how the heck do you catch a damsel fish in a reef tank?

fishfreak83 · 08/28/2006, 11:29 PM

im trying to take my damsel fish out of my tank because there way to aggressive any suggestions these things are fast and I dont want to move all my rocks around just to get them

essexboy73 · 08/28/2006, 11:32 PM

hook and a worm

outy · 08/29/2006, 12:14 AM

keep the net in the tank and feed near it for a week, youll get your chance but you may only get one.

feeding from the net helps if you can [after a week of net in tank]

xtm · 08/29/2006, 01:22 AM

Forget it. It's HARD and almost impossible, esp. if you don't have any patience

Remove the aquascape and scoop him out. Re-aquascaping only takes around 30 mins... compare this to several hours of begging the damsel to get into The Trap

pirate2876 · 08/29/2006, 01:50 AM

do it at nite.ive caught them with my bare hands at night.

chucksta1 · 08/29/2006, 03:33 AM

Get one of those kid's suction dart guns from the dollar store, remove the suction cup and sharpen the end to a barbed point. Place a bit of shrimp on the end. When he goes for the shrimp, pull the trigger.

Just kidding, seriously though, try outy's method, but put the food IN the net. Make 'em all swim into the net to eat. Sooner or later greed will overcome instinct. I've got three yellow tails. I feed the tank frozen cubes that I roll between my fingers to disolve. The yellow tails come right to my fingers. I can flick them with a finger and they come right back. They wouldn't at first, but they were too greedy to resist. I could probably grab one while feeding, or at least cup my hand and flip him out of the tank.

Beware though, you only get one shot at it. I netted a tri spot damsel out of one tank and into another. It was over a month before he got over it. He would hide in the rocks when I came into the room. If one of the kids walked up to the tank, he was fine, If I walked over, he fled to the rocks. If you're going to use the net to get him out, make sure you get him on the first try, or it could be a month before he'll forget and goes back in again.

Good luck.

Chuck.

Steven Pro · 08/29/2006, 05:38 AM

Here are some suggestions, http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/sp/index.php

gdavis17 · 08/29/2006, 06:15 AM

I have been very successfull with the inverted soda bottle trap multiple times. If you haven't tried it, I would say it's worth a try. What is it going to hurt. I caught a lunar wrasse with this method in about 3 minutes. good luck.

08/28/2006, 11:29 PM	#1
fishfreak83 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: omaha nebraska Posts: 64	how the heck do you catch a damsel fish in a reef tank? im trying to take my damsel fish out of my tank because there way to aggressive any suggestions these things are fast and I dont want to move all my rocks around just to get them

08/29/2006, 01:22 AM	#4
xtm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Panorama City, CA Posts: 4,703	Forget it. It's HARD and almost impossible, esp. if you don't have any patience Remove the aquascape and scoop him out. Re-aquascaping only takes around 30 mins... compare this to several hours of begging the damsel to get into The Trap __________________ Function before fashion Current Tank Info: 120g SPS Tank (48x24x24)

08/29/2006, 05:38 AM	#7
Steven Pro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 9,376	Here are some suggestions, 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

08/29/2006, 06:15 AM	#8
gdavis17 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Muncie, Indiana Posts: 496	I have been very successfull with the inverted soda bottle trap multiple times. If you haven't tried it, I would say it's worth a try. What is it going to hurt. I caught a lunar wrasse with this method in about 3 minutes. good luck. __________________ Half of my life is perfect because if I think about it I'm either at work or in front of my tank. Current Tank Info: 30 cube, 40# lr, 30# ls, misc. softies, 2 maroon clowns, lawnmower blenny

08/28/2006, 11:32 PM	#2
essexboy73 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: baltimore Posts: 51	hook and a worm

08/29/2006, 12:14 AM	#3
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	keep the net in the tank and feed near it for a week, youll get your chance but you may only get one. feeding from the net helps if you can [after a week of net in tank]

08/29/2006, 01:50 AM	#5
pirate2876 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: san diego CA Posts: 70	do it at nite.ive caught them with my bare hands at night.

08/29/2006, 03:33 AM	#6
chucksta1 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: mississauga ont. Posts: 490	Get one of those kid's suction dart guns from the dollar store, remove the suction cup and sharpen the end to a barbed point. Place a bit of shrimp on the end. When he goes for the shrimp, pull the trigger. Just kidding, seriously though, try outy's method, but put the food IN the net. Make 'em all swim into the net to eat. Sooner or later greed will overcome instinct. I've got three yellow tails. I feed the tank frozen cubes that I roll between my fingers to disolve. The yellow tails come right to my fingers. I can flick them with a finger and they come right back. They wouldn't at first, but they were too greedy to resist. I could probably grab one while feeding, or at least cup my hand and flip him out of the tank. Beware though, you only get one shot at it. I netted a tri spot damsel out of one tank and into another. It was over a month before he got over it. He would hide in the rocks when I came into the room. If one of the kids walked up to the tank, he was fine, If I walked over, he fled to the rocks. If you're going to use the net to get him out, make sure you get him on the first try, or it could be a month before he'll forget and goes back in again. Good luck. Chuck.