Can't catch him

[Xpilot]

I am trying to get a 3 in, damsel (Chromis scotti) out of my tank. I have the trap all set and I actually got him yesterday but he got out before I could get him out of the tank. Now the trap is sitting in the tank, he won't even go near it and the smaller fish keep swimming in and eating the food. I don't have enough buckets to completely empty everything and he needs to get out now, he is nipping at a starfish and anemone and doing drive bys on my other fish. But he is the shyest fish when it comes to me, I think he knows. Any help?

[KafudaFish]

Don't make eye contact.

[Peter T]

If you know where he sleep at night, you can turn on all the lights in the middle of the night and shine a Surefire on him as well. It should blind him and all you need to do is scoop him out.

You can also go fishing with small, barbless hooks about the size of the ones found on a Sabiki rig.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Originally Posted by KafudaFish

Don't make eye contact.

What kind of fish trap are you using? Commercial or homemade bottle trap? It's likey very wary of you because it knows you're after it. My wrasse knew. I was trying to catch the wrasse with a home made bottle trap and it wouldn't go near the trap. I left the room for five minutes and when I came back it was in the trap. With the bottle trap you don't have a door you have to trip.

[kingfisherflesh]

I am in the same situation with a harlequin tusk...I want him out now, but he wont go into or near the trap.

The hippo tang on the other hand, now knows that he can get food that no one else has access to. Funny thing is I trapped him to get him into the tank he is in now. Maybe he thinks he will get an upgraded tank every time he does that.

[Xpilot]

Originally Posted by Peter T

If you know where he sleep at night, you can turn on all the lights in the middle of the night and shine a Surefire on him as well. It should blind him and all you need to do is scoop him out.

You can also go fishing with small, barbless hooks about the size of the ones found on a Sabiki rig.

I'm a little hesitant on this option, I haven't fished in 20 years, and I know he wouldn't be the first one I catch and I don't want to risk hurting any of the others (puffer mainly).

I was hoping the anemone nipping would end him, but he is too big for it.

[KafudaFish]

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

What kind of fish trap are you using? Commercial or homemade bottle trap? It's likey very wary of you because it knows you're after it. My wrasse knew. I was trying to catch the wrasse with a home made bottle trap and it wouldn't go near the trap. I left the room for five minutes and when I came back it was in the trap. With the bottle trap you don't have a door you have to trip.

That was such a great story to follow.


You can also use some eggcrate and make a 2 sided box.

Put it in and leave it for a day or two.

Feed around it for a day or two.

Move it to a good location.

Leave it.

Feed and then you can slide it in place using fishing line. Now dip the fish out.

Oh and don't make eye contact. They always know.

[Xpilot]

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

What kind of fish trap are you using? Commercial or homemade bottle trap? It's likey very wary of you because it knows you're after it. My wrasse knew. I was trying to catch the wrasse with a home made bottle trap and it wouldn't go near the trap. I left the room for five minutes and when I came back it was in the trap. With the bottle trap you don't have a door you have to trip.

I actually made two homemade ones, the Gatorade bottle didn't get any attention but the Motts apple juice one seems to be the bottle of choice in my tank. He actually went in it and I closed it off with a net and started to pull it out but he swam into the net and out the side in about 1/4 sec.

[Xpilot]

Originally Posted by KafudaFish

That was such a great story to follow.


You can also use some eggcrate and make a 2 sided box.

Put it in and leave it for a day or two.

Feed around it for a day or two.

Move it to a good location.

Leave it.

Feed and then you can slide it in place using fishing line. Now dip the fish out.

Oh and don't make eye contact. They always know.

Any chance you have a pic of this?

[Sugar Magnolia]

Use a large soda or water bottle. cut off the top where it starts to widen, and cut the outh open a bit more (if needed). Invert the top into the bottle to make a funnel. I stapled the inverted top in place. Fish swims in and can't swim back out. That's why I was able to leave the room. Oh, and remove all labels as well to make it see through.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Originally Posted by KafudaFish

That was such a great story to follow.

That fish is in the large FOWLR system at my LFS. The owner agrees that it's a royal pain in the arse. Still fat and happy too.

[Xpilot]

I think my Ocellaris Clown is going to explode he is eating so much.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Skip feeding for a day or two to make it nice and hungry too - forgot to mention that.

[KafudaFish]

Originally Posted by Xpilot

Any chance you have a pic of this?

Sorry no.

Think of a door on a lazy susan or a closet door.

Take two pieces and zip tie them together to form an L.

They should be the height of the water and big enough to allow the fish to swim in and eat.

If the tank is 24 inches wide then 12 inches is good or even less.

So when ready have one end against the front glass, this makes the third side and leave an opening between the side glass and the second piece of eggcrate.

Fish swims in to eat and you can either push it to the side glass with your hand or have someone pull it with line.

You have now made a simple box, grab the net from your back pocket and net the fish out.

It is pretty simple.

When finished save the eggcrate for something else.

Oh and no eye contact.

Good luck.

[Uncle Salty 05]

Get two nets nets (one in each hand) and be patient. Don't thrash around trying to catch him quickly and upsetting the other inhabitants. Take some time, maybe up to an hour and just keep after it. Eventually it will tire and you will catch it.
Big PITA but better than breaking down your whole tank.

[Xpilot]

I caught the Ocellaris Clown 3 times in the last 15mins, grrr, I'll keep at it.

Really concentrating on the no eye contact, it’s hard when you are mad.

[KafudaFish]

Well keep trying.

Whistle or hum if you have to justincase you don't know the words.

[DoubleM 10]

i dont have coral or anything so all i did was take the rocks and put them on a new tarp only used for fish stuff.


trap the fish and move on.

this also gave me an excuse to change the aquascape of the tank

[Xpilot]

Originally Posted by DoubleM 10

i dont have coral or anything so all i did was take the rocks and put them on a new tarp only used for fish stuff.


trap the fish and move on.

this also gave me an excuse to change the aquascape of the tank

I've had some water quality issues that are finally getting under control (can't edit my signature right now for some reason). If I move everything around it will put me a month back, but it may be the next option if I don't have him in a few days.