Catch big damsel in my 180

[p woodard]

For about a week we have been trying to catch a damsel with a coke bottle need a new idea to catch it

 

[NeedBiggerTank]

Will it not go in the two litre bottle to eat?

 

[p woodard]

no he will move the 2 liter bottle all over the tank

 

[NeedBiggerTank]

ROTFL

Maybe you need a bigger bottle!

 

[mixer911]

Good luck, those suckers are a PITA to catch in a small tank, I could't imagine in a 180. :smile: Might have to use hook line and sinker.....

 

[p woodard]

Funny you said we tied a kite string to the bottle and tried to catch it

 

[p woodard]

This it

 

[NeedBiggerTank]

Weigh the bottle down with a decent sized rock, so your little friend can't move it around. Adjust the bottle so the cut end is facing slightly downward, so food gets trapped in the end. ONLY feed them in the bottle - use a dropper or turkey baster to squirt the food into the far end of the bottle... wait with a net and when he goes in the bottle, use the net to block his escape. Its important that you have a net larger than the mouth of the bottle. How large is the damsel?

 

[p woodard]

it is 4 1/2 inches long it is by far the biggest fish in the tank can catch everything else except that big fart

 

[Netta Fish]

i have used very small trout hooks to get them out of my tank i just bend or cut the barb off so i dont hurt the fish to bad.

 

[p woodard]

What did you use for bait funny but not I have fished in alot of places but never in my livingroom

 

[NeedBiggerTank]

At that size, I'd use a 3 liter or even better, a milk jug. A two liter may be a little to tight of a sqeeze for him to go all the way in.

 

[MoneyPit]

How about a rubber band and a paperclip, like a little harpoon... J/K I do like the trout hook idea though +1

 

[p woodard]

I cut the place the bottle top goes on off and made it to where it could get in without hurting itself but instead of going in it picks at the bottle and moves it around like a ball or something it is funny to watch

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

You can buy a barbless hook. Me and a buddy caught a foxface in 1 minute within placing the link and hook in the tank. Just have to pull it away if other fish come to take the bait. The foxface was fine and still alive to this day that I know of.

We used a little piece of PVC I believe as the pole.

 

[p woodard]

Ok looks like I will be fishing in the livingroom if someone has something better that will not hurt the fish like a hook post it

 

[Netta Fish]

+1 on the hook i had to do it last night to get a 4 eye fox out of one of the reef tanks at work

 

[pickupman66]

+5 on the hook line and bait. I had a hawkfish and it took one time. just put a chunk of cocktail shrimp on the hook tip small enough to get in his mouth. when he bites it, a little tug is all it takes...

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Barbless hook!

 

[_Alex_]

yea very small barbless hook is goign to be the best bet. it wont hurt the fish! will put a small hole in his lip that will heal up within a few weeks like it was never there! just make sure the hook is BARBLESS! otherwise taking it out can be a real issue.