How "unaware" are fish while sleeping?

C0rp · 09/29/2011, 09:33 PM

I need to pull a midas blenny out of the dt..too smart for trap and impossible to catch without breaking down tank. The fish sleeps in a football sized, shaped rock near the top of the tank and can easily be removed from tank without rearranging anything. My thought was to try and pull the rock after lights out, but I wasnt sure how aware the fish would be at this time. I dont want the fish to suddenly freak out and leap from its hole (falling onto ground or something) the second the rock leaves the water without giving me time to get it in a Brute can or something. Anyone have any experience with doing something like this?

tkeracer619 · 09/29/2011, 09:45 PM

Turn all of the lights on and be quick about it. You should be ok.

I snagged a clown goby out of my tank in the middle of the night like this.

Anthrax15 · 09/29/2011, 09:51 PM

Some fish like my Clowns fumble around and don't realize I am inches from them. On the other hand, the Midas Blenny will know. Best bet is to pull the rock out if the fish has established that rock as its main home. He will go back into that hole so you can pull the rock out. Hover the main hole over a bowl of water and in about a minute the Blenny will drop out.

boilermaker1 · 09/29/2011, 10:20 PM

I had to move a starry blenny several times by moving him in the rock... Just put the whole thing in a bucket and moved him, so I'd say you'll have no problems being able to separate into another container... As for holding the rock so the fish dropped out, I never had luck with that. Get the rock in another tank, wait for the fish to leave it, then nab the rock.

peasofme · 09/30/2011, 08:00 AM

also have a net handy

C0rp · 10/01/2011, 05:00 AM

Thank you all for your advice, and making a stressful situation for me very easy. I turned on the light, grabbed the rock quickly and the midas remained in the hole. I held the rock just over the water lvl of the QT and he dropped right out after about 1 minute. Thanks!

09/29/2011, 09:33 PM	#1
C0rp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: West Lafayette, IN Posts: 431	How "unaware" are fish while sleeping? I need to pull a midas blenny out of the dt..too smart for trap and impossible to catch without breaking down tank. The fish sleeps in a football sized, shaped rock near the top of the tank and can easily be removed from tank without rearranging anything. My thought was to try and pull the rock after lights out, but I wasnt sure how aware the fish would be at this time. I dont want the fish to suddenly freak out and leap from its hole (falling onto ground or something) the second the rock leaves the water without giving me time to get it in a Brute can or something. Anyone have any experience with doing something like this? __________________ 75RR, 4" DSB, 29G AE Tech Sump/fuge/ETSS skimmer w Mag9.5, Mag5 Return, RKE w Net, Tunze Osmolator, Tradewind 1/5HP Chiller, 6x54 ATI T5HO, Vortech MP40WES/MP10WES w/Battery Backup, Sarcophyton, Clavularia, Capnella, Briareum, Lobophytum, Nepthea, Sinularia Flexibilis, Ricordia, Discosoma, Rhodactis, Zoanthus, Caulastrea, Blastomussa Wellsi, Isaurus Tuberculatus, Seriatopora Hystrix, Plerogyra Sinuosa, Euphyllia Paradivisia, Tubipora Musica, Ecsenius Midas, Paracheilinus Carpenteri Current Tank Info: pH 8.0-8.2, Temp 78-80, Salinity 1.026, Alk 9dKH, Ca 400, Red Sea Coral Pro Salt

09/29/2011, 09:45 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Turn all of the lights on and be quick about it. You should be ok. I snagged a clown goby out of my tank in the middle of the night like this. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

09/29/2011, 09:51 PM	#3
Anthrax15 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,837	Some fish like my Clowns fumble around and don't realize I am inches from them. On the other hand, the Midas Blenny will know. Best bet is to pull the rock out if the fish has established that rock as its main home. He will go back into that hole so you can pull the rock out. Hover the main hole over a bowl of water and in about a minute the Blenny will drop out. __________________ Everything in moderation. 5D Mk1\|17-40 F4\|50 F1.8\|85 F2.8\|100 F2.8\|70-200 F4 Current Tank Info: 60g Cube

10/01/2011, 05:00 AM	#6
C0rp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: West Lafayette, IN Posts: 431	Thank you all for your advice, and making a stressful situation for me very easy. I turned on the light, grabbed the rock quickly and the midas remained in the hole. I held the rock just over the water lvl of the QT and he dropped right out after about 1 minute. Thanks! __________________ 75RR, 4" DSB, 29G AE Tech Sump/fuge/ETSS skimmer w Mag9.5, Mag5 Return, RKE w Net, Tunze Osmolator, Tradewind 1/5HP Chiller, 6x54 ATI T5HO, Vortech MP40WES/MP10WES w/Battery Backup, Sarcophyton, Clavularia, Capnella, Briareum, Lobophytum, Nepthea, Sinularia Flexibilis, Ricordia, Discosoma, Rhodactis, Zoanthus, Caulastrea, Blastomussa Wellsi, Isaurus Tuberculatus, Seriatopora Hystrix, Plerogyra Sinuosa, Euphyllia Paradivisia, Tubipora Musica, Ecsenius Midas, Paracheilinus Carpenteri Current Tank Info: pH 8.0-8.2, Temp 78-80, Salinity 1.026, Alk 9dKH, Ca 400, Red Sea Coral Pro Salt

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09/29/2011, 10:20 PM	#4
boilermaker1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chantilly, VA Posts: 784	I had to move a starry blenny several times by moving him in the rock... Just put the whole thing in a bucket and moved him, so I'd say you'll have no problems being able to separate into another container... As for holding the rock so the fish dropped out, I never had luck with that. Get the rock in another tank, wait for the fish to leave it, then nab the rock.

09/30/2011, 08:00 AM	#5
peasofme Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: usa Posts: 1,405	also have a net handy