with a little finesse you can thread on a piece of nori, yummy. You have to be quick with the hook up after a few misses the fish wise up