When Fish Traps Don't Work

[block head]

if the fish swallows the hook,just cut the line rather than trying hard to remove. it will rust out in less than a week. large clear plastic bags work well for me.

 

[Playa-1]

Another trick that works is to use a clear specimen container. Strategically place the specimen container and then attempt to chase the fish into the clear container with a couple of nets. They can see the nets and the nets tend to spook them so they are in the clear container before then know what hits them. My fish always sleep with one eye open and In the rocks (except for the clowns) so they don't fall for the ol' sneakin up on them while their sleepin routine.

 

[Patterson117]

Caught a Clarkii clown, hook and line, under a minute...don't feed for a few days before.

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Thanks for all the input folks. Unfortunately, the drain technique won't work because the Behn's has dug out sand from underneath a massive piece of live rock. I'd have to drain the tank to probably 1 cm to get him out that way.

I took a peak at fish hooks in Walmart, and the kids' fishing rods, but all the hooks were too big- the smallest was a 12. I'll see if I can find a local sporting goods place that might carry smaller ones.

I'm staring at the tank right now...just waiting for the LEDs to shut off to try some night fishing!.

Satan

 

[maroun.c]

I was at an LFS that had rocks in all their tanks. to catch fish they would drop a clear box that they always feed with. the moment the fish saw the box go in the tank they would directly swim in it waiting for them to place the food it was a bit deep so you have time to drop the net to catch fish. it took them less than 5 min to take out any fish i wanted... will take some time for your fish to get used to it though.

 

[PGUY1]

I have been trying to catch this demon blenny for a month that has been picking my SPS to death. I didn't want to pull all of the rock out of my 120 and was getting desperate; even fashioning a harpoon out of a straightened fish hook and piece of coat hanger. He would evade me every time and then pick polyps off of my monti and flip me off. After reading this thread yesterday, I went home last night and turned the moonlights off and all of the lights in the room off for thirty minutes. Then I set my RKL to turn all of my lights on at once. I watched where the fish went to sleep before the lights went out. Then I just prodded them out of their hole with a rod and dipped them right out of the water with my net. They were so disoriented I was able to dip the blenny and three chromis out in a matter of a couple of minutes. Into the quarantine tank! Magic!

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Success! Mock me no more! The manager/owner of Greenwich Aquaria had a couple of size 22 hooks for me, and he also was nice enough to cut me some line.

While I was acclimating I tied up the hook, thawed some food, and found a tiny piece of clam for the hook. I hadn't fed the tank in two days in anticipation of the event.

My wife comes downstairs to remind me of our dinner reservations, and I'm thinking to myself, uggh what have I started! I still need to get acclimating livestock in the tank and this is going to take forever.

2 minutes 30 seconds flat and both damsels were out.

Dropped the line in- Bam! Domino damsel yanked out and flys from the tank onto the carpet. My wife is applauding- half shocked half in awe...Wow.

There was a scary moment where my Magnificent Foxface swallowed the hook whole and started choking. Per the advice of Greenwich Aquaria I relaxed...didn't tug, and I let him "cough" it out. My wife was mortified for a few second because she and I both love the Foxface. I swear he's just like my Chocolate Lab and would hop on my lap and let me scratch him behind the gills if he could.

Get away clowns! The hardest part was getting the other fish to stay away. I grabbed my handy dandy turkey baster and had to give them the business end of it.

Isolated the Behn's Damsel and bam- yanked and flying out through the air onto the floor! Behn's damsel falls smack on the carpet! Ok, ok for a minute I did my whole ya boy, that's what I'm talking about, whooo hoo, in your face dance as I stared down at this fish. I even said that's right you're staying there while I put this hook away! Childish yes I know.

So both Damsels are now residents of my sump. My SaddleBack Clown is also hanging out in there because I moved him from my show fuge in anticipation of having to put the cardinals in the fuge for the time being.

Sufficed to say, I had the most relaxing dinner with my wife after that.

Thanks again for all the great suggestions- especially all the amusing ones!
I now have a school of 8 blue eyed cardinals in place of the damsels.

*Disclaimer- No fish were actually harmed during this nonsense.

Total Count-
Homemade Water Bottle Fish Traps- 4 Damsels
Night Fishing- 1 Damsel
Baited Hook and Line- 2 Damsels