aggressive damsel

hasjef · 01/08/2008, 04:41 AM

I have a large domino in a 110 reef. He is too aggressive for the other fish. Any suggestions on how to catch him with out destroying the tank?

landlord · 01/08/2008, 06:17 AM

barbless fishing hook on a line and patience.

Good Luck!

ihopss · 01/08/2008, 06:32 AM

Keep trying with a net slowly, you will get it.

new_world_disor · 01/08/2008, 06:51 AM

fish trap ?? u can buy them on the net. but obviously theres a chance of catching other fish..

Shekki · 01/08/2008, 03:27 PM

A bigger, meaner fish will keep him in check.

jab502 · 01/08/2008, 03:33 PM

Fish trap is the best bet in my opinion. It is the only way that I have consistently been able to catch all types of fish fairly quickly without destroying anything in the tank. The net works for some fish, but others there is no way in hell. Put the trap in the tank with the trap door propped open by tying the string to something outside and below the tank level. Leave the trap and starve the tank for 2-3 days. Then put a small amount of food into the trap only. The fish will have to go in for the food sooner or later. Hunger will motivate them. If the right fish does not enter the first day of feeding, just continue to starve the tank and try it again the next day. When he finally enters, drop the trap door and remove him. Good luck.

spamreefnew · 01/08/2008, 04:13 PM

hook line sinker...

reefworm · 01/08/2008, 08:26 PM

aggressive damsel - isn't that redundant?

ManotheSea · 01/08/2008, 09:31 PM

Devil fish!

I had a damsel that would purposely knock over my corals. I couldnt get him until I tore down the tank. If you can keep the other fish away you should be able hook him. Good luck.

ReefTECK · 01/08/2008, 09:49 PM

Quote:

aggressive damsel - isn't that redundant?

lol, that's what I thought! When you catch him I would take him to the LFS and teach him a lesson. He's bound to end up in a crappy little biocube with absurd water parameters. Or maybe one of the employees will feed him to a big grouper or something! Sounds like a fun time! Good luck!

ozyreefa · 01/08/2008, 10:02 PM

another way i have found that some times works is about 2-3 hours before you usually feed your fish, position the nets inside the tank so the fish kinda get used to them (be carful to do this in a way so they can not fall all the way in the tank, otherwise when you put your hand in the tank to retrieve the net, youll scare the fish again). Then when they are back to fairly normal behaviour feed them at the normal time to distract them and be ready for some quick draw!! Especially with damsels. You must be quick though, and if it doesnt work the first time it probably wont work ever as the fish will be wise to it now. Hope this helps.

Salty Prata · 01/09/2008, 11:37 AM

Try spearing it with a beef kabob stick.

ReefTECK · 01/09/2008, 12:02 PM

Actually, the net thing and feeding works pretty well. Also, I would not give up hope if you don't get him the first couple of times. As ozyreefa concluded, the fish will get wise, but let's be honest, fish are stupid! They might outlast your patients but in a couple of days they will be none-the-wiser again.

In fact, I had a Lemon Peel Angel fish that made quick work out of a plerogyoa sinuosa (Green Bubble Coral). From what I understood it was a kind of hit or miss on a Centropgy's affinity for tasting corals. I was furious, so I decided the fish would have to go back to the LFS.

My first few attempts failed, in fact, I just left the net propped in the tank for probably a week or two, and tried periodically to catch her off guard during feeding. After a while they got so used to the net being there, they would go into the net to eat. Still she thwarted me several times.

Then one day before I had to go to work, (conveniently since I work at the LFS) I saw her sitting just out in front of the net. I approached the tank, and placed my hand on the handle. She hadn't darted yet! I whispered to myself, "You can't seriously be this stupid?" And WHAMMY! I nailed her, stuck her in a zip lock and cianara Lemon Peel!

After warning of my account, I sold her to a guy that's a total R tard. (R for reef) She came back in a week, and I think we ended up making 90 dollars off of her before she stopped coming back!

01/08/2008, 04:41 AM	#1
hasjef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 35	aggressive damsel I have a large domino in a 110 reef. He is too aggressive for the other fish. Any suggestions on how to catch him with out destroying the tank?

