Catching my fish is near impossible!

Miami Reef · Sep 10, 2017

I have a pretty large 200 gallon tank with lots of rocks. The firsh are impossible to catch. They are either super fast, or they will hide in the rocks.

What's the best method for catching aquarium fish?

Robink · Sep 10, 2017

water bottle trap, google it.

shoelaceike · Sep 10, 2017

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/easiest-way-to-catch-a-fish.321959/

eatbreakfast · Sep 11, 2017

Mirrors at the front corners of the tank often dtaw fish to the open, and keep the fish distracted.

Eggcrate can also be put in the tank to block off sections, cutting down the possible escapes.

Fish traps also work.

Miami Reef · Sep 12, 2017

I still can't catch them. I tried the flashlight. They don't care. They just keep hiding and swimming far away. My tank is too wide to use the double net method.

Salty1962 · Sep 12, 2017

Aquamedic's fish trap works very well. I've caught several hard to get fish in mine. Worth a look.

LJLKRL05 · Sep 12, 2017

I use a fish trap. I made one out of acrylic similar to the ones that sell for $40 or $50.
I use rubber bands to make the vertical door close quicker.
Put some food in it for a day or two, then when they get used to going in it, pull the string and trap them.
I have a large blonde naso, and a large foxface. All my fish will go in it if the right food is in it.

shoelaceike · Sep 12, 2017

I just did the lights off again last night for a foxface. Works amazing. U have to hit them with really bright lights to stun them for a minute. Leave the room pitch black for an hour or more, get everything ready, then pop on the lights and scoop him out. Unless they are under a rock, this will work.

revhtree · Sep 12, 2017

LJLKRL05 said:
I use a fish trap. I made one out of acrylic similar to the ones that sell for $40 or $50.
I use rubber bands to make the vertical door close quicker.
Put some food in it for a day or two, then when they get used to going in it, pull the string and trap them.
I have a large blonde naso, and a large foxface. All my fish will go in it if the right food is in it.

^^^^ THIS!

If I want a fish out I can catch it with my trap easily. I just caught an Achilles tang in 30min out of my 8ft 400g reef! I'll get a photo of it for you.

revhtree · Sep 12, 2017

Found a photo of the same trap I use. Not sure what brand it is as I got it free when I ordered a mixed box of junk items from a sponsor years ago!

keddre · Sep 12, 2017

I do the lights off method. For fish like my engineers that hide under rocks, I left the net in for days until they finally got comfortable with going near it then a threw food in the net and presto! They swam right in

Treasure Coast · Sep 12, 2017

Fish trap with a long string and a chair. Patience!

Dominator · Sep 12, 2017

I have tried everything, I mean everything. I have the best luck with barbless, micro fish hooks. The hardest part is threading the little mysis shrimp onto the hook. After that piece of cake. I have a 250g with lots of rock. Google micro fish hook

CNC_Lou · Sep 12, 2017

I have had pretty good luck with a flashlight and total darkness. And larger net. Blind the with the light temporarily and nab them.

Eva Rose · Sep 12, 2017

If you use a fish trap, like suggested above, many of the acrylic ones can be used as a social acclimation box later. This way you have something that serves several purposes.

Miami Reef · Sep 13, 2017

Ok. I will purchase a fish trap. I will let you know how it goes. I have a few fish that I need to remove from the tank.

jkopfishman · Sep 13, 2017

Barbless fish hooks

Fallling · Sep 13, 2017

I'm running my tank fallow right while dealing flukes and so had to remove all the fish. I broke down and bought an Aqua Medic fish trap when all I was able to net were the dart fish. Stupid wrasse swam right in as soon as food was squirted in. The other fish were pretty easy to catch as well with a bit of patience. I had one stubborn cardinal fish that did take a few days to finally catch- he just did not want to swim into the box. By the third day of keeping the trap in the tank and feeding in/around the trap, I was finally able to get him. Using the trap seemed to be the best method for me. Plus, I can use it as a social acclimation box later on.

leahfiish · Sep 13, 2017

Some fish are easier to catch with different methods but fish traps do work, they just require patience. I use a social acclimation box to acclimate my fish, and often when I open it to let the new guys out, the old fish go in to check it out, so I know that would work for my curious fish but I doubt it would work for something like a dartfish. For those I prefer to block off their typical hiding hole with glass or egg crate and carefully corral them into a net.

For the vast majority of fish, you shouldn't try to be faster or more maneuverable than they are... Just smarter.