Please, need help catching fish!

lostwhirley · 01-28-2007, 10:23 PM

Hello.
I need to snag a 6 line in my 68 gallon tank. He's become territorial and abusive. Does anyone have a fish trap I can borrow? Just one fish to yank out!

Any thoughts or ideas how to catch the fish? Perhaps a DIY solution? Or, of course, if anyone has a trap, it'd be much appreciate to borrow it!

Thanks
whirley

dobejazz · 01-28-2007, 10:39 PM

Welcome to TRT lostwhirley !
My husband has used a barbless hook and Krill to get a couple fish out of our tanks

Junkzoo · 01-28-2007, 10:45 PM

Hmm, got no real solution that'll help you.
Is the tank filled with a lot of live rock etc.? (that makes it 100x's tougher)
I've heard some people make up a clear acyrlic box, open on one end (open end has sliding door) to catch some fish,,,,also heard that using a mirror on the back side of it, will drive some fish crazy to get at the "fish" they see,,and attack the mirror(enter the trap) a lot faster,,,not sure if that will help you tho,,,
Only time i ever had to remove fish on my reef tank (lotsa live rock) I pretty much had to remove most all of the LR , or at least have a half of the tank open , if/when i scared the fish in question out in the open,,so i could spend a hr , not catching it, but making us both real tired LOL.
All the times i had /wanted to remove a fish , it was a wrasse,,,prob about the best at staying uncaught in a tank.
The two coris i was after , i finally got them after a lot of work , and waiting,,,,two nets is all i used. The Green Bird Wrasse was a bit bigger than the coris,,and just as fast,,and a lil smarter IMO. Both times i removed a decent amount of LR (look at it as redecorating),,The GBW had a pattern he swam as i chased him thru the tank, and after a few close calls in catching him, i finally got him , after about a hr,,,we both were outa breath,,,and i think he just gave up,,,,All the capture'ees went back to the shop they came from, all had started growing too big for the tank, and started to mess with the livestock in the tank.

Sorry i can't really give you a good answer to you catching the 6 line,,,
Good luck tho, let us know when you catch it, and how you ended up doing it,,,

Loverotties · 01-28-2007, 10:45 PM

Welcome and good luck!

Junkzoo · 01-28-2007, 10:46 PM

Kelli's trick has worked a few times for other people too, might be worth a try

bklynmet · 01-28-2007, 10:54 PM

I know how my sixline darts in and out of the rockwork and think that trapping will require a lot of patience. ... tearing the tank down will be quicker and more stressful on the fish, corals and possibly you.

I think the mirror concept is a good one.

tashier · 01-29-2007, 12:12 AM

I had the same trouble with my sixline. I did find an easy way to catch him though. He'd go in his favorite hiding hole in a rock and I just removed the whole rock with him in it and put it in a bucket.

BlueBadger · 01-29-2007, 08:38 AM

I took a water bottle, cut off the top, invert it back into the bottom of the bottle, baited with mysis, and waiting. I caught my sixline, candy hog, 1 clownfish, a flasher wrasse, and many shrimp this way in a matter of a few hours. They acan figure out how to get in but they have a hard time getting out..

Dan

lostwhirley · 01-29-2007, 12:57 PM

Yah, I'm going to try using the 2 litter bottle. Stupid 6 line. Think he owns the tank after hanging out for a couple months. I'LL SHOW HIM !!!

Coke, Pepsi or Mountain Dew bottle?

Diet?

AquaGrizzly · 01-29-2007, 01:01 PM

Diet. He's probably diabetic. Preferably Diet Pepsi.

lostwhirley · 01-30-2007, 07:45 AM

FYI, SUCCESS!!!
I used the mirror method. I placed a mirror against the tank wall. The 6 line went crazy when he saw another 6 line 'in his tank'. I waited for ~1 hour, with my hand in the water, waiting to snag him. He was so distracted with his reflection that he didn't pay much attention to the net.
I was about to use the bottle method. Next time, if there is need.

Thanks all for help !!
whirley

tashier · 01-30-2007, 08:52 AM

Congrats. I bet that's a relief. I know it was for me. OFF to the LFS with him!

lostwhirley · 01-30-2007, 11:21 AM

Actually, he's going to BigRedChair, local reefer in Berrign Springs. He can deal with the hassle *EVIL LAUGH*

bklynmet · 01-30-2007, 11:55 AM

Cool.. the mirror worked!

Junkzoo · 01-30-2007, 11:59 AM

Cool, Congrats!
Umm, since i offered up the mirror method (well, in use w/ a trap, but i still kinda offered it LOL) The fee for sucessful services rendered is: a frag to be named later,,,,

J/K, Glad you caught him,,and that it did not take long, or with a lotta effort on your part