Help me get my damsel out of the tank please

lougotzz · 04/29/2009, 06:24 PM

Hello everyone,
I have to move my damsel into his Qt due to an ich outbreak, but I cant get him out, when I go up to the tank, he swims right into the rock. Does anyone know any tricks or anythign like that? When he sleeps at night time he sleeps in the rock.....

Thanks.

jimmy n · 04/29/2009, 06:31 PM

I recommend cyanide.... or, do you own a shotgun?

lougotzz · 04/29/2009, 06:56 PM

Yeah, should I shoot myself or the tank? lol

ptomoson · 04/29/2009, 07:26 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gKizvpGKPk

Agu · 04/29/2009, 07:28 PM

Take out the rock ?

Because damnsels are aggressive feeders most commercial/DIY fish traps are effective for catching them.

Or go fishing with a barbless hook .... believe it or not people have reported that this works.

jayk198030 · 04/29/2009, 07:30 PM

you try the soda bottle trick. put food in soda bottle and hope he goes in. i had to break down my 120g to get 3 out. dont buy damsels. that why they are called DAMsels. they suck and are now in my 30g frag tank.

Hal · 04/30/2009, 09:39 AM

Are you using a net? If so, I recommend switching to a clear plastic fish container (the kind that petstores hang on the side of the tank when they're grabbing fish with their nets). It's more difficult for the fish to see. I use the net to herd them into the plastic container. Works every time.

d3rryc · 04/30/2009, 10:07 AM

+1 for the soda bottle trick. It works even better if you drill a few holes in the bottom of the bottle so the scent of the bait disperses better.

Sugar Magnolia · 04/30/2009, 10:10 AM

I had to remove all my rockwork to get mine out. Tried the barbless hook and the little buger wouldn't bite.

Fluid · 04/30/2009, 10:21 AM

I was actually able to get mine out. It took me about two hours, but I did finally do it. I'm sure he hated life by the time we were done, but he did survive back at the LFS.

I first just tried using a net for about a half hour. Terrible idea. Then I started using a net and my turkey baster. This two-sided attack allowed me to corral him into a corner of the tank. Then, I switched to my funnel and my turkey baster to corral, and my fiance scooped him with a net. It sucked...bad!

widmer · 04/30/2009, 11:38 AM

Get those large clear generic food storage bags from the grocery store (~2 gallons?). Get a 3-foot long plastic zip tie from the hardware store. Slice off the locking feature of the zip tie, then poke holes in the plastic bag to make a butterfly net looking thing. Set it in your aquarium so that the bag is entirely open, it should take up like a third of your tank. Leave the handle sticking out of the tank. Then back away from the tank however much you need so that the damselfish swims into the bag, then come in and yank the bag out. It probably won't turn around to swim out of the bag as you're walking in, unless you leave it in there too long and it learns that there's only one way out.

patsfan1130 · 04/30/2009, 11:52 AM

I agree with removing the rock. It's a pain but when all is said and done, It's quicker than the time most spend on catching them. Plus it gives a good reason to re arrange your rockwork and give it a little scrubbing with a toothbrush

Dave & Monica · 04/30/2009, 03:13 PM

So did you get it?

lougotzz · 04/30/2009, 04:12 PM

Not yet..when I do hes going back to the pet store. I really dont want to move my rock around, it took me hours, to find a rock scape I liked, and after I move it, I cant get it back because I wont rembmer how it went. That clear bag thing is what I am going to try next.
Thanks.

mustang51js · 04/30/2009, 04:25 PM

i caught mine in 5 minutes with the soda bottle trick, cut top half off and put food inside, stay near by with a net and put the net in front of it when it goes in.

lougotzz · 04/30/2009, 04:56 PM

I got the bottle in now, to lazy to go to the store to get a bag, I see him thinking about going in the bottle.

04/29/2009, 06:24 PM	#1
lougotzz Moved On Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,524	Help me get my damsel out of the tank please Hello everyone, I have to move my damsel into his Qt due to an ich outbreak, but I cant get him out, when I go up to the tank, he swims right into the rock. Does anyone know any tricks or anythign like that? When he sleeps at night time he sleeps in the rock..... Thanks.

