How do you catch fish in an established tank????

povsan · 10/28/2006, 03:32 PM

Well..... hello reefers!!!!!
How DO you catch these little guys in the established tank, especially with live rocks??????? The reason why I ask is if a fish is starting to get sick what am I suppose to do to get him out? Thank you

teen · 10/28/2006, 04:48 PM

if you can find out where he sleeps at night i find it easy to just go in there a few hour after lights out with a flashlight and net and get him out, it may be harder for you but ive had a lot of success with this. i even caught a purple pseudochromis doing this, and they are pretty quick. only problem is that the net sometimes gets caught on the LR and it kinda stress' the fish out if you dont get him right away. HTH

sherm71tank · 10/28/2006, 04:50 PM

Build or purchase a fish trap that you can bait.

Steven Pro · 10/28/2006, 05:52 PM

There are some tips here http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/sp/index.php

rickh · 10/28/2006, 06:57 PM

Unfortunately the only fish I have been able to catch once they have been released in the display tank are deaf fish

Select fish that are compatible and use a quarantine tank.
R

eddie c · 10/28/2006, 09:49 PM

i borrowed a fish trap from my lfs, worked great.

Raibaru · 10/28/2006, 10:09 PM

I had a yellow tail damsel that I managed to coax out of hiding during feeding and chase him into an open area in the tank. I then put some netting in to block his escape and eventually got him in to a corner and scooped him out with a net.

Unfortunetly, I felt sorry for him and put him back in my display tank a week later. He didn't learn his lesson and started picking on my Chromis so I had to rip my tank apart to get him out the second time.

If it is a sick fish, I bet they are pretty easy to catch. If it is a damsel, just sell the tank and start over

Sk8r · 10/28/2006, 10:33 PM

If it is a pushy fish where it comes to food, and thinks anything in the tank is his, piece of cake: start feeding mysis-in-a-net. Be very still, do nothing with the net to alarm him until you have an absolute committment from him to enter the net totally. You may have to feed with the net for a week or more until he gets so pushy he goes right on in. Have the net edge against the glass, roll it over, and you've got the beggar.

Randall_James · 10/28/2006, 11:16 PM

My best luck has been draining the tank down and it seems to put little stress on the fish than chasing the thing around. Fish traps always work but I always catch every fish but the one I want... I also hear that if you buy Steven enough beer, he will come over and catch the thing while you are on a beer run

Steven Pro · 10/29/2006, 05:33 AM

You have to catch the fish before the beer, otherwise I get far too sloppy.

Aliie · 10/29/2006, 09:46 AM

Steven, I've got a crab problem, can you help?

Steven Pro · 10/29/2006, 11:42 AM

The easiest method I have used to catch crabs is the soda bottle trap.

rcbones · 10/29/2006, 01:06 PM

Definately borrow a fish trap from a LFS. Set the trap in your tank and feed near the trap. After they get comfortable entering the trap to get food then trap em and pull em out.

Aliie · 10/29/2006, 09:32 PM

Is it safe to use with the seahorses? I'm afraid that something will get trapped in there with this crab and get eaten. Although the crab has gotten one seahorse, a clown, Mexican seahare and a flounder. Never mind I just need it gone. Use a frozen cube of brine or anemone krill?

Steven Pro · 10/30/2006, 05:38 AM

Krill or silversides would likely be my first attempt food. I would bait/set the trap right before lights out. This should lessen the possibility that the seahorse will be caught too, but should not bother the crab.

Aliie · 10/30/2006, 05:20 PM

I'll give it a shot. I hope it works. I want it gone before it gets my Manderine Goby.

10/28/2006, 03:32 PM	#1
povsan Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: california Posts: 123	How do you catch fish in an established tank???? Well..... hello reefers!!!!! How DO you catch these little guys in the established tank, especially with live rocks??????? The reason why I ask is if a fish is starting to get sick what am I suppose to do to get him out? Thank you

10/28/2006, 05:52 PM	#4
Steven Pro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 9,376	There are some tips here http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/sp/index.php __________________ Steven Pro, yep that is my real name. Current Tank Info: Twelve 600 gallon tubs located in a greenhouse

10/28/2006, 09:49 PM	#6
eddie c Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, Ca Posts: 414	i borrowed a fish trap from my lfs, worked great. __________________ EDDIE. "don't believe everything you think" Current Tank Info: 75g reef ready with 40 gallon trigger sump/refugium , tunze power head, vectra 2 return pump, Kessil AP9X lighting, reef octopus skimmer and have a battery back for both pumps.

