What's Next???

Don't feed for a couple days then use food inside the trap. Keep the door closed until the fish you want is right in front and only open it for him. Its worked every time for me.

 

Believe or not I know people that have actually used a small fish hook and it worked well, never tried it myself but I have heard good things about the approuch.
If you have to resort to trying to catch it, do it at a time when the fish is sleeping, they are usually dazed and easier to catch.
I do not envy you, but I agree the damsel will only make your life hell later as you add more fish, and his aggression will only get worse as he gets older.

 

I may just be lucky but I ALWAYS catch my yellow-tail damsel in my simple bottle trap. I've caught him every time, probably 8 or more times. The only thing is I never want to catch him but he always goes in first or is there when I come home.

Can't hurt to try: Build a Better Fish Trap (DIY AQUARIUM TOOLS PROJECTS)

I either put a little piece of raw shrimp in or baster some brine shrimp into the bottle, he goes right in and stays stuck until I let him out.

FYI I used an empty bottle exactly like this & cut it towards the top, it has a bigger spout so maybe that's why it worked better:

 

Now theres something that sounds like it could work,thanks mcfarrow and Redgambit!I'm not opposed to hooking the little bastard either

 

Hah, If you do, I think a video is needed as proof :.

The light trick worked well for my Blueface Angelfish when I took him to trade in, and With My Blonde Naso in a Tank Transfer. But they are bigger fish so..

 

Yeah,i didn't mean to hijack kaketanks thread,but the same issue applies to me as well.He eats off the top of the water with flake food,so i'm thinking of letting him get hungry for a couple days and try the swoop and scoop method.

 

I agree, except that damselfish are pretty hard to catch. In an aquarium that small, the best thing to do is remove it. It will want to dominate the whole tank and you won't be able to add peaceful fish.

 

I will make a vid of how easy it is to catch my damsel, it's sooo friggin easy, mine is named Ray Charles.

 

Then your pretty lucky,like NASAgeek said,mine is to sly,he'll just sit back,look you in the eye and laugh.The funny thing is,i like damsels,had great luck with several,but this one?this one is different,when he looks at you,you can tell,he's figuring things out(jurassic park line ;D )

 

haha, yeah I def got lucky with mine, I just have to laugh everytime I am trying to trap another fish, I put the trap in, and walk away, 10 mins later, he's in the trap going "wtf, how did I get in here again".

makes sense they're named "damn"sels