Giving up on catching!!

[Trickdout69]

Ok so I have a powder blue tang in my tank that is causing nothing but problems. I have done everything in my power to catch him. I have tried meting him myself and even had a few people who work in aquarium store come over an try. I tried the 2 liter bottle trap and he never goes near it. I can't pull the rock out cause it's all glued together and tons of coral on it. I'm at my last nerve. He's going after fish all the time and forget trying to add anything new. I even tried a cleaner wrasse and he killed it minutes after I dropped it in there. I feel like the only thing I could do it put something in there to keep him in check. I just donno. Maybe another powder blue? I forgot to say the tank it 250g and there are several tangs including a blue hippo, yellow, virmini, bristle tooth and a few other ransoms. What is anyone's thoughts on this

 

[eliramos]

oh man that sounds horrible!
how long has he been in there,
have you tried the mirror trick if hes as aggressive as he sounds that may be your best bet!

 

[Velodog2]

I used a trick for a damsel many years ago that could work, although it's not the most elegant. But since you are desperate ... the hair nets worn by food service workers disappear under water and are elastic rimmed. I stretched a few of those over the fish's favorite openings in the rocks and then chased him around. It was tangled in a net in seconds.

 

[Trickdout69]

He's been in the tank for over a year now. I have tried the mirror trick he doesn't seem to pay much mind to it

 

[Saltgator]

Is he a aggressive feeder? Start feeding via a turkey baster. Once he learns food is dispensed from it, he'll follow it. You might get lucky and net him during feeding this way (he'll be distracted hopefully). I too ain't pulling rock out to catch any fish. I use the above method and also a critter cage. Start spraying a few bites of food in there without the clear lid on (leave the vented lid, just remove the clear hinged lid), fish go in, no idea how to get out. Fish caught w/o a net. Simply pull out the container. Might take a few days (fish will get use to it being in there). GL

 

[Mike J.]

This is the best trap that I've seen. I think it works so well because it is so clear in the water.
Aquarium Acclimation Kit: Reef Gently AccliMate Pro

 

[Trickdout69]

I will have to try the hair net trick.

 

[Blindrage]

Also try in the middle of the night. Most fish have a specific sleeping spot, and they are slow to react once they are tucked in.

 

[Velodog2]

I will have to try the hair net trick.

It will work. If he doesn't go into the net then it will have to stay out of the rocks and you can catch him w a hand net. Rock vs. hard place. You can buy them at a grocery store. Let us know.

 

[Trickdout69]

I have tried at night the fish doesn't seem to sleep or stay still.

 

[Treefer32]

I have a very active Sohal Tang I need to catch.... So what are you doing with the Powder blue? You selling it, killing it or what?

 

[Trickdout69]

No I would never kill him. I'm gonna try to trade him in at my local fish store but I'm not sure if I will ever catch him

 

[Trickdout69]

Ok I gave the hairnets a try and no success. He stayed as far away as he could. I left them in there over night and this morning same thing. What are your thoughts on something like adding another powder or something just like him? Think it would put him in check?

 

[Velodog2]

Aw man I'm disappointed! If he stayed away did that mean he wasn't in the rocks? But you couldn't net him? Or did he just use other entrances? Sorry. Maybe I just got lucky with the damsel.

 

[jdl513]

With enough patience I have been successful with this trap.

Nets & Traps for Aquarium Use: Aqua Medic Fish Trap

Here is what I would do....may take a few days or a few weeks, but it should work!

1) Install the trap in an open spot of your display with the glass door open just enough so the tang can swim in and out.
Wedge something between the glass door and bottom that you can reliably remove to drop the door when you want....say a piece of clear plastic with some fishing line.

2) Leave the trap just like this for as long as it takes for the tang to get accustomed to it being there which may take a few days or even a few weeks.

3) Once the tang is used to the trap start placing a small sheet of nori inside the trap on the back side using a clip, magnet or even a piece of rubble with a rubberband.
Make this the only place the tang can get or its favorite food and it should go in there to get it. Given enough repetition the tang should start going in without hesitation.

4) Once this becomes routine all you need to do is place a sheet of nori and when the tang is busy feeding pull the fishing line to spring the trap and you got it.

 

[Trickdout69]

Iv tried the fish trap. He wanted no part of it. I left it in there for a good amount of time and he never went near it. He knows I'm after him lol. I'm just out of ideas

 

[Saltgator]

Where about are you in FL? Just seeing if your close to me and I could help.

 

[Trickdout69]

I'm just south of Tampa. What about you?

 

[AJsTank]

Go to home depot and buy the egg crating that is in the lighting section. Cut a big piece and stick it in the tank from back to front glass. If you can't move it to the side and trap the fish, cut more sections and stick it down in between rocks and the walls.

 

[mcarroll]

I'd go straight for hook and line. Get something like a #3 fly-fishing hook and appropriate line from some place like Orvis. Bait with mysis or his favorite chunky food.

You'll easily be able to control the bait to avoid letting all the other fish catch it until Mr Powder Blue comes for the bait. (Have some extra buckets with water standing by just in case someone in the tank is quicker than you...no need to throw him back in the tank until you are done.) Then it will be a lock and he'll be out of the tank. Never seen this fail and I've rarely seen other methods work without obscene amounts of stress for animal and/or keeper.

-Matt

P.S. If the idea of a hook bothers you, wait til you see a #3 hook in person....tiny! The barb is barely even visible - sand it off if it bothers you.