Damsels Causin' Distress

[Mindypin]

Hi, there! I really need some advice regarding catching some wayward damsels. I just added a gorgeous coral beauty, a royal gramma and a lawnmower blenny to my tank today. I also added a cleaner shrimp and two small brittle stars. It's a 65 FOWLR that's been up since the end of May, with 45 lbs. live rock. Ammo is at 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10 ppm, pH 8.2, cal. 420 ppm. Coralline is growing good on the rocks, and everything is fine with the tank.

Before I added these new fish, I had just three blue damsels, some astrea snails and hermit crabs. The damsels are very territorial, and are harassing the new guys something awful. The coral beauty ignores them, which looks funny because they get all flustered but since he's so much bigger they don't quite know what to make of him. He just swims where he will and is checking everything out - ignoring them. They have not nipped at him, but like to dance around him. The blenny is a good size too, about 3-4", but he's so laid back that the two bullies (I call them "Alpha" and "Beta") poof out their fins and swim around him in a harrassing motion. I think it bothers the blenny.

The gramma is another story. The gramma decided to settle in the right side of the tank, and hid among the rocks on Beta's side of the tank after I released her early this afternoon. I had the lights off most of the day, and tonight after I turned them on the gramma came out but was pursued by both damsels immediately. They really took off after the gramma, and now the gramma is doing its hanging upside down thing under a power head in the corner. Its breathing is fine and otherwise it seems okay, but obviously those two are not going to allow the gramma in the tank.

So, I tried to net the damsels and put them into quarantine. Hah - those buggers are fast! That was a failed idea, and I called it quits on that because even with two nets and my son helping me, it became evident that netting them is going to be nearly impossible. I don't want to stress the other fish any more than they already are.

Currently, the net is inside the tank and it's sleepy time for the fish. I figure that maybe if I can get them used to the net I can surprise them, but that might take too long. I want the gramma to feel at home quickly.

How can I catch these obnoxious beasties without tearing up my tank and stressing everyone? Does anyone have any ideas? If anyone wants them, they are free if they can catch them. They are a good size and healthy. They'd probably do well in a predator tank (haha would serve them right). LOL. Just kidding.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

--Mary

[cpreefguy]

There are a few tricks to catch them:
The coke bottle chopped in half, the feed and catch, and a few others. But ultimatly you will probably have to take most/all of your rock out in order to catch all of those guys.

[Mindypin]

Thanks for the suggestions and your prompt reply. I am familiar with the feed and catch, but what is the Coke bottle cut in half method?

[cheerncougar1]

Well i know you can use like a small coke bottle that you get out of a vending machine.. cut just the top part off just so the damsel can fit and you can put food in the coke bottle and if he is hungry enough he should go in. Also call around to your local LFS for a fish trap, where i worked in dallas rented them out. Its basically a cylinder with a trap door. But it has a place for food and then you put it in the tank and you control the trap door.

[carlinsa]

get a bottle with a LARGE mouth like a mountain dew bottle. put some food in the bottom of the bottle then add a string to the head of the bottle. sink it and see who you can catch:)

[Mindypin]

I think I'll try the bottle idea, which seems like a cheaper version of the trap. I've also been searching the web and have seen on wetwebmedia where some recommend using a baited fish hook with the barb removed. These are pretty small fish, so I'm thinking that won't work. I just took another stab at the net thing, and there is just no way. Ugh. The blenny seems much happier today, and his color isn't as pale as it was yesterday. They don't seem to be bothering him at all. They are now intent on continuing their attack on the third blue damsel. I'm not liking damsels these days. Thanks for the suggestions. If anyone else has any more I'm "all ears" (or eyes in this case).

[carlinsa]

well pete swears he cought my sohal with a fish hook

[Mindypin]

Thanks to Alex Wolf at Wolf Reef my problem is solved. I didn't know what to do, so I called the nearest (to me) fish store late yesterday to see if they had any ideas/suggestions/products. Even though the store had just closed, he waited for me and loaned me a fish trap that would have cost me over $40 if I had to buy it. I am very pleased with the help and personal attention I received. They have a customer for life now! :D

I caught two of the damsels last night, and the last one this morning. It was so funny - that fish was ****ed off when he realized he was trapped! Now, they are off to new adventures in a new home.

Thank you all for your help.

[akm]

My friend caught his shrimp eating hawkfish with a hook. You could try doin that if you like fishing.

[Mindypin]

Thank you for the suggestion, and I will try that if there's a "next time." LOL. I'm sure there will be, and if the trap idea doesn't work then that's what I'll do.