Six Line Wrass trapped...plz help!

[yoggi58]

So about two weeks ago I reilized that my Six line was MIA, so I looked everywhere, in the tank, the overflows, the sump and could not find him. Finaly I gave up and thought that he had passed. Last night I was sitting next to the tank in the dark (lights turned off) admiring our christmas tree when something caught my eye. In the corner overflow I see the six line. He has been living there the whole time. He does not look hurt or skinny (plenty of pods for him to eat back there). The dummy keeps hiding behind the overflow pipes and swims up and down, this is why I could never find him. Now the question is how do I take him out. I tried to net him out but there is no room and he just hides in the back of the pipe. Last night I made a bottle trap and left it in there but he doesnt go near it. This morning the trap is still empty. Do you think I need to empty the overflow to get him. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Chiefsurfer]

Well, I guess he can't get out in any way, so eventually you will have to get him out.

It seems, if he is hiding behind the trap, he is afraid of something. Maybe stick your net in there, and leave it for a few hours, then take it out. Do this a few times, maybe 2 times a day for like 4-5 days so he sees the net, and it does NOTHING, but sit there. Then put a piece of food, something enticing, from what I have heard, garlic helps entice them to eat something, stuff you get at the grocery store is fine. Now stay on the same schedule with food in, if he doesn't go for it, still take it out, throw bit of food out, re-do when the next "net-in" schedule starts. Eventually I would think he will come right into the net once it is dropped in, and then you scoop him right out.

 

[snorvich]

Personally, I would leave him there. Potentially mean fish.

 

[DEERE G]

I wish mine would get trapped. Little mean...

 

[cas]

Can you remove the pipe and send him on a ride?

 

[Takara]

Mine got into the rear chamber of my biocube multiple times, had to fish him out with a net. They are good for quite a few things, but really decimate pod population.

 

[IFbettas]

Mine ended up in one of the overflows a few months ago. I was really happy and just planned on leaving him in there, but then after a month or so he made his way back into the main tank where he still tries to kill all his companions. So I guess he can jump back into the tank if he wants to.

 

[rgentry123]

Personally, I would leave him there. Potentially mean fish.

+1

if your not to attatched these guys can get nasty and i would probably take this opportunity to try and easily catch him and take him back to the lfs. but thats just ME. if you do decide to keep him just be wary of adding any other fish and especially any other wrasses to your tank as he will likely try to kill them.

 

[TheH]

What I normally do is slowly drain the overflow by lifting the pipe slightly until there is no or almost no water left. Then I completely remove the pipe and there is enough room for me to stick a net down there.

 

[NexDog]

I had a baby Bangais in the overflows. I pulled up the Durso, opened the valve wide and sent them on a journey.

 

[coralmojo]

Drain the overflow with siphon hose, scoop him out and refill...simple...

DrMerle

 

[Sk8r]

Fish in corner overflow of corner tank---get stepladder. Get help. Shut down pump. Get a mirror and a light.
Aim both so they illumine the overflow (if yours is like mine, you can put a strong light underneath in the stand and it will light the overflow..) and with the help of a friend and a mirror, maybe 2 mirrors---deploy net for fish-chase.

If all else fails, siphon most of the water out of the overflow via a piece of airline tubing. Less water, less chase.

Be gentle: your tactic is going to be to quietly wear him out, not scare him to death.

 

[Troy the Nomad]

Small fish, just siphon him out