Tricks of catching fish

[doconnell]

Does anyone have any tricks on catching fish from your tank, short of removing all of the rock? I have a bully Damsel that got to go but can't catch him.

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

The easiest way for me has always been to find out where they sleep and then use two nets and turn the lights on early. They are always a little sluggish. I know some people use a trap made from a plastic bottle with the top cut off and turned around and inserted into the bottle. I have always had luck with just using nets and throwing the lights on.

 

[jakesalk]

Hook worm bobber

 

[livfortoday]

just read on another forum someone used siphon that went back into their sump with net on end....should work with small damsel I guess if you have large enough hose and sneak up on it....dealing with rocks would be difficult though.

 

[hybridazn]

I use a small plastic hermit crab cage, the ones with the small lid that opens in the middle of the top. I then just dump the food inside it until the fish i want goes in, i shut the lid and done. One caught fish

 

[ironwill723]

I bought this one. Works great.

http://coralnuggets.com/product_info.php?products_id=272&osCsid=1d89a0f4d44c92f7d8d17d68ea0f0c6b

 

[doconnell]

Great advice everyone. I will go buy myself one.

 

[vlangel]

I like the trap ironwill723 suggested. In the past I've forced my fish to eat out of a net and when the offender eventually comes in to eat I'd swoop him up. It requires a lot of patience and usually several days to gain the troublesome fish's confidence.

 

[thepircs]

The damsels in my system were caught by the former owner with a barbless hook on the end of some fishing line....They were fine and the tank rockwork didn't get demolished catching them......

Dave

 

[BeanAnimal]

In the end, it is almost always easier to just remove the rock

 

[Steven Pro]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/sp/index.php

 

[brettnleslie]

I made my own trap out of acrylic over 10 years ago and still use it. It's the best way to catch fish. I have several tanks and sometimes move them from system to system using the trap. It is worth it to make one or buy one. They are not that expensive.

Good luck!

 

[vlangel]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/sp/index.php

Thank you for the helpful article on capturing troublesome fish. I printed to have on hand in time of need.

 

[LeviChar1]

All good (and some funny) options. I have actually used a tiny, shiny gold un-baited hook (on a pole), skipped one feeding, and got bites easily from damsels and wrasses. Yes, it was fun. Yes, the hook was not barbed. I used this method only after the "catching them while they sleep" and acrylic trap methods failed.