Catching a nuisance

chat2BREWSKY · 01/18/2010, 11:32 AM

Like some other Newbies, I started my tank with a damsel. (not for cycling - I had cycled my system for 3 months before introducing fish. over cautious) but now I realize that the 3-stripe damsel is way to aggressive and territorial. I've changed the rock-scaping around to deter him to find a new space and rethink his territory, but he's right back to thinking he owns the whole tank. His happiness is at the cost of other fish. I'm just not down with that.

Any ideas on how to catch him? He darts pretty quick, but does let his guard down often.

tommyb · 01/18/2010, 11:39 AM

How large is the tank he is in?

Chiefsurfer · 01/18/2010, 11:40 AM

first try and associate the net with something good for him. Say, let it sit there for a few hours. Then put a single piece of food in there and try and put it near the net. Then try taking it out, putting another piece of food in and sticking the net in. Each time giving him some time to adjust to the net. It might take a few days, but he should eventually associate the net with food, and he should quickly grow acustomed to the net, and should be easy to catch.

chat2BREWSKY · 01/18/2010, 11:51 AM

55 gallons

julie180 · 01/18/2010, 11:51 AM

A fish trap with a mirror in the back works great for agressive fish. They can't resist going after their reflection.

Julie

chat2BREWSKY · 01/18/2010, 11:52 AM

I'll try this and see if I can get him to let his guard down. He's so skiddy though.

chat2BREWSKY · 01/18/2010, 11:53 AM

where does one find a fish trap? that sounds like it would really work.

eho72 · 01/18/2010, 11:55 AM

I just caught my emperor angel the other day to trade him to another reefer from my 120g. Here's how I did it. I used an empty platic container used for the calcium reator media. Big enough to fit the angel and long enough so that I have time to trap him in there. Put the container on top of some rocks, added food at the very end of the container. Watched him go in for the food. Then used a net to cover the opening where the lid goes. Took all of 5 minutes. You just need to put in his favorite food.

julie180 · 01/18/2010, 10:29 PM

Some fish stores will rent you a trap. If not, its not hard to build one out of a cheap plastic container.

LKGRenegade22 · 01/18/2010, 10:32 PM

See if you can find someone local to let you borrow a fish trap. You can make one out of a something plastic but a real deal fish trap will be easier. I have one and they work wonders.

01/18/2010, 11:32 AM	#1
chat2BREWSKY Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 19	Catching a nuisance Like some other Newbies, I started my tank with a damsel. (not for cycling - I had cycled my system for 3 months before introducing fish. over cautious) but now I realize that the 3-stripe damsel is way to aggressive and territorial. I've changed the rock-scaping around to deter him to find a new space and rethink his territory, but he's right back to thinking he owns the whole tank. His happiness is at the cost of other fish. I'm just not down with that. Any ideas on how to catch him? He darts pretty quick, but does let his guard down often.

01/18/2010, 11:39 AM	#2
tommyb Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Commerce Twp, MI Posts: 66	How large is the tank he is in?

01/18/2010, 11:40 AM	#3
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	first try and associate the net with something good for him. Say, let it sit there for a few hours. Then put a single piece of food in there and try and put it near the net. Then try taking it out, putting another piece of food in and sticking the net in. Each time giving him some time to adjust to the net. It might take a few days, but he should eventually associate the net with food, and he should quickly grow acustomed to the net, and should be easy to catch.

01/18/2010, 11:51 AM	#4
chat2BREWSKY Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 19	55 gallons

01/18/2010, 11:51 AM	#5
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	A fish trap with a mirror in the back works great for agressive fish. They can't resist going after their reflection. Julie

01/18/2010, 11:52 AM	#6
chat2BREWSKY Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 19	I'll try this and see if I can get him to let his guard down. He's so skiddy though.

01/18/2010, 11:53 AM	#7
chat2BREWSKY Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 19	where does one find a fish trap? that sounds like it would really work.

01/18/2010, 11:55 AM	#8
eho72 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 322	I just caught my emperor angel the other day to trade him to another reefer from my 120g. Here's how I did it. I used an empty platic container used for the calcium reator media. Big enough to fit the angel and long enough so that I have time to trap him in there. Put the container on top of some rocks, added food at the very end of the container. Watched him go in for the food. Then used a net to cover the opening where the lid goes. Took all of 5 minutes. You just need to put in his favorite food.

01/18/2010, 10:29 PM	#9
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Some fish stores will rent you a trap. If not, its not hard to build one out of a cheap plastic container.

01/18/2010, 10:32 PM	#10
LKGRenegade22 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Littleton, NC Posts: 209	See if you can find someone local to let you borrow a fish trap. You can make one out of a something plastic but a real deal fish trap will be easier. I have one and they work wonders.