Can I borrow a fish trap: The story of the monster firefish

oscarinw · 04/29/2013, 07:43 PM

So here's my project:
I started a 95 gal tank with a 40 gal sump in early February. the first two inhabitants were two little black ocellaris. They went directly into my cycled Display Tank (DT). At the same time, a Purple Firefish and a Royal Gramma went into my 30gal quarantine system. 6 weeks later, the Firefish and the Gramma moved into the DT... Till then, no problems. I noticed that the Firefish would charge at the Gramma but he has always been able to avoid him by going into his rock. Earlier this month, I brought home a baby hippo tang and she is doing great. However, I noticed that the Firefish started charging at the Tang as well, but given the big fish personality of the fish, she has always been unfazed by it. I had been quarantining a Midas blenny and all I had read is that the Midas might go after the Firefish so I figured that would actually be convenient to break the 'power trip' of my Purple Firefish. You are guessing right. In a matter of 2 days, the Firefish used every opportunity to go after the poor blenny... He was too young for my fire-monster-fish.
I have put 2 wrasses in my quarantine as they are the planned next move, but I am going to switch them with the Firefish and need to borrow a fish trap from one of you if possible. I'll pay for shipping of course.
Hopefully you can help. PM me if you can part with it for a week or so.
Thanks to all in advance!

Sk8r · 04/29/2013, 08:19 PM

Wine carafe, baited with raw shrimp or other delectable, as you stand by with net to cap carafe...

Reef Frog · 04/29/2013, 08:55 PM

Good idea on the wine carafe trap. Or if you can ID his bolt hole, you could siphon him out. He'll think he's gone to Disneyland.

oscarinw · 04/30/2013, 05:44 AM

Thanks for the recommendations. He lodges himself at the bottom of the tank between 2 rocks so it's going to be hard to siphon him out. I will try the carafe idea.
Thanks RF and SK8R...

TimeConsumer · 04/30/2013, 07:46 AM

Or look up the water bottle trap. I used it to get out a dottyback. Just put it next to his hiding hole then watch and wait. You'll know once it's inside because it will start to flip out and thunk around inside the bottle.

oscarinw · 04/30/2013, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimeConsumer

Or look up the water bottle trap.

Thanks TC. I tried that. He wouldn't go close to the bottle and it's hard to see the mysis inside cause it falls to the bottom next to a little rock I put in for weight...
I'm gonna build me a fish trap out of a scrap piece of acrylic I have I think...
Jigsaw, ruler and glue, here I come...
I'l keep you fellow supporter 'tankers' updated.

oscarinw · 05/03/2013, 10:04 AM

Here's an update: Day three of the sting operation. The Tang and the clowns are very curious. We are going by the motto: 'only those brave enough to go in the trap shall eat'

I built this trap from a scrap piece of plexiglass I had laying around. I hope it works!

The Tang goes in and out, the clowns are really curious although hesitant to go in. The Monster Firefish looks at it with binoculars from 6 miles away and doesn't want to do anything with it...

worm5406 · 05/03/2013, 02:40 PM

Put the food ONLY in it. Directly on the floor.

Even if the fire fish goes in it a few times let it be. Then when ready spring the trap. You want it to be OK with you standing right there at the tank when eating in the box too.

oscarinw · 05/15/2013, 07:20 PM

Worked like a charm!... only two days later they were all eating in the box and in front of me... It was the only way to eat so they had no option. Guy went in by himself and now he is enjoying the confines of the refugium until the fairy wrasse leaves quarantine to make room for this bully. Thanks all!

04/29/2013, 07:43 PM	#1
oscarinw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,091	Can I borrow a fish trap: The story of the monster firefish So here's my project: I started a 95 gal tank with a 40 gal sump in early February. the first two inhabitants were two little black ocellaris. They went directly into my cycled Display Tank (DT). At the same time, a Purple Firefish and a Royal Gramma went into my 30gal quarantine system. 6 weeks later, the Firefish and the Gramma moved into the DT... Till then, no problems. I noticed that the Firefish would charge at the Gramma but he has always been able to avoid him by going into his rock. Earlier this month, I brought home a baby hippo tang and she is doing great. However, I noticed that the Firefish started charging at the Tang as well, but given the big fish personality of the fish, she has always been unfazed by it. I had been quarantining a Midas blenny and all I had read is that the Midas might go after the Firefish so I figured that would actually be convenient to break the 'power trip' of my Purple Firefish. You are guessing right. In a matter of 2 days, the Firefish used every opportunity to go after the poor blenny... He was too young for my fire-monster-fish. I have put 2 wrasses in my quarantine as they are the planned next move, but I am going to switch them with the Firefish and need to borrow a fish trap from one of you if possible. I'll pay for shipping of course. Hopefully you can help. PM me if you can part with it for a week or so. Thanks to all in advance!

04/29/2013, 08:19 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Wine carafe, baited with raw shrimp or other delectable, as you stand by with net to cap carafe... __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

04/30/2013, 07:46 AM	#5
TimeConsumer Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 1,919	Or look up the water bottle trap. I used it to get out a dottyback. Just put it next to his hiding hole then watch and wait. You'll know once it's inside because it will start to flip out and thunk around inside the bottle. __________________ Steve - Retired from reefing, for now.

05/03/2013, 02:40 PM	#8
worm5406 Not afriad to admit wrong Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South of WashDC in Maryland Posts: 7,774	Put the food ONLY in it. Directly on the floor. Even if the fire fish goes in it a few times let it be. Then when ready spring the trap. You want it to be OK with you standing right there at the tank when eating in the box too. __________________ Stock:LPS/SPS\|1 hippo\|4 OC Clown\|4 Pepp shrimp\|2 Brittle Star\|3000+ Copepods\|10+ MiniBrittle\|8+ Bristle Worm\|2 Anemone\|100+ mini-feather\|4 boys 14,21,22,22 Current Tank Info: Tank:300g Mixed Reef 300+lb LR\|4" LS\|5x MP40W\|75g fuge\|5x RadionPRO\|RO DB250 skimmer\|Apex

04/29/2013, 08:55 PM	#3
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	Good idea on the wine carafe trap. Or if you can ID his bolt hole, you could siphon him out. He'll think he's gone to Disneyland.

04/30/2013, 05:44 AM	#4
oscarinw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,091	Thanks for the recommendations. He lodges himself at the bottom of the tank between 2 rocks so it's going to be hard to siphon him out. I will try the carafe idea. Thanks RF and SK8R...

05/03/2013, 10:04 AM	#7
oscarinw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,091	Here's an update: Day three of the sting operation. The Tang and the clowns are very curious. We are going by the motto: 'only those brave enough to go in the trap shall eat' I built this trap from a scrap piece of plexiglass I had laying around. I hope it works! The Tang goes in and out, the clowns are really curious although hesitant to go in. The Monster Firefish looks at it with binoculars from 6 miles away and doesn't want to do anything with it...

05/15/2013, 07:20 PM	#9
oscarinw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,091	Worked like a charm!... only two days later they were all eating in the box and in front of me... It was the only way to eat so they had no option. Guy went in by himself and now he is enjoying the confines of the refugium until the fairy wrasse leaves quarantine to make room for this bully. Thanks all!