Help removing a damsel

I bought some damsels when I started my tank a couple years ago, and now I cant catch it to remove it without removing everything out of my tank. I have tried the coke bottle trap but all the fish did was tuck his fins in an swim in, took a bite, tucked its fins in again an swam out. Any suggestions?

 

i'm afraid you are going to have to move the rock around and try to net the damsel. i've never heard of any tricks to doing this.

unless you decide to use cyanide.... I"M JUST KIDDING, JUST KIDDING!!!!! :-X
(bad joke jonathan, bad joke *slapping my hand*)

 

anytime I go anywhere near the tank now, its gone into hiding. the only thing I can think of is to totally empty it and break out 2 or 3 nets with some help from a friend.

 

I read a couple of these tricks while just browsing through books and webpages. Hope they work and help!! ;D

One little trick i can think of is to catch it when your lights go out. Wait about 3-4 hours after your lights have gone out and the fish is used to having his home all dark. Suddenly put on all the lights around the tank, and your damsel will take a while to get used to all the sudden lighting. This will make him significantly slower and much much easier to catch.

I read this on a website somewhere so im not sure if it works however, you can also try a baited trap. Get a clear container or plastic cup. Get two magnets and connected one of them to the side of the container or cup, and place one outside the tank. In doing this you should be able to move the container back and forth along the side of the tank. Now put bait in the container and wait until he comes into it to feed. Whne he goes in, rapidly push the container with the magnet up against the wall of the tank, trapping the fish. Now use the lid, or another flat object to cover the end of the container, tip it up and now you should have your fish trapped in the container.

Couldn't hurt to give them a go!! Good luck and i hope you get him out!!

 

I've use the "Fish Trap" with some success. I was able to get all but 1 fish out.

The key was to only feed the fish in the trap.

I have also heard of people getting very small fish hooks and have gone fishing for fish. These fish live and are fine after the catch

I still don't like the fishing Idea

J

 

one of my friends suggested that, but he was being an ass when he said it, lol...however I do have a sabachi rig which is used for tiny bait fish, which it should work if i bent the prong or whatever its called that holds the fish on like they do for catch n release fishing.

 

Yep, bend the barb with pliers or completely file it off so it will not rip through the fishes mouth and will be easy to pull out..

 

what i did once to remove a damsel is i put a net in my tank for a couple of days for him to get use to it and fed him over the net. then i put food on a wooden skewer stick so he could not take it and lifted the net to grab him.

 

You will have an easier time catching it at night after the lights have been off for awhile!

 

I've used the hanging the net in the tank for a few days trick, it's worked for me.