Advice on moving larger/skittish fish

Holly9937

Holly9937

AC Members
Jan 20, 2005
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Michigan
Hi everyone, It looks as though we are finally going to sell our house! Here is the situation, if anyone can offer any ideas I would greatly appreciate it.

I have a 180g tank with 1 bala, 1 bristlenose pleco, 1 rainbow shark, 1 random tetra, and 3 clown loaches. My main concern with the move is the bala. He is the last of 3, being a loner for quite some time now. One jumped out (through the smallest hole/only uncovered spot in the tank, hard to even imagine) and the other injured itself and didn't make it. Anyhow, the one left is thin, but around 6-8 inches. Ideally, I am going to have a new, slightly smaller tank set up at the new house, adding the filters and fish. It is only an hour drive, so hopefully the water conditions will not be drastically different and I'm sure I'll preserve most of the bacteria. The o
 
I keep having trouble trying to edit this : ( Anyhow, I wanted to add that I will likely move the other fish in 2 tupperware containers, as big as I can manage and still carry. The bala I am thinking about bagging, to prevent it from injuring itself from hitting the sides of a hard transport container.

Any thoughts? THANK YOU!!
 
When I am moving bigger fish, I usually use a 5 gallon bucket with a lid loosely attached. has worked fine so far. Good luck.
 
Thanks. It is an option I'm considering!
 
Did you mean advice for the moving? Or for safely catching the large skittish fish from the tank?

My gouramis isn't quite that big but she's terrifed of nets. What I have to do is take everyting out of the tank, lower the water and chase her with a large clear dish, once I get her in I put my other hand over it and quickly take her out and place her in the bucket or wherever. The first time she bit me lol, but she prefers this over other methods (though she still thinks about biting me, but she only did it the first time).
 
I guess advice for both : ) The idea of having to make this move is making my head hurt!! I do need to remember to lower the water level, the bala is definitely a jumper, so that will help tremendously! Thanks, I think I'm going to literally write out a list so I don't forget something critical once I get into the process of catching and moving!
 
Lists are a must! :D

Good luck! :)
 
I've moved fish (granted considerbaly smaller fish) in 5 gal buckets as well and its pretty easy. Just make sure you have a lid but don't "snap" it on so it's sealed entirely. A cooler of sorts may offer a better surface area rather than something round with a smaller diameter.

Lowering the water level makes it easier to catch fish.

With only an hour drive I think things will go pretty smoothly.
 
I should also add, when I have to catch my bigger fish (I have 3 x L240 plecos that are 7" or more, and fairly big around), I don't like to use a net because the fish can easily become stuck in it. I use a plastic 16 oz. drinking cup to catch them and quickly transfer them. Works pretty well. Good luck.
 
When I catch and move our pictus cats I use glass jars to get them out of the tank and then move them in 5gal buckets. You can hear them vocalize (buzz) when they get caught.

Two years ago when I bought a used 29G setup on CL the guy I bought it from had me take his fish that I had no need for so I gifted them to the local LFS and took them in two 5G buckets. It's hard to believe but he had a 17" and 9" pleco and a 11" JD in that tank. You couldn't even see through the water it was so brown.
 
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