View Full Version : catching fish in a planted tank.
timwag2001
08-19-2009, 7:05 PM
so i have some fish that i no longer want in my main tank. but its pretty well planted and fish dont like to be caught. so they hide and i cant get them.
anyone have any tips other than tearing out the plants?
Canuck
08-19-2009, 7:20 PM
Not sure if this would be effective for your fish or not (and I've never tried it). But when I feed frozen food (with a net) a lot of my fish will swim right into the net in order to get the food.
timwag2001
08-19-2009, 7:57 PM
i'll give it a try. i have a tiger barb, cherry barb, and 2 tetras that need to go. the barbs are fast!
That's a great idea. I just use 2 nets and try my luck.
thebrandon
08-19-2009, 8:29 PM
take all the plants out? lol
stratusfearrr
08-19-2009, 8:58 PM
It took me 3 hours and I removed all my plants and two pieces of driftwood to get my zig zag yellow tail eel out.
Goodluck!!
SubRosa
08-19-2009, 9:41 PM
There are commercially available traps that are normally used to remove problem hitch-hikers in SW reef tanks. There are also easy ways to build your own. You have to be there to actuate the trap but it beats getting stressed out chasing them with a net.
SnakeIce
08-19-2009, 9:42 PM
The food in the net idea is one I haven't tried, but it might just work.
The system I have used with success with planted tanks takes patience but it does work. You will need two nets, one as big as can be reasonably used in the tank and the second as small as you can get. The idea is to move the small net around slowly keeping the fish moving. Only move the big net to scoop fish up (the less you move it the better). Where patience comes in is that if you get the fish moving to fast it is harder to catch them. If you have a lot of fish to catch you may have to spend several sessions hours or days apart to get them all. If you happen to have stirred them up to a frenzy you won't be able to catch them and you just need to wait for them to calm down.
chonhzilla
08-19-2009, 9:53 PM
I've used traps like this to get them out.
First find a bottle like a water bottle or anything as long as its cleaned out pretty good. Make sure the bottle's opening can fit the fish because it'll be swimming in.
Cut the bottle into two pieces. Like the picture below and it doesn't matter where you cut it just make sure there's enough room for the top half to flip around and slip into the bottom half.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i22/chonhzilla/cut1.jpg
Like I mentioned, slip the top half into the bottom half. You can place food to attract the fish. I've used this method over and over and its proven to be effective. Just place it anywhere you like and just sit and wait.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i22/chonhzilla/cut2.jpg
Excuse the poor illustrations but I hope you get what I'm trying to say.
Good luck!
-Chonh
Bk718
08-19-2009, 10:21 PM
all of you are over thinking the process..
Just catch the fish after the lights have been out for a few hours.
Slappy*McFish
08-19-2009, 10:22 PM
^I made a trap like that to catch a mouse, once. It worked very well.
chonhzilla
08-19-2009, 10:38 PM
^I made a trap like that to catch a mouse, once. It worked very well.
That's how I got to using it.LOL:rofl:
sushiray
08-20-2009, 3:24 AM
That's how I got to using it.LOL:rofl:
wow! that is a better mouse trap!!
I have used 3 nets - 2 large ones placed opposite each other about 12" apart then the 3rd as a chaser! even the fastest scootiest fish will be easily caught without disturbing the plants or gravel too much - especially if they have to scoot around the plants - right into your nets!!
bazil323
08-20-2009, 9:46 AM
I had the same problem with a male krib. That little *%&# would sneak into any nook or cranny he could find, and even when I took nearly everything out, he would blend in with the gravel and practically disappear. Plus, it stressed out all my other fish. Big mess.
I broke down and bought UltraLife's The Trap 3x9, which worked awesome. I put a cube of Formula One in there and forgot about it for about 2 hours. Then I just sat down for about 10 minutes to watch the fish, and the krib I wanted to catch just slid right in. I dropped the door, and poof! He was outta there!
You can make a DIY version by using a 2 liter soda bottle or a larger Gatorade bottle with the wide mouth. Just cut the top off where it curves and then invert the top so that the mouth of the bottle points into the bottle. You can secure it with tape or something (I found it was hard to keep in place if it wasn't, I just gave up). The downside is that you can't close the opening once you get your fish, but they do find it hard to find once they are in there.
timwag2001
08-20-2009, 4:45 PM
no luck with the food in a net. gonna have to try the bottle trick. my only problem is that when there is food in the tank my rams take dominance and dont let anyone near the food.
all of you are over thinking the process..
Just catch the fish after the lights have been out for a few hours.
Wow I totally agree.. No need to build anything just flip a switch and taaadaaaa:huh:
timwag2001
08-20-2009, 7:21 PM
not a bad idea but my fish tend to take shelter in the plants when the lights are out.
dundadundun
08-20-2009, 7:29 PM
Wow I totally agree.. No need to build anything just flip a switch and taaadaaaa:huh:
rofl... did anyone notice he quoted himself? i know it's off topic, sorry... i just had to point that out.
timwag2001
08-20-2009, 7:32 PM
yeah i did. took me a minute. i actually looked back to see if someone was using the same pic, lol
Conski
08-20-2009, 7:33 PM
lmfao i never laugh but when he qouted himself that was hysterical
tekonus
08-20-2009, 7:35 PM
rofl... did anyone notice he quoted himself? i know it's off topic, sorry... i just had to point that out.
LOL yes I noticed right away but I figured I'd read to the end of the thread before saying anything about it.
SMinNC
08-20-2009, 8:20 PM
My problem with the lights out, is that I can't see.
if you have somewhere for the rams for a day or two. Remove them when they hog the food.
Put a couple of nets in the tank.
Wait an hour.
Feed them.
Catch them.
Put rams back.
shadow999991
08-20-2009, 8:25 PM
i once used a glass jar i just tipped it on it's side in the corner of the tank and used a small net to chase the fish around and they swam right in lol
Wow I totally agree.. No need to build anything just flip a switch and taaadaaaa:huh:
You are totally right since all fish are very lethargic when the lights have been out for a while and no matter if they are in plants or by/under wood it would be easier to catch them since they wont be darting around the tank like mad.. Just simply turn on the lights, place a net next to them and give them a light push.
Adding traps that are big enough for the fish is already a pain since it will bend plants or if anything they would have to be removed/replanted.. and then we are back to square 1 thinking why the heck didnt i just remove the plants in the first place..
:huh::huh:
tekonus
08-21-2009, 1:14 AM
You are totally right since all fish are very lethargic when the lights have been out for a while and no matter if they are in plants or by/under wood it would be easier to catch them since they wont be darting around the tank like mad.. Just simply turn on the lights, place a net next to them and give them a light push.
Adding traps that are big enough for the fish is already a pain since it will bend plants or if anything they would have to be removed/replanted.. and then we are back to square 1 thinking why the heck didnt i just remove the plants in the first place..
:huh::huh:
Genius! (I figured I'd quote you so you wouldn't be the only one doing it.)