When Fish Traps Don't Work

[InsaneClownFish]

Well I've been slowly removing damsels from my 8 foot reef. I've caught 4 using homemade water bottle fish traps. Unfortunately, I have 3 more to go. Most notably, my nasty, mean, and seemingly quite intelligent Behn's damsel is not buying it.

So when the fish traps fail, and breaking down the reef is not an option, what's my third alternative?

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[ludnix]

You could drain the tank down to 2-3 inches and try and net him.

 

[Playa-1]

I use a rapid drain and refill method, I find it to be very effective. Grab the fish at low tide and quickly refill the tank taking care to keep from disturbing the sandbed too much.

Then there is plan B.

The best method is to avoid it all together

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Ok, I'll bite...Rapid drain and refill method?!

 

[Playa-1]

Sorry, I was having technical difficulties

Rapid drain and refill method is simply to drain the tank down and when the water level is low, it's easier to catch the fish. You can corral them before the draining begins or dig a low spot in the substrate and the livestock will move towards the low spot as the water is removed. Once you have captured the lil aholes then refill the tank. Try not to disturb the sand bed too much.

 

[Tswifty]

Add a trigger for a few weeks.

 

[Tswifty]

In all seriousness... draining and refilling may be the best bet if the fish trap isn't working though. It'll be a PITA, but at least they'll be gone.

 

[sedor]

It sounds funny but Playa's picture isn't to far off. You actually can go fishing in your fish tank! Make sure you use a tiny hook and remove the barb...the smallest kids rod is your best bet and i'm willing to guess you can get one at walmart for pretty cheap.

 

[tydtran]

Another trick that has worked for me is to catch them when they're sleeping. Turn off all the lights. Let them go to sleep, then turn on the lights, rapidly locate the fish, and grab him before he has a chance to wake up.

 

[tydtran]

Considering that your tank is 8 feet long, I don't think the rapid drain and replace strategy would work well for you.

 

[njdevilsfan]

borrow a better trap off your local boards leave it in for a week or so
drop food in there evry day he will get used to it

 

[downhillbiker]

I would probably use the fishing pole. I havent tried it before but I did make a spear gun for one of my fish that I needed to get out of the tank. I used rubber band that I held with my thumb and first finger and the projectile was a stainless steel welding rod. I didn't end up getting the fish that way, but I was darn close. My girlfriend made me stop, but I am sure if I had tried more than twice I would have got him. I eventually pulled the rock out...

But honestly, I would go fishing with a super small hook and some bait.

 

[will16]

I have also done the fishing with a barbless hook thing and it does work well. Just don't feed the tank for a day and they will go right after it. The hardest part is targeting just the fish you want as they will all go right after it.

 

[asonitez]

I used Bird Netting. I basically corraled the fish into a corner and used a cut piece of bird netting and sectioned off the corner.Then I went at him with a hand net until he ran into the bird netting and tangled. I took him out and threw him in the sump fuge. He is fat. No. He is OBESE but happy. He is the only fish there all his domain and no one to bother him.

 

[poolkeeper1]

I caught a large Tang with hook and line, But It fought so hard and splashed about 5gal of water on the floor and then ripped the hook out of his mouth. Never tried that again! The fish trap will work, You need to not feed for many day and when you do only In the trap. His hunger will get the best of him, I caught three Large Tangs like this one by one.
Bill

 

[jbird69]

you dont need a pole. Just tie a loop in the fishing line and slip it over your finger. Have a bucket of tank water ready so you can lift it quickly out of the tank and drop it in the bucket. Make sure the barb on the hook is completely mashed, so once little fishy is in the bucket just give the line slack and he will shake it loose.
use squid for bait cause it stays on the hook.

Every single fish I have removed has been done this way. Its quick and easy and causes very little stress.

 

[bhdmc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15720056#post15720056 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Playa-1
I use a rapid drain and refill method, I find it to be very effective. Grab the fish at low tide and quickly refill the tank taking care to keep from disturbing the sandbed too much.

Then there is plan B.

The best method is to avoid it all together

Trying to catch my Fridmani Pseudochromis. Have tried every type of fish traps available. Willing to try using a fishing hook; Plan B. What size hook should I use?

 

[jbird69]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15722507#post15722507 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bhdmc
Trying to catch my Fridmani Pseudochromis. Have tried every type of fish traps available. Willing to try using a fishing hook; Plan B. What size hook should I use?

You need to go to a sporting goods that carries fly tying materials. You want a dry fly hook. Youll have to buy a package of them. size #22 is probably the biggest you can get away with. I saw that my local Sportsmans Warehouse has size #26. Those would definitly be small enough. You will also need some very fine fishing line to get it thru the eye of the tiny hook. Like 2 lb line.

 

[bhdmc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15722567#post15722567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jbird69
You need to go to a sporting goods that carries fly tying materials. You want a dry fly hook. Youll have to buy a package of them. size #22 is probably the biggest you can get away with. I saw that my local Sportsmans Warehouse has size #26. Those would definitly be small enough. You will also need some very fine fishing line to get it thru the eye of the tiny hook. Like 2 lb line.

Thanks!

 

[mattyg]

Fish hooks worked great getting a pseudochromis and yellow tail damsel out of my tank. I had old fly fishing gear around and used small hook, tippet(small fishing line available at all fishing shops including walmart) and a bucket close by. I wasted soo much time and aggravation trying everything else, caught fish on hook in less than 5 minutes with no real harm to fish if you're careful.