Yellowtail damsel removal

[supersmallfeet]

I'm pretty well at my wits end with a yellowtail damsel I cannot seem to get out of my tank. I bought a secondhand tank a couple of months ago that came with this fish, though even as a newbie I knew they were undesirable. Unfortunately, I felt bad for the little guy and kept him. Well, he bullies new additions to the tank, so I've tried everything to remove him for the past few weeks, to no avail.

About a week ago, it got worse when he showed up one morning with some sort of injury on his back. Of course now white fungus (I think) is all over this injury, and he hides all the time (except dinner). Can some of you more experienced reefers tell me if it is an emergency that I get him away from my other fish, or should I wait this out? At this point the only way I can think to get him out is to remove most of the rock - anybody have any other ideas?

Also, there are corals in the tank, so administration of a treatment to the whole tank is going to be tricky, right?

Thanks,

Jeanie

[oscar51]

I actually have 4 blue yellow tails in my tank they scrap among themselves but never with any other fish my clowns and niger trigger would never hear of it. I kinda like them they are always on the move and add a bright splash of color just let it go if he dies then then so be it

[xaoss23]

the absolute best way to get a damsel out is.....

[xaoss23]

... luck

[ReelFreak]

Have you tried the bottle trick yet? I've caught a few fish this way, as well as a peppermint shrimp I got rid of.

If you havent seen it, take a 20oz clear soda bottle and cut off the top where it starts to funnel. Invert the removed top back into the bottom , add a cube of frozen food and put the trap near his hangout. Doesn't always work, but has worked for me.

Good luck, and yes if you think he has any type of sickness, remove him.... Good luck, as stated before you will need it!!!

[GeoJoe]

try a shop vac - at night if needed.... but have more water on hand to make up for what you suck out along with the fish

[revhtree]

Ya I have done kinda like GeoJoe. If the damsel is small enough, and your tube is big enough start a siphon and when he goes in his hole, stick the tube in there and suck him out. Kepp filling your bucket up with water and replacing it till you get him. I have done this with 2 gobies before and my buddy has done it as well.

[mistergn10]

Just put a big lion in there.

[Tim224DT]

C4


Tim

[ScoobityDoobity]

The plastic inverted bottle trick always works!! Ive caught many a critters this way, using an inverted 2 liter. Just this week I removed a dottyback and a coral cat. Now they live in my refugium. They swim in but can't swim out. Poke a string through the plastic so you can pull it up fast when he swims in, just in case he is smart enough to find his way out!!

[supersmallfeet]

Thanks to all who made suggestions. I'd tried something similar to the bottle trick before, but with a net and to no avail. But I tried the bottle this time and it worked!

Now I've got him, but he's acting very strangely and seems hardly able to keep his balance. I'm thinking euthenasia is probably going to be the best thing if he doesn't respond to treatment pretty quickly. My fish health book suggests an overdose of anasthetic (for those of us to squeamish to cut its head off). Anyone tried this, or have a better way?

After 2 months of fun with reefkeeping and mounting addiction, I think I've finally discovered the downside of this hobby.

Thanks again all,

Jeanie

[Pillz]

Rubbing alcohol should do it. Just dump him in a baggy full of it. Also baking soda, but that probably isnt painless to the fish.. I have to say the best way is chopping the head...

[Stanfill Reef]

I have heard that putting in a glass of water with an alka selzter. Basically suffocating the fish by adding all the CO2 to the water...seems painless.

[supersmallfeet]

Well, it's over. When I was out buying supplies for a fungus treatment, Mr. Damsel died in quarantine. Good thing he was out of the main tank! Thanks all for your help, and I'll keep notes on your euthanasia methods - hopefully I won't need them again for a long time!

-Jeanie

[GeoJoe]

freeze or flush - my best methods