Catching a Tang

jwt1603 · May 8, 2020

So about a year and a half ago the LFS told me that the Blonde Nasso Tang (not sure on speling of Nasso) I was looking at wouldn't be a problem in my tank. Well, they were right. Mostly. I have a few Anthias but the rest of the inhabitants are smallish Gobie type of fishes. While the Tang isn't aggressive he's gotten to be so much bigger and faster than the other fish that he runs over all the other fish at feeding time. He doesn't chase or attack the other fish, he just sees food floating around and speeds over to it and the other fish scatter. Other than at feeding time he just swims around quite calmly. He really scares the heck out of my Watchman Gobie because the food invariably starts to settle right where he hangs out. He hardly gets anything.

So the store said I'll get credit for him if I bring him in. I've never had to catch a fish before so I need some pointers. It's a Red Sea 525 so it's a decent, not huge, size tank. Tank is 59 inches wide and 22 inches front to back and top to bottom. Lot of aquascaping with caves, tunnels and a lot of corals. I hope I don't have to take all the rocks out. I don't have anywhere to put them to keep them wet. Plus a lot of the corals have spread and are on muliple rocks so I'd tear them apart.

Suggestions?

Hydrored · May 8, 2020

I use egg crate to divide the tank, or a fish trap if but I've never had a tang go in one

Silentdeath5 · May 8, 2020

^done that before. Eggcrate idea is effective if you have space between island. My 1st go to is catching them at night 1-2hrs after lights go out. They’re kinda dazed so it’s easier to catch them using.

jeffrey750750 · May 8, 2020

What if you used the dried seaweed on his clip when you feed the others. I know that's where mine would be

ZipAdeeZoa · May 8, 2020

Poke around the tank a few hours after lights off with a red flashlight and see if you can find the tangs place of rest, fish can't see red light and they are kind of out of it which can often make it easier to catch.