Yellowtail Damsel eating Birdsnest

[Webmanny]

I was getting frustrated because my Birds nest coral was showing signs of RTN. I've had it for a while now and all parameters are fine. Therefore, I devices to setup a motion activated camera and caught this guy 17 times eating the coral. I now understand everything bad I've read about these guys.

I'm going to try and catch it and give it to someone. This is crazy, I knew something had to be going on. I have plenty of other SPS corals doing great and this is the only one with issues.

Just sharing in case someone else has had similar issues. Also, if anyone has any ideas on how to get this guy out of the tank without having to remove rocks. I would appreciate it.

 

[purpletang123]

I would starv the fish for about 2 days or longer depending on how long your fish could stand, after starving them, feed the fish with frozen food or pellet and grab the net then wait until the damsel is far from its hiding place and scoop the fish( clear out the possible path). That should work, good luck.

 

[zachfishman]

Some damselfish can "host" in branching SPS corals, plucking away tissue to allow the growth of an "algae farm" from which they will feed. Three-spot damsels (S. planifrons) do this in Caribbean staghorn.

 

[janes_mw]

Fish trap worked for me on other "problem children". Just need to starve em for a couple days then use some brine and put in trap. I rented from Creative if I remember right. Caught in 5 minutes after a couple weeks of other methods.