I'm out of ideas.

Triggreef · Mar 4, 2017

Have a very large green coris wrasse about six inches long and unfortunately he's very smart. He's in a 200 gallon so I have plenty of room but he's impossible to catch. I need to get him out. I've tried a very large trap which I've used with great success with other fish, but every time I put it in the tank he buries for a couple of days and even if I leave it in there for weeks he will not go anywhere near it. I've also tried fishing line with a tiny hook which I almost had him with twice but now he won't go near that either. Way too much Rock and Corals in the tank to try anything with a net and there's no way I'm draining out 200 gallons to get him.

Outside of finding some sort of food that will create a temporary paralysis I'm out of ideas. Anyone got anything?

reeferfoxx · Mar 4, 2017

Can you get him hiding in a rock and then pull the rock out?

Triggreef · Mar 4, 2017

Not really. It would have to be a huge rock. He usually goes behind the main rocks and drives in the same but it's completely unreachable as the tank is 3 feet from front to back. Here's some pics...

runzwithscissors · Mar 4, 2017

This is just another crazy idea that I've used in the past with good results. I try and leave a space in my lr about 12" from one end. I keep a piece of plastic or acrylic that almost fits almost tight from front to back, top to bottom. I slide it in once the fish gets to the "short" end. Much easier to net in a smaller area.

Salty1962 · Mar 4, 2017

I had a Mystery Wrasse that became a terror for my tank. He was bold and angry when I wasn't close to the tank but a complete wimp when I got near it. I placed an AquaMedic trap in the tank and fed from it for 3-4 days without trying to catch it. I place a tube into the top of the trap that I would feed through. After it saw the other fish feeding from it he would go in it for longer periods. After the 4th day he would feed from it and on day 5 or 6 I finally got him. Of course each tank is different but patience is the key.

eatbreakfast · Mar 5, 2017

Aggressive and semi aggressive fish can't resist their reflection. A mirror can be used to great affect to get him to a corner.

Also, if you know where he buries, that could be helpful. Using the plastic driveway markers you can poke at his hiding space to drive him out of the sand, and using a combination of those as well as nets and eggcrate diifuser, block off his escape routes.