Most painless Damsel removal?

[ApoIsland]

The site he linked to is all sold out, trying to find any on amazon etc

I believe I got mine at Walmart or Target or something. If you can't get barbless you can just bend the barb down with a pair of pliers.

 

[TurboTang]

I've done this with a blue damsel and it worked perfectly within seconds of the hook being in the water.

Along with the satisfaction of getting the fish out of the tank there is a certain fiendish pleasure usually derived from the feeling of that fish you despise dangling at the end of the line.

I had a couple damsels I had to remove from my tank - same reason they started eating every fin they could find.
I bought some plexiglass and cut it to roughly the depth/width of aquarium. Then drilled a bunch of holes in it so flow could pass through. I could insert the panels and section off the aquarium to minimize their hiding places. The damsels were so aggressive even attacking the plexiglass you could easily trap them and net them out. I have multiple rock structures with space between - this method would not be as practical with smaller aquarium. But I found they can also be trapped between end glass and captured in same way.

 

[ps2cho]

Well I bought this fish trap off amazon:
Sea side Aquatics Medium fish trap. nice quality well built!

24hrs in...he's interested where the frozen food was dropped in this morning. I think I should be able to get him in a day or two, want to give it a couple more feedings so I don't scare him immediately with the trap door:

He's not going all the way in, just a little...but I figure another day or so, and he'll be waiting for the food from the dispenser:

 

[Webslinger]

good luck...still not as fun as fishing from your couch

 

[ps2cho]

good luck...still not as fun as fishing from your couch

Couldn't easily find the right hooks, images were showing barbs, nothing on amazon etc...a fish trap will come in handy for this, and for future acclimation duties as well.

Will report back when I get him!

 

[Sebastiancrab]

I use a slightly large Tupperware container and my smaller net to entice him into it. Then press it against the glass and slide up. Slip your net underneath and problem solved!

 

[ps2cho]

Worked a charm!!

Only took 2 days of feeding before he was willing to swim into it no problem.

Painless!

 

[ApoIsland]

Worked a charm!!

Only took 2 days of feeding before he was willing to swim into it no problem.

Painless!

Nice work. Did any other fish swim into it during that time?

 

[ps2cho]

Nice work. Did any other fish swim into it during that time?

Kole Tang swam in as well. Royal Gramma stays in the cave 24/7, only darts out to grab food. I dont think this would work to catch a Gramma, but they rarely cause any issues in any tank. Great fish to own!

I'd think this would catch almost any free-swimming fish. Anything too timid wouldn't work unless you would be able to slot it right next to wherever their hole is.

 

[ps2cho]

Wow...a few hours after catching him, my royal gramma and black clownfish are swimming in areas they NEVER did before.

They must have basically been bullied into corners and never allowed to swim peacefully in the middle of the tank.

Best decision ever to catch the damsel and put him into a 10g quarantine tank!

 

[ApoIsland]

My favorite statement on keeping damsel fish came from someone on this site. I believe it was that damsel fish should only be kept with other fish that eat damsel fish. That about sums it up perfectly I believe.

 

[bigjgmac]

My yellow damsel is now constantly attacking my Kole Tang...he's got bite marks every week...
Increased feedings hasn't fixed it, so the Damsel has to go into the QT.

What's the most painless option here? I dont want to remove rocks because my Royal Gramma hides under my main rock and there's a risk of crushing him and a couple shrimp.

Does the 1L bottle inverted work? What has worked for any of you?

I have a four stripe damselfish that has to go. I’ve purchased both a fish trap and some size 24 hooks. Either way, he’s going. I have a couple of gentle fish coming in from Marine Collectors in 9 days and the damsel has to be gone prior to their arrival.

I’ll post a follow up on how it goes.