Catching Damsels

[Ducman996]

What is the best method for catching damsels in a reef. My LFS told me to use a 2 liter bottle and put food in and just wait till they swim in and pull the bottle out. Just looking for some good ideas. I have 3 too catch.

Thanks for the help,

Ryan aka ducman996

 

[sslarison]

Thats probably not gonna work. Youll have to take all the rock out and catch them. Damsels are pretty smart,Their not gonna go into the that bottle.Hope this helps.Hope your tank isnt very big. :lol:

 

[zibnata]

I have caught damsels with a 2 litter soda bottle. As a matter of fact 1 just last week. Take the plastic 2 liter bottle and cut off the bottom and leave the cap on.Put flake food in and drop it in the tank slowly so the food stays at the bottom by the cap. Try to rest it on its side at a very slight angle (cap on the bottom side,opening on the top)hang out by the tank so the fish get used to you being there. Any slight movement and the will swim back under rocks. Be patient . It always seems the fish you want to catch is the most nervous about going in, but eventually it goes in. Wait tell it goes towards the cap end near the food and then yank the bottle out. You have to be quick because they are.It really works.Let us know how you make out. Good luck.

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
The "soda-bottle" method does work. Lot of patience is needed.... good luck.

 

[Henry1]

A friend of mine bought a volitan pterois to do the job. 8O
It really work!

 

[JohnRogan]

try dynamite

 

[Will C1]

good luck i still have one in my 120 i couldent catch with out removing my rock and i did not want to do that.

 

[Ducman996]

Well, I tried tonight without any luck.....I will try again tomorrow before feeding time. One of them tried it but he was too fast for me. I will let you guys know.

 

[henkelsfamily1]

H Bomb

 

[zibnata]

works for me every time.leave the bottle in there so they get used to it .It works better when they are really hungry.

 

[smokin reefer]

A nuclear warhead always works for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That little bast&*% has got to go. :twisted:

 

[Anonymous]

I have a fishtrap that is a section of 4" pvc with a cap on one end. The other end has a section of eggcrate hinged on one side with monofilament. Then another connected monofilament runs out of the tank and jerks the door shut when yanked on. Its big and ugly, and took 2 weeks to catch the fish I wanted, but it does work.

 

[Anonymous]

Heh heh...ahhh yes. I remember when I first became involved w/ Marine Aquaria and didn't know a thing. Therefore, I took the suggestion of our LFS and cycled my 1st tank w/ Damsels....what a nightmare getting them out after the tank was cycled. I had to remove all the LR in order to accomplish the task. I 2nd the Volitans... :lol:

 

[GSchiemer]

I swear by the UltraLife fish trap to catch fish in reef aquariums. I just used it yesterday to catch a Bodianus bimaculatus wrasse. Caught him within 15 minutes. May take a little longer for damsels, but it should work.
See http://www.ultralifedirect.com/traps.htm

Greg

 

[Mogo]

A little tiny hook, a small piece of worm and a bobber. Failing that, try a wet/dry shop vac. You will need an assistant to turn on the vac when you say "....NOW!" 8)

 

[reefann]

I have yet to try it but put a piece of nori on a net, then when they come and start picking BAM got em. Dynamite may be to big but some M-80's or M-95's will probably do the job.
JJ
_________________
beginner investing

 

[M.E.Milz]

My approach, although I have yet to perfect it, is to try and partition off a portion of the tank with plexiglass or netting. Once the fish swims into the section I block it off. It then should be relatively easy to catch the fish in this smaller area absent of rock, corals, etc.

My first attempt at this was a large piece of netting attached to three wooden dowels. I would stick the dowels into the sandbed so as to stretch the netting across the front corner of the tank. Obviously, the netting has to big enough to extend the full height of the tank. It sort of worked since every fish in the tank other than the 6" sailfin tang that I was trying to catch would swim in and out of the partitioned off area.

I plan to try it again with clear netting or a large, clear plastic bag. I am convinced the concept will work, but have yet to prove it.

 

[DontYouJustWish]

Take an old powercord you are no longer using..... :lol: ..... plug it in :twisted: ..... then drop the other end in the tank

 

[Jrsydevi1]

If reefkeepers were as smart as Damsels... there would be no Damsels in the tank for the reefkeeper to catch.. just an observation..

Seriously though... these obnoxious little bastards are some of the most deviously clever fish I have ever encountered.

I cycled a tank with one once... and it subsequently badgered every other fish that was even remotely similar in size into starvation in very short order.

After trying numerous trapping/chasing/partitioning methods.. and even going FISHING for it with the smallest hook I could find, I finally decided I had to tear down the tank to get it.

I wound up having to remove EVERY SINGLE rock from my tank.. the LAST piece of rock was only a little bigger than the Damsel itself.. yet there it was... under the rock.. on its side, lying on the substrate... MOCKING ME!

That fish got unceremoniously flushed, and I'd do it again...

Good Luck gettin rid of yours...

-Devil