Enkidu, Louey, how did you catch those flame angels?

[jdamon]

I read the thread about how you guys had pygmy angels that were nipping at your clams. How did you catch them? I was hoping to avoid taking out all the rock. Maybe fishing will work. I tried the "trap", but none of the fish go anywhere near it. Thanks in advance.

Jeff

 

[jamesw]

There are some tips on catching "problem fish" in the Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine. Click on the link in my signature and read through the archives of the "Hot Tips" section.

HTH
James

 

[Anonymous]

I have caught every fish that I ever wanted to using the trap. Tangs are the easiest. They will be in the thing in 10 minutes, even if there is no bait. The flame angel was probably the toughtest to get out. I think it took about 3 weeks to get him. He seemed to know that I was up to something :wink: . You just have to be patient . You'll happen upon him in the trap eventually, then boom, drop the door and viola, he's outta there!

Pretty fish, it's is a shame that most nip. Mine nipped everything. I knew I had made a mistake the minute a put him in. DOUGH!

Good luck.

 

[esmithiii]

Louey,

Where did you get the trap? Was it manually actuated?

Ernie

 

[MandarinFish]

You came to the right place.

Coral Beauty nipped my clam (nearly to death).

So I removed all rock from one side of the tank. Fed that area, had a big plastic rubbermaid lid (nearly transparent) ready to drop.

Isolated the CB in that part of the tank; netted him out.

Took some time, but had to happen.

HTH.

 

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by esmithiii:

Where did you get the trap? Was it manually actuated?

I borrowed it from different LFS each time I needed it. They all seem to rent them around here, some don't charge. I'll probably buy one the next time I mail order. The one I used looks just like this http://www.reeffanatic.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=misc&item=TRAP_UT3X9&type=store

It is manually actuated. Tie a fishing line to the trap door. Tie the other end of the fishing line onto something fairly heavy and place it on the floor in front of the aquarium. Depending on the type of canopy you are using you will probably need to fish the line into the small gap between the canopy and the top of the tank. Otherwise the lid is likely to stop the trap door from dropping.

Then wait patiently. I have trapped 3 tangs that needed to be removed at different times. All three were caught within 5 or 10 minutes, without even using bait! The pink spotted shrimp goby was fairly tough to catch. It took the better part of a week. He only went near it when the trap had frozed formula one in it. Even then he only went in about 1/2 way. The second time he went 1/2 way in I dropped the door on him hoping that he would hop forward when the door touched his back end. He did and that was it, back to the LFS with him.

Good luck, and happy fishing!

 

[Enkidu]

I considered getting a trap, but in the end I decided to just remove the rock from my tank. I didn't really want to do it, but considering the fact that I was also trying to remove two domino damsels and that I also didn't really have very many corals to move, I came to the conclusion that it wouldn't be a big deal.

Good luck!

 

[jdamon]

Thanks a lot everybody! I've tried the trap, so I think I will just have to bite the bullet and take out all the rocks. I want to fish for him, but I am worried I will catch one of the other fish.... Tahnks again.

Jeff