Tricks to removing a fish

[Yinzer]

I am having a really hard time trying to take a fish out of my tank. It's a 5" panther grouper. I don't have my large net just a medium one and he bolts into the rock when he sees it. I tried enticing with food but he is a friggin pig and gulps everything up before I can get close. Oh yeah, And I have the acryllic tank with the two 10x14 access panels so my motion is limited.

PLEASE HELP!!

 

[Bill King]

find a fly fisher friend. borrow a small #28 or 32 barbless hook, & go fishing. This works really well for larger fish. Only hold the fish long enough to slip the net under it, the hook slips right out when the pressure is off.

good luck
Bill

 

[hybridazn]

get a fish trap. try not feeding the tank as much and drop food into the trap, he will eventually go in it. i had this problem a while back with a pbt. took about 2 days but it works and less stressful on the fish

 

[Raceimage]

fishing line and small hook

 

[LeviChar1]

Ive done both. fishing line works....except on my super smart xmas wrasse......nothing works on him

 

[cloakerpoked]

This should work...if it doesn't, let me know, because I guarantee you aren't using it right

 

[SirusX1721]

^^^

I want one...

 

[jetboatjoe]

I built a trap out of acrylic, rectangle box with a trap door attached to fishing line that I can control the door. Take some time to catch, but will work.

 

[Steven Pro]

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

 

[TomNeely]

Nice article Steve!

 

[Yinzer]

A small hook did the trick and he is doing great. Now I have to get the snowflake eel out.

 

[Yinzer]

I think I will try the 2 liter pop bottle for him it should work. Great article.

 

[the2ofus]

Nice write Steve.

 

[Yinzer]

Scrap the 2 liter and gimme the assault rifle. Does anyone have an eel trap? I am getting really frustrated. Seriously.

 

[cloakerpoked]

Scrap the 2 liter and gimme the assault rifle. Does anyone have an eel trap? I am getting really frustrated. Seriously.

Did you catch every fish in your tank except the one you wanted to? I PROMISE that my suggestion will work.

On the serious side, if he absolutely has to go, a quick hand and feeding flake food can work if you can scoop him right out. Of course, this only works if he comes to the surface to eat.

One other possibility would be to take all your livestock out and catch him in an otherwise empty tank. I'd only do it as a last resort...but when you're desperate...you're desperate.

 

[Yinzer]

I wanna smack him in his mouf. I'm gonna try small hook again, it worked last time.

 

[cloakerpoked]

Problem with a lot of traps is that they're not discriminatory and often you catch the fish you're not going for.

 

[Yinzer]

no, everytime I got him into the 2 liter and I tried to either yank it up (with shoelace) or put a net over the opening, he would dart out like greased lightning. I dont know what else to do.

 

[cloakerpoked]

Do you invert the top so that he has a harder time getting out?

 

[Yinzer]

Whachoo talkin bout, Willis?