Catching fish

Reefer87 · Jan 9, 2022

So I’m trying to catch my fish to sell them. What’s the best method to do this? I have to move my rocks because they keep hiding where I can’t access them. And they dart all over. It’s harder than I thought. I’m giving them a break coz I don’t want them to stress too much.

shakacuz · Jan 9, 2022

drain some water, take out the rocks, or get/make fish traps.

Utubereefer · Jan 9, 2022

I like to use clear containers then use my hands to corral them. Reef Builders does it best

Bars · Jan 9, 2022

I loooove Aqua Medic's fish trap:

I can catch anything except a cleaner wrasse with it. Stick some food in the tube (or what I prefer to do: masstick to the back wall) or a mirror behind it and wait. Whenever I have to catch something I put it in the tank and just leave it for a few days and occasionally putting food in it. Most fish go in without problems. Damsels, wrasses, angels, tangs, nothing can resist the box of food. Works great for catching shrimp or crabs too. Put some sand in it and a nice big piece of strong smelling food and they'll walk right in.

SudzFD · Jan 19, 2022

Reefer87 said:
So I’m trying to catch my fish to sell them. What’s the best method to do this? I have to move my rocks because they keep hiding where I can’t access them. And they dart all over. It’s harder than I thought. I’m giving them a break coz I don’t want them to stress too much.

I made a fish trap. Cut the end off of a 2 liter bottle (I used a square apple juice bottle. Cut the lid off so the opening is big enough for your fish to swim through. Then cut the bottle near the top before the taper to the bottle opening. Invert the top into the bottle put food inside and set it in the bottom of the tank so it’s stable. Works best if you stopped feeding a couple days before.

davidcalgary29 · Jan 20, 2022

I've used large, transparent, ziploc bags. It seems to stress the fish out much less than using a net, possibly because they think that there's an escape route.