How do you catch a moonbeam in your hand?

Ok not really but how do YOU catch a fish in your tank if you have to! I am trying to catch a PJ cardnal. He doesn't want to be caught! I think I have tried everything except draining my tank but that is next!! I really don't want to do it. So if you have any ideas, before I tell you what I have tried, will you please post how you catch a fish. Maybe someone has some good ideas on how to catch a moonbeam when it does'nt want to be caught! Thanks in advance!!arty-smi

 

This method worked for me - but takes patience
I left a plastic handled net in my tank for a few days and eventually the fish became less wary of it
at feed times I held the net whilst putting in food - but initially did not move it
a few days of this and I started moving the net about and the fish although a little nervous continued to feed
last part of the process was to bring the feeding closer to the net and then a quick flick and you have your fish

it takes about 2 weeks , so dont mess it up or its another 2 weeks getting the fish confident again

 

Taser? kidding of course. I always used two nets. Worked for everything but the fastest fish.

 

size 22 barbless! hook and 8 ounce nylon - with a very small piece of prawn - if all else fails

 

I agree with the hook and line method. My brother in law is a trout fisherman and luckily keeps all those rediculously sized hooks and I got a hippo tang out of my tank w/ a size 20, which i bent back the barb with tweezers and then threaded a little shrimp onto it. It took a couple of sessions totaling about 2-3 hours but i got it out whithout any rearanging of the rockwork or water removal. After the other fish seemed a little wary of me for a couple of days, but everything is good now.

 

I have tried netting at night when he is asleep but he sleeps behind my rockwork. I have a trap in there now that I only feed in it and it has been it there about 1.5 weeks. Not working. Every other fish will go in and eat to their hearts galore. I have tried the fishing method and he has no interest in the floating snack. I have tried the baggie method which is kinda liike the 2 net method but I have a weird tank and the middle section of the top of my tank is large and hard to swoop anything out. I will try the net method but I don'thave hopes. Any one else have any other ideas. I think I will be draining my tank to morrow just to get him out! He is one of my first fish I got and I don't like him because all he does is hide behind the rock work if anyone is around the tank. And not just because we are trying to catch him. He has always done it. I was able to catch the other 2 cardnails but not this one!! HELP! PLEASE!!!!!

 

Soup can or similar with a rubber banded top?? the old rabbit in the box trick ??

 

Well I drained the tank! I would like to thanks those with suggestions!

 

Did it go smoothly for you? I have a 3 stripe giving me the same troubles. Smart little bugger.