Catching a purple tang?

phil bevilacqua · Mar 31, 2019

220 full of rock and coral.... how do I catch this sucker... he is a bully and that I guess I can deal with but I have noticed him nipping at my acan and zoa if they are closed up. Gotta go now!!!! Any advice? Ty

3mm3 · Mar 31, 2019

Easiest way I use is to go in at night with minimal lighting find his sleep location and quickly net out before the fish realizes what's happening. If that's not possible for some reason I have used fish traps with success but typically takes a day or more.

JDnKY · Mar 31, 2019

I’ve had luck putting a couple of frozen mysis shrimp cubes in a large fishnet and setting the net so the net part only is in the water. As they thaw fish will pick at them thru the net. Scoot the net around so they get used to the movement. Usually the bully will stand their ground when the net moves. When the time is right, go for it. Usually only get one chance tho and they remember for quite a while. I feed my fish this way every now and then to get them used to the net, without catching anything, in case I need to catch one later.

Mastiffsrule · Mar 31, 2019

I agree go at night with one twist. It works As long as he is sleeping some where in the open. Get a net ready right above the water. Get a strong flash light, turn the light on right in his eyes. it stuns them for a sec or 2 while eye adjust. Then scoop with net. Caught a domino damsel like this first try after everything else failed

Not too bright though

dwest · Mar 31, 2019

phil bevilacqua said:
220 full of rock and coral.... how do I catch this sucker... He is a bully and that I guess I can deal with but I have noticed him nipping at my age can he is a bully and that I guess I can deal with but I have noticed him nipping at my acan and zoa if they are closed up. Gotta go now!!!! Any advice? Ty

I can’t keep mine out of my tilted cup crab trap... I put a shrimp in the bottom.

lagatbezan · Mar 31, 2019

You can easily make a fish trap and catch him. Keep it in the tank and put food in it daily. After a few days it will get used to it and will be swimming in and out of it. Pull the string and close the lid and you got him.
Excuse the dirtiness. It's been sitting in the basement for years.

this is me · Apr 1, 2019

I have a lot of success catching fish with this.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aqua-medic-fish-trap.html
As long as the fish eats, it'll eventually go in there. It might not happen immediately as the fish will be very cautious to anything new in the tank. But after a day or two, it'll go in for the bait.