Trick to catching a psycho lunar?

[sean48183]

My lunar wrasse has snapped. I had heard of fish like triggers and groupers doing this but I didn't think lunars did it. I added an emperor angel about a week ago and yesterday he just went bonkers and started not only tearing up my emperors fins but all my other fish to. At least half of my fish have torn up fins and they are beginning to scratch probably because of stress. One chromis has already succumbed to his carnage. I have had him for around a year and he had never chased a fish even once. The way he is shooting in tearing up fins and taking off is pretty alarming. Anyways I need a way to catch him. I tried netting him but that was useless. I tried a barbless hook and every fish but him tore into almost like he knew I wanted him. Is there any other tricks anybody knows I can use? I hope to keep him in the sump for awhile until the emperor settles in and see if he doesn't mellow a bit.

 

[kirkaz]

Sorry to hear that...Yeah the "Lunatic" Wrasse can be super nasty, and they are so damn fast they are tough for even larger fish to contend with.

My only advise would be hold the net and submerge it in water and then add food around the net. Don't even try to catch him the first few time, just leave the net still. Let him get comfortable with it being there, then after a few times, once he gets comfortable with the net, you might get lucky.

 

[dones20]

the best way to catch any fish that is eating of coarse is to get yourself the fish trap there about 40.00-50.00 dollars put his favorite food in there and be patient as its like you mentioned above when your trying to catch a sertain fish all but the one you want falls for it. i usaully dont put the food in the little comartment i usually just get a cube of mysid and a lot of pellets and put it in the actual cylinder so that it looks more intising it does work just be patient i have had great luck with the trap

 

[sean48183]

The trap is great advice. I was just thinking maybe that the lunar being a parasite eater of sorts is trying to eat the parasites off their fins and not really gone aggressive. He is a little large to still be in this phase but when he was little he use to clean my sailfin all the time. He is only going for the fins and not really chasing in an angry manner. He also has not done it over the last 6 hours or so. Is this possible or wishful thinking?

 

[sean48183]

Anybody got any ideas about this?

 

[dones20]

regardless of weather its intentinal aggresion or just his way of cleaning another fish i would still remove him based on what you have told us that he is ripping the fins of his tank mates.... im olmost sure its stressing the fish. imagine if you went ta the doctor and evertime he went to fix something wrong with you he would bite you or scratch you you know...lol its sounds rediculouse but it makes sense

 

[sean48183]

Funny analogy but you are right. He has quit for the most part but if he starts at it again I will get the trap.