Or a M-80 or cherry bomb.
Net the fishie on the way up.
The concussion MIGHT crack the tank, though!
:joke: :joke: :joke:
Tips or tricks for netting a fish out of the tank?
- Thread starter guppygal
- Start date
Or a M-80 or cherry bomb.
Net the fishie on the way up.
The concussion MIGHT crack the tank, though!
:joke: :joke: :joke:
So, the way I like to take fish out is with a platic bag. I fill it with water and move it around very very slowly and try to catch the fish in the bag. It seems like it's a lot less stressful on the fish. It's taken a while to get good, but I've caught lots of different kinds of fish this way.
In the year that I spent as the animal caretaker at our local pet store, I caught hundreds of fish (literally). I have a couple of methods that seem to work for me that I developed back then.
One key point that has already been made is that the bigger the net, the easier it is to catch fish. The rest depends on the kind of fish you're trying to catch...
1) Fish that swim in the middle or at the surface of a tank: wait until the fish is near the middle or surface of the tank (the closer to the surface, the better) and bring the net up from the bottom of the tank around the fish. The fish won't see you coming as easily and you can almost sneak up on them that way.
2) Plecos, algae eaters, and others that stick to the side of the tank: if the fish is on the side of the glass, place the edges of the net around them--try to keep the fish in the middle of the net so if it trys to bolt you have some time to try to close the gap. Slowly and gently move the net toward the surface while keeping the edges of the net touching the glass. Sometimes they will just swim right back into the net. Other times you must keep them corralled against the side until they are near the surface. You then tip the net back (so that the opening is toward the surface) and scoop up--usually in one quick motion works best.
If the pleco, algae eater, or other that sticks to the side of the tank start to swim, see #1.
3) Catfish and others that reside on the bottom of the tank: usually the herding method works well with two nets. Or if you just have one net, herd the fish into the corner of the tank and use the corner to corral the fish into the net.
If the fish is swimming near the middle or surface of the tank, see #1.
4) Fish that won't stop hiding: you must have some extra time to use this method. If you have a fish that hides anytime you come near the tank, you may have to leave the net in the tank until the fish gets used to it. If you can, leave the loop of the handle out of the tank so you can get to it quickly. Once the fish is close to the net, you must be quick and scoop them up. This method can take a few tries as you perfect your method and quickness. I did not use this method at the store as we didn't care if things got rearranged. I used this method at home in my African cichlid tank when I didn't want to pull out all of the hiding places to catch one fish.
These methods are by far NOT fool proof and don't work every time, but I've had good luck over the last 2 years with them. I hope this helps.
One key point that has already been made is that the bigger the net, the easier it is to catch fish. The rest depends on the kind of fish you're trying to catch...
1) Fish that swim in the middle or at the surface of a tank: wait until the fish is near the middle or surface of the tank (the closer to the surface, the better) and bring the net up from the bottom of the tank around the fish. The fish won't see you coming as easily and you can almost sneak up on them that way.
2) Plecos, algae eaters, and others that stick to the side of the tank: if the fish is on the side of the glass, place the edges of the net around them--try to keep the fish in the middle of the net so if it trys to bolt you have some time to try to close the gap. Slowly and gently move the net toward the surface while keeping the edges of the net touching the glass. Sometimes they will just swim right back into the net. Other times you must keep them corralled against the side until they are near the surface. You then tip the net back (so that the opening is toward the surface) and scoop up--usually in one quick motion works best.
If the pleco, algae eater, or other that sticks to the side of the tank start to swim, see #1.
3) Catfish and others that reside on the bottom of the tank: usually the herding method works well with two nets. Or if you just have one net, herd the fish into the corner of the tank and use the corner to corral the fish into the net.
If the fish is swimming near the middle or surface of the tank, see #1.
4) Fish that won't stop hiding: you must have some extra time to use this method. If you have a fish that hides anytime you come near the tank, you may have to leave the net in the tank until the fish gets used to it. If you can, leave the loop of the handle out of the tank so you can get to it quickly. Once the fish is close to the net, you must be quick and scoop them up. This method can take a few tries as you perfect your method and quickness. I did not use this method at the store as we didn't care if things got rearranged. I used this method at home in my African cichlid tank when I didn't want to pull out all of the hiding places to catch one fish.
These methods are by far NOT fool proof and don't work every time, but I've had good luck over the last 2 years with them. I hope this helps.