01/08/2008, 06:17 AM	#2
landlord Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Alexandria, KY Posts: 1,937	barbless fishing hook on a line and patience. Good Luck! __________________ Forget the Turtle Man, you got the Coral Man Live Action Fragging! Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon SPS Reef (Sump, Fuge, Skimmer, CX reactor, Chemical filtration, Overflow) by Lifereef, 2x400W 20K Radiums on IceCaps, 2x39W T5 "For fun", RK2, 4x Tunze 6055, Aqua Logic 1/3 HP Chiller, DIY RO/DI ATO 2-Part via Litermeter. Lotsa Clownfish

01/08/2008, 03:27 PM	#5
Shekki Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ocean City, MD Posts: 651	A bigger, meaner fish will keep him in check. __________________ Elos mini reef Current Tank Info: Elos mini, reefkeeper 2, Vortech MP20, ice cap moonlight, Reef Fanatic ATO

01/08/2008, 08:26 PM	#8
reefworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Waxhaw, NC USA Posts: 2,139	aggressive damsel - isn't that redundant? __________________ "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 29 gal. reef/assist with 75 gal. at the school

01/08/2008, 10:02 PM	#11
ozyreefa Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 82	another way i have found that some times works is about 2-3 hours before you usually feed your fish, position the nets inside the tank so the fish kinda get used to them (be carful to do this in a way so they can not fall all the way in the tank, otherwise when you put your hand in the tank to retrieve the net, youll scare the fish again). Then when they are back to fairly normal behaviour feed them at the normal time to distract them and be ready for some quick draw!! Especially with damsels. You must be quick though, and if it doesnt work the first time it probably wont work ever as the fish will be wise to it now. Hope this helps. __________________ umm like fish an stuff Current Tank Info: 70 gallon reef tank, 80w actinic, 80w tri-phos, 250w MH, 40 gallon sump using coral rubble only, modified queen ts-2000 skimmer, 40kg live rock, 2x750 L/ph powerheads at opposing corners, main return pump 4500L/ph

01/08/2008, 06:32 AM	#3
ihopss Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Gilmer,tx Posts: 751	Keep trying with a net slowly, you will get it.

01/08/2008, 06:51 AM	#4
new_world_disor Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: cardiff, wales Posts: 1,393	fish trap ?? u can buy them on the net. but obviously theres a chance of catching other fish..

01/08/2008, 03:33 PM	#6
jab502 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 157	Fish trap is the best bet in my opinion. It is the only way that I have consistently been able to catch all types of fish fairly quickly without destroying anything in the tank. The net works for some fish, but others there is no way in hell. Put the trap in the tank with the trap door propped open by tying the string to something outside and below the tank level. Leave the trap and starve the tank for 2-3 days. Then put a small amount of food into the trap only. The fish will have to go in for the food sooner or later. Hunger will motivate them. If the right fish does not enter the first day of feeding, just continue to starve the tank and try it again the next day. When he finally enters, drop the trap door and remove him. Good luck.

01/08/2008, 04:13 PM	#7
spamreefnew Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: rhodeisland Posts: 1,491	hook line sinker...

01/08/2008, 09:31 PM	#9
ManotheSea Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: FL Posts: 414	Devil fish! I had a damsel that would purposely knock over my corals. I couldnt get him until I tore down the tank. If you can keep the other fish away you should be able hook him. Good luck.

01/09/2008, 11:37 AM	#12
Salty Prata Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 123	Try spearing it with a beef kabob stick.

01/09/2008, 12:02 PM	#13
ReefTECK Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Iowa City, Iowa Posts: 901	Actually, the net thing and feeding works pretty well. Also, I would not give up hope if you don't get him the first couple of times. As ozyreefa concluded, the fish will get wise, but let's be honest, fish are stupid! They might outlast your patients but in a couple of days they will be none-the-wiser again. In fact, I had a Lemon Peel Angel fish that made quick work out of a plerogyoa sinuosa (Green Bubble Coral). From what I understood it was a kind of hit or miss on a Centropgy's affinity for tasting corals. I was furious, so I decided the fish would have to go back to the LFS. My first few attempts failed, in fact, I just left the net propped in the tank for probably a week or two, and tried periodically to catch her off guard during feeding. After a while they got so used to the net being there, they would go into the net to eat. Still she thwarted me several times. Then one day before I had to go to work, (conveniently since I work at the LFS) I saw her sitting just out in front of the net. I approached the tank, and placed my hand on the handle. She hadn't darted yet! I whispered to myself, "You can't seriously be this stupid?" And WHAMMY! I nailed her, stuck her in a zip lock and cianara Lemon Peel! After warning of my account, I sold her to a guy that's a total R tard. (R for reef) She came back in a week, and I think we ended up making 90 dollars off of her before she stopped coming back! __________________ 2013 President of the Greater Iowa Reef Society www.iowareefs.org Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Tank, 96 DIY LED's on 3 channels, 30gal sump/fuge, 4x2x0.5' & 40gal frag tank, SRO Ca rxr, GSA Kalk rxr, SRO 3000 skmr, Gen-X PCX40 Return, 2xMP40w's, 1xTunze 6101, 140lbs LR, SSB, SPS all the way!