Get rid of nuisance fish

abhutta · 03/04/2014, 06:47 AM

Have had my 55 gallon tank running for 6 months. I had introduced a couple of damsels early on as part of cycling the tank, The one damsel has become super aggressive and I need to get rid of him. What's the best method to catch the bugger without having to tear down the tank. Thanks.

BoxesOfTheSea · 03/04/2014, 07:44 AM

They are like lightning! Try lowering the water level to as low as feasible. Then use a divider (egg crate works well) to partition of the area where the damsel is located at the time and gradually decrease the size of that are. You may have to remove some rock work, but you shouldn't have to tear down the tank.

ravenstone · 03/04/2014, 08:05 AM

You should have never used live fish to cycle your tank. The stress of the cycle may end up killing them both. If it doesn't, there can still be long term health problems for them. It's a very toxic environment and painful thing to put an animal through. That said, You can try the bottle method. Take a plastic bottle, Cut the top off where the bottle curves. Flip the part you cut off and stick that in the body of the bottle. Tape or silicone it together, and put some the damsels favorite food in the bottle. Once the Damsel goes in to eat, pull out the bottle. In the end, your best bet may be to just bite the bullet and start taking out rocks.

FTDelta · 03/04/2014, 08:29 AM

+1 ^^

Must have gotten a load of misinformation from his LFS.

faithenfire · 03/04/2014, 08:51 AM

i find trying to capture them right before you would normally turn on the lights works really well

and a fish trap might work

ca1ore · 03/04/2014, 09:08 AM

As an experienced reefer friend of mine used to say, 'the best way to remove a nuisance fish is to not add it in the first place'. A little research goes a long way! However, we all end up at some point with a fish we'd like to remove from the tank (I currently have a splendid dotty back that meets this criterion). There is a sticky on the reef fish forum on how to catch a fish, but already folks have posted some of those here.

One method that I have used to remove aggressive damsels is a small fishing hook with the barb filed off. Very aggressive fish generally view themselves as having first refusal on food, so likely it will be the first to hit the hook. With the barb removed, there will be minimal damage to the fish. Last time I did this (10 years back) it took about 5 seconds.

You could also try mixing iron filings in with the food and then use your magfloat to remove it .......

Otherwise, in no particular order, it's drain down the tank, remove the rocks, use a fish trap (either DIY or bought), or get 'em at night.

Shane C. · 03/04/2014, 09:17 AM

If using a fish trap, it helps to place it at the level in the tank that the fish eats at. A damsel is in general, a top to mid level feeder. If you can place the trap up high, it will make it easier to get him in there.

julie180 · 03/04/2014, 09:20 AM

A mirror in the back of a fish trap is helpful when you have an aggressive fish. I have used a hook and line. It was quick.

MAGNUMDIVER · 03/04/2014, 12:49 PM

I used a Gatorade bottle cut the top off and taped it back on upside down to create a funnel, tie a piece of fishing line or thread to it, add some food, fill with tank water and sink it near where the damsel hangs out. It could take a little time but once he goes in lift the bottle out. I got 2 of 3 damsels out that way and 1 dottyback. I found the wider opening of the Gatorade bottle worked better then a coke bottle.

snorvich · 03/04/2014, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FTDelta

+1 ^^

Must have gotten a load of misinformation from his LFS.

Unfortunately. I hate seeing live fish used to cycle a tank. Simply not good for anyone except the LFS.

ca1ore · 03/04/2014, 10:22 PM

FWIW, I have been thinking about trying to catch and rehome a splendid dottyback, and tried the 'catch it at night' approach. Worked like a charm.

abhutta · 03/05/2014, 06:13 AM

Thanks everyone. Just for clarity. I had the tank cycle through just with live rock for a month/half All levels were good before I put the damsels in. Wanted to ensure fish would be fine before I introduced anything more expensive. But anyways you sleep in the bed that you make! Thanks for the advice. Now time to go fishing

faithenfire · 03/05/2014, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

FWIW, I have been thinking about trying to catch and rehome a splendid dottyback, and tried the 'catch it at night' approach. Worked like a charm.

I've caught two damsels this way barehanded and one psuedo via net at night. I've found it to work the best in my tank and i think it is not too stressful because they just go back in a container that i darken with a place to hide (cup/rock/etc).
shhh, it was just nightmare. go back to sleep....

Gopilosaurus · 03/05/2014, 08:41 PM

I just caught my damsel the other day. I had tried the trap, leaving nets in the tank, an a salmon egg hook (too big). I used squid and a size 20 hook. He started just eating the squid off a few times (annoying) before finally going for the big bite. Took about 15 minutes. I really like the little dude...

BassMekanik · 03/05/2014, 09:27 PM

I tried everything, the bottle method, a trap, even fishing with a little hook. Eventually had to tear everything out to get the damsels out.

