Easiest way to catch a fish

[shoelaceike]

I've tried everything. Food in net, it works but not all fish go in and you also need patience. Fish trap, same as above. I just found the lights on in the dark is amazing. The fish are so disoriented that they are so easy to scoop up.

 

[Bubs2]

I like the food in net method for me. Everyone just swims right in and starts eating hehe

 

[Ryan@ShelteredReef Verified Sponsor]

Small net/stick and large net. Fish will typically ride the glass as they swim away from the smaller net or even your hand. If you put the larger net or a specimen container close to the corner of the tank, you can corral the fish into the large net or specimen container. The trick is you have to keep them from darting into your rock work.

 

[ChiCity]

Flashlight method

 

[shoelaceike]

Small net/stick and large net. Fish will typically ride the glass as they swim away from the smaller net or even your hand. If you put the larger net or a specimen container close to the corner of the tank, you can corral the fish into the large net or specimen container. The trick is you have to keep them from darting into your rock work.

This is difficult with an aquarium that has top bracing. I also end up knocking or breaking coral.

 

[ZoaCollector]

Yes when completely dark for atleast 3 hours. Then hit them with the lights and they're easy to catch, minimal stress.
If it's a fish that hides in the rocks you'll have to use the trap door method with food during the day.

 

[Ryan@ShelteredReef Verified Sponsor]

This is difficult with an aquarium that has top bracing. I also end up knocking or breaking coral.

True. It really works best if you can "convince" them to come to the front of the tank. Slow, gradual movements are best to avoid knocking stuff over. It takes some practice but its how I used to catch the fish in a 90 gallon display when I worked for an LFS. I did the same a few days ago to help a buddy of mine catch a yellow tang in his rimless 180. Definitely much easier to work in a tank without the center brace.

 

[Ashish Patel]

I have to catch my flame angel - I am thinking to traping with some egg crate in a corner and netting out..I may consider making a egg crate box with a smaller opening that I can trap, can't justify the price of buying a trap just to catch 1 fish.

 

[LJLKRL05]

I use a DIY fish trap. I bought some acrylic from Home Depot and some glue from Hobby Lobby.
In this case I had a Lamarck angel that developed a taste for my Wellso. The poor coral was shrunk up to nothing, so I put it in the trap for bait.
The next day I had the fish caught and brought to my LFS.
The rubber bands help slam the door shut so the faster fish don't escape. Just be careful not to slam the door on the fish.
For algae eaters, I have a piece of gutter guard a little taller than the inside of the trap and the same width. I folded it in half with a heat gun.
I put algae in it and shove it in the back of the trap. Within a day every algae eater is going in and out of the trap. My starry blenny just lounges in the trap and pigs out.
Works like a charm, but it does take a day or so with it just in the tank so they get comfortable with it and will go in and eat.

 

[ws6kid]

I want to add some more fish to the DT and I have 2 yellows and a kole tang that will need to be temp removed so the new fish can settle in. Thanks for these tips!

 

[Ashish Patel]

I use a DIY fish trap. I bought some acrylic from Home Depot and some glue from Hobby Lobby.
In this case I had a Lamarck angel that developed a taste for my Wellso. The poor coral was shrunk up to nothing, so I put it in the trap for bait.
The next day I had the fish caught and brought to my LFS.
The rubber bands help slam the door shut so the faster fish don't escape. Just be careful not to slam the door on the fish.
For algae eaters, I have a piece of gutter guard a little taller than the inside of the trap and the same width. I folded it in half with a heat gun.
I put algae in it and shove it in the back of the trap. Within a day every algae eater is going in and out of the trap. My starry blenny just lounges in the trap and pigs out.
Works like a charm, but it does take a day or so with it just in the tank so they get comfortable with it and will go in and eat.

This is by far the best DIY trap i've seen.. This can't be easy to do and requires some level of skill. I don't have the time or patient right now to take on another DIY project outside of wood (currently building a canopy to supplement my LEDS with some t5s.).. I can see a benefit to using this as an acclimation box for new fish and even coral

 

[kenniole]

Here are my options below.

Fish that I like - Fish Trap / Flash light at night with net

Damsels..... - bring out the harpoon.

 

[LJLKRL05]

This is by far the best DIY trap i've seen.. This can't be easy to do and requires some level of skill. I don't have the time or patient right now to take on another DIY project outside of wood (currently building a canopy to supplement my LEDS with some t5s.).. I can see a benefit to using this as an acclimation box for new fish and even coral

Thanks!
It is really not that hard. I used a table saw to cut the plastic and the glue just gets sucked into the joints. It is like water. If you are careful you won't spill it on the plastic like I did.
The box would have to be a little bigger for an acclimation box but it could work. Would have to have some vent hole sin it though.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Thanks for the tip.. I think i'll give it a try! Its not like it has to hold water or anything.

 

[ca1ore]

Easiest ..... Drain the tank down and pick it up off the sand LOL. Maybe not the best way. I've had the most luck with waiting until they're sleeping at night, blast them with a flashlight and net them while confused.

 

[Rjramos]

This is a simple device I made with a small pet travel container. As you can see, it worked quite well and trapped the damsel. It didn't work right away though. You have to do all daily feeding from within the container. For bait, I used a small plastic pill container and opened small holes on the sides. I filled this container with live brine shrimp from LFS. The live shrimp swim out of the holes sparingly, and the fish go crazy in anticipation and start going inside the container. Gotta give it days doing this, as the container is new and foreign thing for them. I used fishing line to close the door once the fish I wanted was inside.[emoji106][emoji847]

 

[LbulletM]

Easiest ..... Drain the tank down and pick it up off the sand LOL. Maybe not the best way. I've had the most luck with waiting until they're sleeping at night, blast them with a flashlight and net them while confused.

That's how I got my Potter's Angel the other week.

(Ignore the Instagram screen cap. It was already on my computer)

 

[Kremis]

fish trap + net
if they wont go in willingly to eat, then you can almost always herd them towards it, they wont see it and go in, and just close w/ net

 

[Rjramos]

I don't know about all these active net ideas chasing and herding fish.[emoji848]The second I put a net, a stick, a hand, or move a rock in my tank which has lots of live rock, every fish disappears into the rocks! I gave a nice cheap idea above, that is proven( pic has damsel inside trap), and not even 1 like[emoji106]? [emoji45]

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

I gave a nice cheap idea above, that is proven (pic has damsel inside trap), and not even 1 like

hahaha that's great idea
I got similar idea but I use the cut plastic soda bottle, it's work wonderful for small aggressive fish eater (damsel, wrasses, Diamond goby, shrimps) but seem not working for shy, skittish fishes.