Agressive adult Dominos

[keving]

I got a nice 120 reef tank with corals & a few fish. The adult domino is very teritorial and goes in attack mode every time I put my hand in to rearrange the furniture. Any advice on how to get him to stop? I keep swatting him away but he's a persistant little bugger! :lol:

Also, if he actually bites me will it hurt or is that a silly question? 8O

 

[Anonymous]

It will probably hurt a little. I had a large clownfish that made me bleed a couple of times.

The way to get him to stop is to take him out of the tank, I don't think you will have any luck reasoning with him.

 

[keving]

Thanks. So is the operative word there "Had" a large clown? :lol: Ya, I've been trying to net him but he ain't goin' easy! Also draining 25G for a water change. Figure I might as well do that now (actually transported 100% of the water from the original tank a couple days ago- now THAT was a chore!). Anyway, with the water level lower it gives me some room to rearange and avoid the little nipper. It's tough as there is life on virtually EVERY piece of live rock in there! I don't think I can get the domino out without hurting something else.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I guess you could wear thick rubber gloves whenever you reach into the tank

Catching fish is definently easier if you can drain some of the water out.
If he is that bold you might be able to get him to swim into a trap without too much trouble. Good luck.

 

[ChrisRD]

Yeah - I'd consider a fish trap. Another option is to start training him to eat out of the net. Something else that works if you know where he tucks in at night - turn the lights on early in the AM and ambush him while he's still sleepy. :wink:

 

[keving]

Thanks for the replies gang. I ended up holding a couple nets in one hand mid-tank while I rearranged one side of the tank. It kept him away but definitely not convenient! Hmmm... fish trap? Haven't seen them, but interesting... will check my LFS! 8)

 

[Anonymous]

You can build a very simple fish trap out of an empty 2-liter soda bottle.
I'll see if I can find a picture of one.

 

[Brian5000]

Whenever I had a destructive fish, I've always watched him to see where his home is. When he darts into it in fear, I could just remove the rock and shake out the fish. It worked for my yellowtail damsel and my strawberry dotty.
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