04/29/2009, 07:28 PM	#5
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	Take out the rock ? Because damnsels are aggressive feeders most commercial/DIY fish traps are effective for catching them. Or go fishing with a barbless hook .... believe it or not people have reported that this works. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

04/29/2009, 07:30 PM	#6
jayk198030 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tag, your it! Posts: 783	you try the soda bottle trick. put food in soda bottle and hope he goes in. i had to break down my 120g to get 3 out. dont buy damsels. that why they are called DAMsels. they suck and are now in my 30g frag tank. __________________ I feel like 1.025 and i look like skimmate. I eat crap and throw up! What am I? Current Tank Info: I need help!!

04/30/2009, 09:39 AM	#7
Hal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 1,889	Are you using a net? If so, I recommend switching to a clear plastic fish container (the kind that petstores hang on the side of the tank when they're grabbing fish with their nets). It's more difficult for the fish to see. I use the net to herd them into the plastic container. Works every time. __________________ Some days it's not even worth chewing through the restraints. Current Tank Info: 250g starphire: 72x28x30, BeanAnimal drain with an oversized non-durso emergency drain, 4 inch DSB, 3x Reefbreeders Value LED fixtures, SWC/MSX 300A skimmer, Geo kalk reactor, 3 Vortechs w/bb, carbon reactor, and a RKL

04/30/2009, 10:10 AM	#9
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	I had to remove all my rockwork to get mine out. Tried the barbless hook and the little buger wouldn't bite. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

04/29/2009, 06:31 PM	#2
jimmy n Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,256	I recommend cyanide.... or, do you own a shotgun?

04/29/2009, 06:56 PM	#3
lougotzz Moved On Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,524	Yeah, should I shoot myself or the tank? lol

04/29/2009, 07:26 PM	#4
ptomoson Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 274	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gKizvpGKPk

04/30/2009, 10:07 AM	#8
d3rryc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cedar Park, TX Posts: 213	+1 for the soda bottle trick. It works even better if you drill a few holes in the bottom of the bottle so the scent of the bait disperses better.

04/30/2009, 10:21 AM	#10
Fluid Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 275	I was actually able to get mine out. It took me about two hours, but I did finally do it. I'm sure he hated life by the time we were done, but he did survive back at the LFS. I first just tried using a net for about a half hour. Terrible idea. Then I started using a net and my turkey baster. This two-sided attack allowed me to corral him into a corner of the tank. Then, I switched to my funnel and my turkey baster to corral, and my fiance scooped him with a net. It sucked...bad!

04/30/2009, 11:38 AM	#11
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	Get those large clear generic food storage bags from the grocery store (~2 gallons?). Get a 3-foot long plastic zip tie from the hardware store. Slice off the locking feature of the zip tie, then poke holes in the plastic bag to make a butterfly net looking thing. Set it in your aquarium so that the bag is entirely open, it should take up like a third of your tank. Leave the handle sticking out of the tank. Then back away from the tank however much you need so that the damselfish swims into the bag, then come in and yank the bag out. It probably won't turn around to swim out of the bag as you're walking in, unless you leave it in there too long and it learns that there's only one way out.

04/30/2009, 11:52 AM	#12
patsfan1130 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Woburn, Ma Posts: 2,010	I agree with removing the rock. It's a pain but when all is said and done, It's quicker than the time most spend on catching them. Plus it gives a good reason to re arrange your rockwork and give it a little scrubbing with a toothbrush __________________ My cat's breath smells like cat food Member of the Boston Reefers Society Current Tank Info: 75g lps, 90g sps, 120g mixed, 180 nem tank, 300g reef, 600g up & coming reef

04/30/2009, 03:13 PM	#13
Dave & Monica Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 1,255	So did you get it?

04/30/2009, 04:12 PM	#14
lougotzz Moved On Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,524	Not yet..when I do hes going back to the pet store. I really dont want to move my rock around, it took me hours, to find a rock scape I liked, and after I move it, I cant get it back because I wont rembmer how it went. That clear bag thing is what I am going to try next. Thanks.

04/30/2009, 04:25 PM	#15
mustang51js Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: haskell, n.j. Posts: 593	i caught mine in 5 minutes with the soda bottle trick, cut top half off and put food inside, stay near by with a net and put the net in front of it when it goes in. __________________ george 50g corner reef yellow tang Current Tank Info: temp 90g reef,2 4bulb t5 lights-

04/30/2009, 04:56 PM	#16
lougotzz Moved On Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,524	I got the bottle in now, to lazy to go to the store to get a bag, I see him thinking about going in the bottle.