How to catch a fish

[DaveS]

I know this sounds silly but I thought it would be good to hear ideas on how people with bigger tanks and lots of coral generally catch their fish. I got a 210 with lots of coral and when I try to catch tangs, they outsmart me.

 

What are some techniques people have successfully used in the past?

[hbh]

Rebecca mentioned leaving a large net in the tank and feeding the food from it. You bend the net to the right and the handle to the left into sort of a Z shape. When there is any food left over, it can be removed with the net. After awhile they are used to the net always being there. My tang was caught in the early morning before the lights came on and by lifting the rock that formed his cave that he slept in. He was out of sorts and much easier to cach when just awakened by his roof being lifted! I had left the net in for a couple of weeks so he didn't catch on as quick this time either.

Edited July 24, 2007 by hbh

[Guest JasonD]

Here's a video of how Melev caught his Hippo: Tucker Trapper

[jason the filter freak]

I hand feed all of my fish and aside from the goby they all come to or breach the surface during feeding, just swoop them right up

[bigJPDC]

Use two nets like they do at the LFS - they run from one right into the other one.

[Nitro Junkie]

Marvin from Atlantis suggested a fish trap , cant remember the brand but they said it works like a champ.

[rsaavedra]

I use a 1G Hawaiian Punch bottle, cut the neck of the bottle, inverted the neck inside the bottle, secured it with zip ties and put their favorite food inside. Within 15 minutes I had every fish in my tank inside the trap and they couldn't really get out.

 

Raf

[treesprite]

I like Raf's idea. I just can't see catching a tang in a net.

[DaveS]

Yea but unless that 1G Hawaiian Punch jug is nothing like a milk jug, I don't see a tang going through the opening either.

 

I think there are some pretty good ideas to catch fish of various size, shape and intelligence. Too bad I don't have an acrylic shop like Melev or I'd build a trap like that!

[treesprite]

true, a tang can't fit in a little opening - would just have to be a whole lot bigger

[jason the filter freak]

How does it get though such a tiny hole?

[rsaavedra]

true, a tang can't fit in a little opening - would just have to be a whole lot bigger

 

You tailor the hole to what you are trying to catch.

[treesprite]

that's a pretty big hole, but I guess it doesn't need to be as wide as it is high for a tang