Help with capturing fish

jrice · 03/04/2006, 11:53 AM

Hi all

I need some ideas on how to capture a purple tang. He is almost four year old now and is about 3-4 inches long. I have a mixed 100g reef with only one fish ( guess who?).

Everytime I try to add new fish, Mr. friendly stresses them to death. I need some ideas on how to safely capture him, so I can return him to a local reef shop. I also would prefer not to take apart all the rock, sps, and lps corals.

Thanks

mandrin13 · 03/04/2006, 11:57 AM

I would use a soda bottle but now that i think about it the tang wont be able to fit thru the hole.
so nvrmnd

fishgeeksrus · 03/04/2006, 12:01 PM

Build a trap out of a 2 liter bottle.

Cut off the top (right where it begins to taper)

Cut off the spout ( large enough for your tang to swim through)

Invert the top half and glue the 2 pieces together (low temp hot glue works well)

If you want, cut a flap in the body of the bottle, to put in food and some sand to weight it down. (and to remove the fish)

Put some food into a filter bag or nylon, put sand in the bottle, lay it length wise on the bottom of your tank, put the food in and wait for the fish to go in.

It'll probably take about 30 min for your fish to get brave enough to swim in..

Hope that helps

Dennis

jrice · 03/04/2006, 01:22 PM

Thanks fishgeeksrus

It sounds like a very interesting idea. Perhaps some nori inside the bottle might work. I wonder if a tang will want to swim along the bottom sandbed to enter the bottle.

I'm curious if you have used this method to trap any undesirable fish. It is really pretty ingenious.

Reefcherie · 03/04/2006, 01:27 PM

Lots of great tips in this thread.

Best of luck!

fishgeeksrus · 03/04/2006, 02:11 PM

have actually used it for the same reason you did. Aggressive Purple tang.

onefin · 03/04/2006, 03:23 PM

I've always had great luck using a fish trap, doesn't harm the fish at all, and i have removed many.

landscapen · 03/04/2006, 05:56 PM

i like the soda bottle idea

03/04/2006, 11:53 AM	#1
jrice Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Phoenix Az. Posts: 22	Help with capturing fish Hi all I need some ideas on how to capture a purple tang. He is almost four year old now and is about 3-4 inches long. I have a mixed 100g reef with only one fish ( guess who?). Everytime I try to add new fish, Mr. friendly stresses them to death. I need some ideas on how to safely capture him, so I can return him to a local reef shop. I also would prefer not to take apart all the rock, sps, and lps corals. Thanks

03/04/2006, 11:57 AM	#2
mandrin13 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Valrico FL southish of Tampa Posts: 258	I would use a soda bottle but now that i think about it the tang wont be able to fit thru the hole. so nvrmnd __________________ Showers are for dirty people!!! If you only have one hand will second hand smoking affect you? Current Tank Info: I dont have a tank,I just like to be on this website

03/04/2006, 12:01 PM	#3
fishgeeksrus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Island Lake, IL Posts: 3,067	Build a trap out of a 2 liter bottle. Cut off the top (right where it begins to taper) Cut off the spout ( large enough for your tang to swim through) Invert the top half and glue the 2 pieces together (low temp hot glue works well) If you want, cut a flap in the body of the bottle, to put in food and some sand to weight it down. (and to remove the fish) Put some food into a filter bag or nylon, put sand in the bottle, lay it length wise on the bottom of your tank, put the food in and wait for the fish to go in. It'll probably take about 30 min for your fish to get brave enough to swim in.. Hope that helps Dennis __________________ Teach a man to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime..... Give a man a fish, he'll put it in an aquarium. Dennis+Andrea Current Tank Info: 180g Inwall SPS Dominated

03/04/2006, 01:27 PM	#5
Reefcherie Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 6,110	Lots of great tips in this thread. Best of luck! __________________ Life is short. Break the rules. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile. Current Tank Info: Tankless due to recent move

03/04/2006, 02:11 PM	#6
fishgeeksrus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Island Lake, IL Posts: 3,067	have actually used it for the same reason you did. Aggressive Purple tang. __________________ Teach a man to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime..... Give a man a fish, he'll put it in an aquarium. Dennis+Andrea Current Tank Info: 180g Inwall SPS Dominated

03/04/2006, 01:22 PM	#4
jrice Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Phoenix Az. Posts: 22	Thanks fishgeeksrus It sounds like a very interesting idea. Perhaps some nori inside the bottle might work. I wonder if a tang will want to swim along the bottom sandbed to enter the bottle. I'm curious if you have used this method to trap any undesirable fish. It is really pretty ingenious.

03/04/2006, 03:23 PM	#7
onefin Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Hurricane Alley Posts: 1,621	I've always had great luck using a fish trap, doesn't harm the fish at all, and i have removed many. __________________ "Click my little red house to visit my Lagoon" Current Tank Info: 125 gallon /40gallon Ecosystem

03/04/2006, 05:56 PM	#8
landscapen Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: RI Posts: 50	i like the soda bottle idea