10/28/2006, 10:33 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	If it is a pushy fish where it comes to food, and thinks anything in the tank is his, piece of cake: start feeding mysis-in-a-net. Be very still, do nothing with the net to alarm him until you have an absolute committment from him to enter the net totally. You may have to feed with the net for a week or more until he gets so pushy he goes right on in. Have the net edge against the glass, roll it over, and you've got the beggar. __________________ 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%.

10/28/2006, 11:16 PM	#9
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	My best luck has been draining the tank down and it seems to put little stress on the fish than chasing the thing around. Fish traps always work but I always catch every fish but the one I want... I also hear that if you buy Steven enough beer, he will come over and catch the thing while you are on a beer run __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

10/28/2006, 04:48 PM	#2
teen Registered Member. Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: MB, long island NY Posts: 963	if you can find out where he sleeps at night i find it easy to just go in there a few hour after lights out with a flashlight and net and get him out, it may be harder for you but ive had a lot of success with this. i even caught a purple pseudochromis doing this, and they are pretty quick. only problem is that the net sometimes gets caught on the LR and it kinda stress' the fish out if you dont get him right away. HTH

10/28/2006, 04:50 PM	#3
sherm71tank Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,670	Build or purchase a fish trap that you can bait.

10/28/2006, 06:57 PM	#5
rickh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lost_in_Michigan Posts: 1,306	Unfortunately the only fish I have been able to catch once they have been released in the display tank are deaf fish Select fish that are compatible and use a quarantine tank. R

10/28/2006, 10:09 PM	#7
Raibaru Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 979	I had a yellow tail damsel that I managed to coax out of hiding during feeding and chase him into an open area in the tank. I then put some netting in to block his escape and eventually got him in to a corner and scooped him out with a net. Unfortunetly, I felt sorry for him and put him back in my display tank a week later. He didn't learn his lesson and started picking on my Chromis so I had to rip my tank apart to get him out the second time. If it is a sick fish, I bet they are pretty easy to catch. If it is a damsel, just sell the tank and start over

10/29/2006, 05:33 AM	#10
Steven Pro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 9,376	You have to catch the fish before the beer, otherwise I get far too sloppy. __________________ Steven Pro, yep that is my real name. Current Tank Info: Twelve 600 gallon tubs located in a greenhouse

10/29/2006, 09:46 AM	#11
Aliie Simply Complicated Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ignacio, CO Posts: 708	Steven, I've got a crab problem, can you help? __________________ Shut your holster ~ Jason You!!!! had one job ~ Dave I can have fun at home, lying on the floor, trying not to fall off ~ Bart Current Tank Info: Torn down & packed away for now

10/29/2006, 11:42 AM	#12
Steven Pro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 9,376	The easiest method I have used to catch crabs is the soda bottle trap. __________________ Steven Pro, yep that is my real name. Current Tank Info: Twelve 600 gallon tubs located in a greenhouse Last edited by EdKruzel; 10/29/2006 at 12:26 PM.

10/29/2006, 01:06 PM	#13
rcbones Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 50	Definately borrow a fish trap from a LFS. Set the trap in your tank and feed near the trap. After they get comfortable entering the trap to get food then trap em and pull em out.

10/29/2006, 09:32 PM	#14
Aliie Simply Complicated Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ignacio, CO Posts: 708	Is it safe to use with the seahorses? I'm afraid that something will get trapped in there with this crab and get eaten. Although the crab has gotten one seahorse, a clown, Mexican seahare and a flounder. Never mind I just need it gone. Use a frozen cube of brine or anemone krill? __________________ Shut your holster ~ Jason You!!!! had one job ~ Dave I can have fun at home, lying on the floor, trying not to fall off ~ Bart Current Tank Info: Torn down & packed away for now

10/30/2006, 05:38 AM	#15
Steven Pro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 9,376	Krill or silversides would likely be my first attempt food. I would bait/set the trap right before lights out. This should lessen the possibility that the seahorse will be caught too, but should not bother the crab. __________________ Steven Pro, yep that is my real name. Current Tank Info: Twelve 600 gallon tubs located in a greenhouse

10/30/2006, 05:20 PM	#16
Aliie Simply Complicated Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ignacio, CO Posts: 708	I'll give it a shot. I hope it works. I want it gone before it gets my Manderine Goby. __________________ Shut your holster ~ Jason You!!!! had one job ~ Dave I can have fun at home, lying on the floor, trying not to fall off ~ Bart Current Tank Info: Torn down & packed away for now