Help Me Catch A Damsel in a 1000G Tank

[waltercat]

So my company moved into a new building a few months ago and there happened to be a 1000G reef tank (with 3 corals) in the lobby. I started putting corals in it a couple months back and quickly discovered that a huge black damsel likes to eat softies. He almost destroyed a huge colt coral that I got from a guy on this board. Luckily I discovered that it wasn't opening up because the damsel was periodlically nipping at it, and moved it to a different tank. He has also devoured about 2 pounds of xenia and anthelia that i placed in the tank.

I need to catch him. He's about the size of a small fist, smart, quick and cautious. I tried a net w/ food, fish'n hook, and cornering him with eggcrate, but was unsuccessful with all.

I was directed to this thread on reefcentral and was wondering if anyone had a trap like the ones shown or described here:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=707656

If so, could I borrow it. You would help open up a window of possibililies to what could be a gorgeous tank.

 

[Reef Guy]

wow in a 1000 gal tank good luck with that. Your best bet is to snorkle in the tank and spear him. You have any pics btw?

 

[DEEPWATER]

Oh boy ,small fish in a 1000gal tank ,I can dive in if you like(jking )
1st ,do oy uhave any other fish in the tank
If the answer is no.Then dont feed for a few day .get a very small fishing hook.and take off the that spike on the hook so you can get off the fish .(tht one way)
2cd ,if you could get in touch and pick up from GQ22 he has my fish that you are more than welcomed to borrow.but you have to srave the fish trap for a few days so no matter what he will go for the bait .

 

[House of Laughter]

Only if I get to visit, see or donate to the cause - I have that if you need to borrow.

LMK, House

 

[DEEPWATER]

Only if I get to visit, see or donate to the cause - I have that if you need to borrow.

LMK, House

I wanna tag along to se this tank .if its cool .I cn help as well

 

[waltercat]

Thanks for all the quick replies. I'd have to try to do this on Saturday morning as that is the only time I can really cause a to-do with the tank. I'd love to invite everyone, but it my company is not too keen on random visitors coming in and out. I'd be comfortable with 1-2 coming to help me get the fish out. It's not all that impressive of a tank right now. Maybe one day, but not now.

 

[DEEPWATER]

Ok i see on thing that would be great if you can do ,try to get some eggcreate and divid the tank so the damsel is in one area ,that would help alot
try not to feed the tank for a few days,so the fish will be hungry.(thi will help to bait him out)
we could then have another pc os EC and trap fish between both PCs

 

[ctxmonitor]

the only way is i guess bait him out.. use a fish trap and put food in it.

 

[DEEPWATER]

the only way is i guess bait him out.. use a fish trap and put food in it.

too many fish to try and trap 1 fish ,IMO ,its big tank dude .fish are not stupid.thats like finding a niddle in hay stack on one try. :smokin:
Diviiding the tank in 2 or 3 will give you a better chance on traping him :p

 

[DEEPWATER]

and i would try to get him to the right of the tank ,since oi see you have less rock on that side

 

[DEEPWATER]

Not to perdict ,but he way i see it .If you can ge the fish to the right side of the tank and get an EC to trap it from going to the other side ,is not going to be that hard ,Thats IF

 

[Tonyscoots84]

lolz dude its 1000 gallons. that doesnt seem like fun at all. get out the fishing pole. your going to be there all day. Just kiddin with ya. good luck

 

[SlamaJama]

lmao@ reefguy...like to c jim try that 1...lmao

 

[jhale]

that tank has awesome potential.

deepwater has the right idea, partition the tank with eggcrate.

it would be best to make a break in the rock work on the right side so you can try and trap him in a smaller section.

you can get eggcrate on canal street at canal plastics a 2x4 sheet is $12.00

having two people to help is necessary. two people should herd the fish with nets and the other one should man the eggcrate. once the fish is sectioned off don't mess around, take out all/move the rock and net him. make sure someone is always holding the eggcrate, if it falls or moves and the fish gets out you will not be happy, lol, it's happened to me.

good luck, it will probably take an hour if you can get him to the right side.
maybe feed the tank just on that side so it gets used to being over there with people.

 

[waltercat]

Eggcrate will not work. I tried it already. There is too much rockwork to move and I can only partition half of the tank off.

I'm pretty sure a fish trap will work as the damsel loves to eat colt coral and none of the other fish will. I'll bait it with that and he'll be there in no time. He has territory on the far right side of the tank.

I can't fish him out with abait and hook because I do not want to harm any of the other fish.

I just need to borrow a large trap that has worked for someone in the past for a fish the size of a small fist.

 

[DEEPWATER]

Eggcrate will not work. I tried it already. There is too much rockwork to move and I can only partition half of the tank off.

I'm pretty sure a fish trap will work as the damsel loves to eat colt coral and none of the other fish will. I'll bait it with that and he'll be there in no time. He has territory on the far right side of the tank.

I can't fish him out with abait and hook because I do not want to harm any of the other fish.

I just need to borrow a large trap that has worked for someone in the past for a fish the size of a small fist.

Never say never ,thing tent to work out when you have a few heads together .
dont think that if something worked for another reefer that tarp will work for you,you will have to leave the trap in the tank for a few days so the fish get use to it ,or they will be scared of it ,that in my experiances with fish trap .,usless the fish is really stupid ,lol
put if yo uneed help you got the right ppl on your side ,its your call ,trap will work but it may take a while ,
i would use EC just to divid the tank in two ,as far as rock work ,if you have to move it to catch the fish then thats what you have to do.Its either be smarter than your fish ,or break your head ,IMO the fish doesnt want to get caught

 

[waltercat]

I think the trap is a better idea for the time being. The egg crate will cause some big disruptions in the tank that I am not prepared to begin. I do not mind waiting a few days with the trap. I just need a trap that is easy to get into and difficult to get out of. I've heard of cutting the top off of a 2litter bottle and reversing it inside the bottle, but this will work only for smaller fish. I need something similar but bigger.

Or a trap that looks something like this. The RC thread sounds like this trap is very good.

The damsel loves softies, so I'm sure the bait will lure him.

 

[DEEPWATER]

I think the trap is a better idea for the time being. The egg crate will cause some big disruptions in the tank that I am not prepared to begin. I do not mind waiting a few days with the trap. I just need a trap that is easy to get into and difficult to get out of. I've heard of cutting the top off of a 2litter bottle and reversing it inside the bottle, but this will work only for smaller fish. I need something similar but bigger.

Or a trap that looks something like this. The RC thread sounds like this trap is very good.

The damsel loves softies, so I'm sure the bait will lure him.

Try making it out of the water bottle you get from Poland springs .you have a 100o gal tank ,it should fit