Help with catching a fish...

[Spork3245]

Hi guys,

I unfortunately have ich in my display tank (90 gallon) due to bad advice with not QTing a cleaner goby (of all things to bring ich into the tank ) and am in the process of catching all my fishes to do TTM and then hold in a temp (cycled) tank for 12 weeks.

I've read the "how to catch a fish" stickey but the methods are not workable for my situation...

I am *NOT* able to drain my DT or pull out the live rock, I simply have nowhere to put the water or the live rock. My clownfish and cleaner goby should be easy to catch as they are always out, however, my Diamond Goby and One Spot Fox Face will likely be neigh-impossible due to their speed and skittish nature (the Diamond Goby is lightning fast... I mean, it's like a cartoon; if he's sitting on the sand and gets startled there's only a poof of sand where he was in a blink.).

Is there a way to create some-sort of "fish trap" to catch them? My current idea is to poke small holes in cheap (off-brand) tupperware and sit some food soaked in a TON of garlic with in it, wait for the DG or Foxface to go for the food and then lift him up. However, I don't know if this will work as they tend to hide immediately whenever I put my hand in the tank (the rest of the fishes stay out swimming and don't seem to care, they'll sometimes even let me hand-feed them).

I honestly need help with this ASAP as I unfortunately lost of Flame Angle of 2.5 years over the weekend due to the ich and I certainly don't wish to lose any other fish. Especially my Foxface who I raised from a ridiculously small hatchling-esq size to his current fat 7"+ size.

I have a cycled 40 gal breeder (temp tank) with two wrasses I purchased from divers den to try out TTM up and running to host my fish after TTM is complete on all of them:
2x Occellaris Clown
1x Cleaner Goby
1x Diamond Goby

My Foxface will stay in a 10 gal as I'm worried he may "freak-out" in the 40 gallon and stab/kill/poison one or more of my other fish... And if he kills my $100+ Red Velvet Wrasse, I will not be a happy camper!

[cloak]

You couldn't just go buy some large Rubbermaid containers at Walmart or something? The next time you do a water change, just siphon out most of the water and leave them High & Dry so to say. Return the containers when your done. You did say that your not able to drain the tank, but this is definitely a valid option. GL.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/sp/index.php

[Spork3245]

Originally Posted by cloak

You couldn't just go buy some large Rubbermaid containers at Walmart or something? The next time you do a water change, just siphon out most of the water and leave them High & Dry so to say. Return the containers when your done. You did say that your not able to drain the tank, but this is definitely a valid option. GL.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/sp/index.php

I'm a bit worried with one of those rubbermaid containers leaking among other issues I'd be worried about (if a fish stays in one of the "caves" with-in/between/under some of the larger rocks in my DT I'd have no way of pulling them out and other concerns).
The link you posted mentioned fish-traps (exactly what I'm looking for), provides links to three, one of which is only a picture and the other two simply don't work.

[cloak]

Traps can be tricky sometimes. When the water level drops, fish panic, and they start moving around the tank. This makes it easier to catch them. Whatever you decide on though, good luck. Removing fish from an established tank is definitely not fun.

[Spork3245]

Oooh

http://www.amazon.com/SaltwaterAquar...edic+Fish+Trap

This would likely be perfect. I can get it by Saturday since I have prime (too late to get it tomorrow). I'm gonna call some LFS to see if anyone stocks this item, if not I'll buy off Amazon with Saturday shipping and hope my little guys make it till then.

I do have some Ich Attack which I know doesn't kill ich, but, to my understanding it has the effect of taking Vit C with cold and boosts immune systems to help the fish fight off the ich a little better. Just need them to make it a few more days

[Spork3245]

Originally Posted by cloak

Traps can be tricky sometimes. When the water level drops, fish panic, and they start moving around the tank. This makes it easier to catch them. Whatever you decide on though, good luck. Removing fish from an established tank is definitely not fun.

