Removing unwanted fish....

[~RuSh~]

I have two Talbot damsels in my 29g tank. The tank is filled with a lot of live rock and it's pretty impossible to simply net them out of the tank. Any sweet tricks or tips on how to get them out? They are causing a ruckus with the pair of clowns in the tank and are too aggressive for my liking.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[SushiGirl]

You could try a bottle trap.

 

[chaynes]

Get the smallest hook you can find barb-less preferably, if not file off the barb. Tie it to a few feet of fishing line and put on a piece of shrimp. This worked for me when nothing else worked and it was almost instant.

Another method is to wait till lights have been out and they have been in total darkness for a few hours, I use a red headlight then net them while they are "sleeping".

If those fail including bottle trap mentioned above, get a rubber-maid tote and take the live rock out and most of the water out then netting them will be easier. I always tell myself that is a good way to get some exercise and re-scape at the same time.

 

[~RuSh~]

The bottle trap sounds like a good idea. I have seen this used for baitfish in lakes but I never thought of using it for my own fish.

The lights out method is another method I'll probably try, but from what I've seen, the damsels at least sleep within the rock. The clowns are hosting a LTA so they are out in the open but not the damsels.

The hook method is a no go. Without a barb its less risky but I'd rather take the rock work down than risk hurting the damsels. Not to mention the fact that they are super small ~ 1 inch. 1.5 inches max. I've got some small hooks from fly fishing, but I've seen too many hooks go into the mouth and come out the eye socket.

Thanks for the tips. Anyone else got any ideas I haven't heard of?

 

[minhvu]

I use my acclimation box. 100% success rate

 

[goodtimes2]

Get a 30 gallon clean trash bin,, dig a small whole in the sand in one corner of the tank, siphon the water down to the sand , pick up the fish and refill your tank, should take about 1 hour.

 

[~RuSh~]

I use my acclimation box. 100% success rate

Can you elaborate further?

 

[~RuSh~]

Get a 30 gallon clean trash bin,, dig a small whole in the sand in one corner of the tank, siphon the water down to the sand , pick up the fish and refill your tank, should take about 1 hour.

If this was a FOWLR tank I'd do this in a heartbeat but I've got some corals pretty high up in the tank, leathers, xenia, not to mention an LTA that wouldn't be very happy with that method.

 

[SushiGirl]

The corals & nem should be fine, they go through stuff like that at low tide all the time. When we water change, we expose xenia, leathers, zoas, and palys. When we refill, they go back to just like they always are right away.

 

[minhvu]

Can you elaborate further?

I have an acclimation box that has a sliding lid of it. I turn it at an 45 degree angle, put some food in the bottom and the fish swim in to eat. I usually catch the unwanted fish within the hour. Some take longer. My male lyretail took 5 days to catch but it still work

 

[chaynes]

Ok if you are nervous to use a hook you can tie a piece of shrimp on the end of the line without the hook. They will hang onto it pretty good then kinda draw them up and net from underneath. I have even pulled them out and into a bucket like this as well.

 

[goodtimes2]

You can use a spray bottle or keep wet paper towel over your coral should not be a problem, I have done this a few times with no issues.