Trying to fallow tank. Tips on catching watchman goby

[whyoming.white]

Last week something wiped my whole tank out(my fault got lazy and didn’t quarantine a new arrival because I trusted the guy). I’m leaning towards velvet because the white spots didn’t look like ich.

I was able to save a few fish and they are now being treated with copper and I want to fallow my tank. My problem is I can’t catch the last fish in my tank. The dang watchman goby shoots under my rock work when he sees a net and he hasn’t fallen for the bottle trap yet. I tried withholding food for a few days but I don’t want to completely starve his pistol shrimp buddy.


Anyone have any other things I can try. There’s no way I can remove the rock work due to how corals are placed. A guy at my local shop suggested completely with holding food and hoping for the best, but I really don’t want to starve him to death.

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

Mike

 

[Maritimer]

You might be able to make a trap out of a Kritter-Keeper or a social acclimation box... I'd try tying the string to the Kritter-Keeper's open door, looping it through the lattice top, and laying the thing on its side, such that when the fish enters and you pull the string, the door will close and the trap will be pulled to the surface. You could put a small mirror inside it, as well as the food.

Some folks have had success with very tiny fishhooks with the barbs either filed off or squashed flat with pliers.

#reefsquad, any other thoughts?

~Bruce

 

[dbl]

I would agree with the makeshift fish trap. May have to skip a feeding or two to,get him hungry, then feed the trap and hopefully he'll take the bait. I too have read numerous posts of the un-barbed hook but have never tried it myself.

 

[whyoming.white]

I’m going to give the fish hook a try. Hadn’t thought of that

 

[whyoming.white]

Caught him with a small hook last night. Worked like a charm! Let the fallow period begin.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Caught him with a small hook last night. Worked like a charm! Let the fallow period begin.

How's his mouth look? I considered doing this one time but I've fished more than enough to know what a poorly placed hookset could do to thin-skinned fish. I considered taking a trout fly hook and turning it into a circle hook to hopefully prevent catching the fish's gills.

 

[whyoming.white]

Mouth looks great. I used a salmon egg hook(round) with the barb crushed down. Got him in the top of the mouth and got him right out and off the hook easily.

 

[Ehunforfun]

Never thought of the fish hook idea...wow!