I'm sure they can be tricky, but I'm also sure it's a lot safer than draining 720lbs of water (90 gallons) and praying that the rubbermaid container doesn't break under the pressure haha

Looks like no LFS near me carries it except for one... But they only have one and you have to rent it with a deposit of $60 (what the item costs on amazon anyway), you have to bring it back within 5 days and then it only costs $10 for the rental, HOWEVER, the remainder of the deposit is given back as $50 in store-credit... I had to contain myself from laughing hysterically while the guy told me this.

[cloak]

Those Rubbermaid containers are a lot more durable than you might think... I used this one underneath my old 60 gallon tank for about 9 years without any problems. All you need is like 5 or 6 of these things to get the job done. (for only about 15 minutes if things go right) Good luck with that trap though.

[JoelA7]

You might try Levamisole. See the other various threads about it and make your own decision. It is an in tank treatment that some have had success with and reputedly no adverse impact on coral and many inverts.

[mrguppy]

I have had success with placing a fish net in the tank for about an hour, let the fish get use to it. Then around feeding time place a little of their favorite food in the net. Now stand and hold the net in the tank, and most the time the fish will come and eat the food out the net. My tangs will actually go inside the net and eat all the food before the fish I'm trying to catch has a chance. LOL

[Pigpen17]

Originally Posted by mrguppy

I have had success with placing a fish net in the tank for about an hour, let the fish get use to it. Then around feeding time place a little of their favorite food in the net. Now stand and hold the net in the tank, and most the time the fish will come and eat the food out the net. My tangs will actually go inside the net and eat all the food before the fish I'm trying to catch has a chance. LOL

I did something similar with a Damsel fish I was starting to hate. Just stood over the tank with a net when feeding and waited for a good strike. It took a few days, but I got him.

[Sk8r]

one real fast method is to take one large rubber tub, disassemble your rock and lay it in that with a little water (wrasses and others tend to hide in the rock), put your corals in a bucket of water---catch the culprit, and put first all the rock back, then all the corals. Takes about 20 minutes, and you might want to use a filter sock after. Helps if you have a friend to receive and lay down the rock.

[Spork3245]

Originally Posted by Sk8r

one real fast method is to take one large rubber tub, disassemble your rock and lay it in that with a little water (wrasses and others tend to hide in the rock), put your corals in a bucket of water---catch the culprit, and put first all the rock back, then all the corals. Takes about 20 minutes, and you might want to use a filter sock after. Helps if you have a friend to receive and lay down the rock.

I love you Sk8r, but you didn't read my OP!

[faithenfire]

i've had luck catching fish while they were sleeping. three fish and counting so far.
just wait till the middle of the sleep cycle for the tank and then track down where they are sleeping. and slowly sneak a net in. or i've had the best luck with my hands.

also if it's a neon, he may find a desire to clean your hands. ours sits on my bfs hand while he-bf cleans the tank

[Lucky Lefty]

I recently caught an evil blue velvet damsel in my 150. She was lightning quick and tiny so it proved to be difficult but I was determined.

I used a piece of white egg crate, the same stuff you commonly see used as frag racks. While she was st one end of the tank distracted, I slid the egg crate into the water to block half of the tank, more importantly to block her cave rock. Once she realized she was blocked off, she cornered herself and I then slowly moved the egg crate closer to her making her safe place smaller.
I also used a pane of glass that sits atop my tank as a wall to block her in the corner of the tank.
once I had her cornered with the glass panel and egg crate, took me maybe 5 minutes to net her.

Took a few tries over a few days, but it finally worked, and I didn't have to remove any water or rock.

Good luck.

[Lucky Lefty]

I'm also surprised no one mentioned the acrylic fish traps I've seen. They have a trap door that slides down on one end. Allows you put food in trap, watch and wait, and once they go in, let go of the line to the door and BAM.. they're caught.
many videos on YouTube of said trap.