03/04/2014, 06:47 AM	#1
abhutta Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 82	Get rid of nuisance fish Have had my 55 gallon tank running for 6 months. I had introduced a couple of damsels early on as part of cycling the tank, The one damsel has become super aggressive and I need to get rid of him. What's the best method to catch the bugger without having to tear down the tank. Thanks.

03/04/2014, 08:51 AM	#5
faithenfire it's all IMO Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 430	i find trying to capture them right before you would normally turn on the lights works really well and a fish trap might work __________________ Looking for a 26 gallon bit of a underwater paradise. Current Tank Info: I am a caretaker of a 7ish year old 26 gal bowfront tank. I have watchman goby, a gold stripe neon goby, a rainford goby, pajama cardinal, possum wrasse and a clean up crew including a wall/rock climbing serpent star

03/04/2014, 09:08 AM	#6
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	As an experienced reefer friend of mine used to say, 'the best way to remove a nuisance fish is to not add it in the first place'. A little research goes a long way! However, we all end up at some point with a fish we'd like to remove from the tank (I currently have a splendid dotty back that meets this criterion). There is a sticky on the reef fish forum on how to catch a fish, but already folks have posted some of those here. One method that I have used to remove aggressive damsels is a small fishing hook with the barb filed off. Very aggressive fish generally view themselves as having first refusal on food, so likely it will be the first to hit the hook. With the barb removed, there will be minimal damage to the fish. Last time I did this (10 years back) it took about 5 seconds. You could also try mixing iron filings in with the food and then use your magfloat to remove it ....... Otherwise, in no particular order, it's drain down the tank, remove the rocks, use a fish trap (either DIY or bought), or get 'em at night. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

03/04/2014, 10:22 PM	#11
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	FWIW, I have been thinking about trying to catch and rehome a splendid dottyback, and tried the 'catch it at night' approach. Worked like a charm. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

03/05/2014, 09:27 PM	#15
BassMekanik Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 80	I tried everything, the bottle method, a trap, even fishing with a little hook. Eventually had to tear everything out to get the damsels out. __________________ Pulling the cord! Current Tank Info: 110G Mixed Reef

03/04/2014, 07:44 AM	#2
BoxesOfTheSea Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 165	They are like lightning! Try lowering the water level to as low as feasible. Then use a divider (egg crate works well) to partition of the area where the damsel is located at the time and gradually decrease the size of that are. You may have to remove some rock work, but you shouldn't have to tear down the tank.

03/04/2014, 08:05 AM	#3
ravenstone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Michigan Posts: 53	You should have never used live fish to cycle your tank. The stress of the cycle may end up killing them both. If it doesn't, there can still be long term health problems for them. It's a very toxic environment and painful thing to put an animal through. That said, You can try the bottle method. Take a plastic bottle, Cut the top off where the bottle curves. Flip the part you cut off and stick that in the body of the bottle. Tape or silicone it together, and put some the damsels favorite food in the bottle. Once the Damsel goes in to eat, pull out the bottle. In the end, your best bet may be to just bite the bullet and start taking out rocks.

03/04/2014, 08:29 AM	#4
FTDelta Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central NY Posts: 1,124	+1 ^^ Must have gotten a load of misinformation from his LFS.

03/04/2014, 09:17 AM	#7
Shane C. Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 97	If using a fish trap, it helps to place it at the level in the tank that the fish eats at. A damsel is in general, a top to mid level feeder. If you can place the trap up high, it will make it easier to get him in there.

03/04/2014, 09:20 AM	#8
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	A mirror in the back of a fish trap is helpful when you have an aggressive fish. I have used a hook and line. It was quick.

03/04/2014, 12:49 PM	#9
MAGNUMDIVER Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Centereach NY Posts: 102	I used a Gatorade bottle cut the top off and taped it back on upside down to create a funnel, tie a piece of fishing line or thread to it, add some food, fill with tank water and sink it near where the damsel hangs out. It could take a little time but once he goes in lift the bottle out. I got 2 of 3 damsels out that way and 1 dottyback. I found the wider opening of the Gatorade bottle worked better then a coke bottle.

03/05/2014, 06:13 AM	#12
abhutta Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 82	Thanks everyone. Just for clarity. I had the tank cycle through just with live rock for a month/half All levels were good before I put the damsels in. Wanted to ensure fish would be fine before I introduced anything more expensive. But anyways you sleep in the bed that you make! Thanks for the advice. Now time to go fishing

03/05/2014, 08:41 PM	#14
Gopilosaurus Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 54	I just caught my damsel the other day. I had tried the trap, leaving nets in the tank, an a salmon egg hook (too big). I used squid and a size 20 hook. He started just eating the squid off a few times (annoying) before finally going for the big bite. Took about 15 minutes. I really like the little dude...