Catching a rogue damsel?

[vlangel]

I have a kupang damsel that I suspect is nipping the mantle of my clam. I've never seen him do it but he's always up where the clam is and the mantle has suspicious jaggy places. I'm trying the soda bottle with the top cut off and inverted to make a trap (in the vein of lobster traps). Of course I already tried the flake food and fish net method to no avail. I could resort to draining most of my water except 4-5" into my clean garbage can and then get him but I was hoping for something less drastic. Any of you have other suggestions?

 

[NanaReefer]

Google *fish trap* lay off on the feedings for a couple of days and then set the trap. Patients and you'll get him. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[NC2WA]

fish line, barbless hook, and clam food...will catch that little bugger in seconds.

 

[pandora32]

Hahaha...i was going to say the same thing! I caught my brown bar gobie, named dumper!, with a barbless hook and line. I didnt use my fish food though. I used powerbait...lol. 2nd nibble and he was mine! Didnt swallow the hook thank god. Worked great though.

 

[NanaReefer]

I totally disagree with the above method for obvious reasons. It's cruel and has to be painful. Saddens me to know there are reefers out there doing this

 

[TJL]

With teritorial fish like Damsels you can set an effective trap by placing a net withopen end facing end of tank and against front panel forming a U then place a small/compact mirror at back of U outside aquarium. He/She will have to swim mostly into trap to confront its reflective nemesis... tadah!, fish in net.

Cheers, Todd

 

[sedrostyle]

fish line, barbless hook, and clam food...will catch that little bugger in seconds.

Whaaaat!! Lol

I've always had to turn off my lights to catch a fish.
I seen a new net on the dr foster and smith site that is supposed to make it easier to catch em.
Go for lights off then grab em

 

[tat2z_21]

I say you should get a harpoon. I had a yellow damsel that was a terror, I introduced a Niger trigger and it calmed that little guy down.

 

[blk822822]

I totally disagree with the above method for obvious reasons. It's cruel and has to be painful. Saddens me to know there are reefers out there doing this

I have done it and I think it is less stressful than chasing a fish for hours with a net and possibly breaking corals or toppling over rock and smashing other fish and inverts. If done right its very quick and just leaves a small hole in there lip that heals in just a few days. Less painful than what that clam probly feels all day long getting nipped at.

 

[pandora32]

Yea. I used the smallest hook i could find in a tackle shop. I doubt its anymore painful than getting an ear pierced. My fish do more damage to their faces swimming in and out of rocks than the tiny hole the hook did.

 

[vlangel]

Thanks everyone, I think I may have to resort to the small hook as my trap only caught one of my serpent starfish. My tank is very "cavey" so lots of places for the damsel to go, even when the lights are off. I have to think of the pain and suffering to my $7 damsel or $70 clam! He'll get over it.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

I have used store build and DIY fish traps to success in rock filled coral reef displays. The 2 liter bottle one is awesome and I hold it to the glass with a magnet pair. They are great with small fish and very hungry fish. For larger fish that are picky, cant beat a barbless hook (can snap off the barb if present with tiny pliers. Hook and remove into a bucket in one single motion. Much less stress than any net/trap/hand, etc.

 

[vlangel]

I have used store build and DIY fish traps to success in rock filled coral reef displays. The 2 liter bottle one is awesome and I hold it to the glass with a magnet pair. They are great with small fish and very hungry fish. For larger fish that are picky, cant beat a barbless hook (can snap off the barb if present with tiny pliers. Hook and remove into a bucket in one single motion. Much less stress than any net/trap/hand, etc.

Thanks for the tip about holding the bottle to the glass with a magnet. My serpent stars shouldn't be able to get in it if I try that. I will give that a go before I get my fishing gear out!

 

[dnjan]

Or it might end up being less work overall to transfer everything but the damsel to a different tank ...

 

[vlangel]

Or it might end up being less work overall to transfer everything but the damsel to a different tank ...

My rock work is a nice solid composition that I really hate to disturb. If I can't lure the culprit into my baited trap, and I can't snag him with fishing line and hook, I'm gonna drain the tank into my 40 gallon garbage can (that I only use for the aquarium or my outside pond) to 4-5", grab the offending damsel and quickly pump the water back into my tank. I should be able to do everything in 15 minutes or less. (I will move the clam and his rock to the bottom where it'll still be submerged). This isn't insurmountable but its a pain in the butt!

 

[pandora32]

I didnt feed my fish for a day, i sprinkled some food in and in less than a minute i had my goby caught and in a bucket. I dont think he knew what happened. I put him in a 10g tank i already had setup and the next day, i took him to the lfs and traded him for a cleaner shrimp.

 

[vlangel]

My guys haven't been fed today but I have food in the trap. All the fish are hanging around the trap and one of the damsels, not the one I want yo catch keeps going to the mouth of it but just won't go in. Oops, while I was writing this it ventured in. We may get them yet!

 

[vlangel]

GOT HIM!!! I think I'll go for his buddy also.

 

[dnjan]

If I can't lure the culprit into my baited trap, and I can't snag him with fishing line and hook, I'm gonna drain the tank into my 40 gallon garbage can (that I only use for the aquarium or my outside pond) to 4-5", grab the offending damsel and quickly pump the water back into my tank. I should be able to do everything in 15 minutes or less.

I wouldn't worry about rushing to get water back in. Many corals in the wild are exposed during low tide for hours.

P.S. Glad you caught him!

 

[vlangel]

Thanks, I'm glad that I didn't need hook or harpoon!