Four Eyed Angel How To Catch

[TinyTanker]

Hello fellow reefers



I have a tank for over a year and am becoming very active in the online stuff, However my situation will be very time sensitive. 150 galllon with 40% of interior live rock and coral. Using a net is impossible to catch this guy. I put him in to take care of Aptasia and he has yet also started nipping at EVERY SINGLE Expensive coral. I just purchased a beautiful 120$ Elegance from AQUATEK, michael at the store was saying about the angle the elegance is at and location, in the sand, 45 angle. All done. The problem is THIS STINKING FOUR EYE. He is nipping the elegance to where it wont come out and bloom and rather recessing into the skeleton right now i am going to move him into a different section of the tank to increase flow. How am i going to catch the Four eye, he dodges nets and i am going to get a fish trap tommorrow . Has anyone ever used a cattle prod or a shock technique. This fish is Really REALLY ****ing me off.

Second Circumstance, I CANT BREAK DOWN TANK. The sand is poured around the rock that sits on the floor of the tank in order to increase the structure integrity of the setup. Its also cause the flesh eating bacteria that destroys the flesh and sends the water quality to the dump. ANY suggestions PLEASE HELP TIME SENSITIVE

[alton]

Put a large net in your tank laced with food and leave it in there for a while and see if he comes in to eat. Worked for me last week on a Chevron Tang. Another thing is wake up at 1am and while he is half a sleep sometimes they don't move as fast and use two nets(Worked on a Clown Trigger). Last but not least take a 64 oz bottle cut the top 90% off so it it springs back closed. Support it in your tank and anchor it down, hold the lid open with fishing string. Install your fishes favorite food, sometimes it may take a couple days for him to go in. This one worked for me on a large Regal Tang.

[RayAllen]

The bottel trick works well if the fish isnt to big. When you catch the bugger if you are in SA let me know how much you want for him.

[loans_n_fishes]

Can you siphon most of the water into trashcans and scoop him out? I know it's a big pain, but may be the easiest way to get him.

[erikharrison]

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x315/erikharrison/Fish/trap2.gif

2 liter fish trap....

HTH!

[erikharrison]

Btw Welcome To Maast!

[BigKGlen]

Get a piece of glass or plexi almost as tall as the interior of your tank, but wide enough to create a large corner triangle. Since it's clear, the fish won't realize it's in the tank. Use your net to corral him into the area, then 'close' the glass door. Reach into the open top of the triangle and net your fish. Keep the glass around, I'm sure you'll need it in the future. Small investent worth alot.
Good luck!

[Bill S]

If none of the above work, this is what I do, with credits to Ace (hobogato) for the technique. First, it helps if your tank is near the TV and you are a beer drinker, 'cause this takes patience.

You can use a net at first, and then go to your hands or anything else like a small stick. This WILL take a while. Get him moving, and keep him moving. Everytime he goes into the rock or a hole, push him out. Just try and touch him. It may take an hour, two at the most. Slowly, he'll give up the game. As you notice him getting slower and slower, you will be able to herd him into a net. I've been able to actually touch the fish many of the times I've used this technique. The key here is that you aren't trying to catch him at with a net - you just want to run him. And, you won't be tearing up your tank with the net.

[MissT]

DIY fish trap step by step and article:

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/fish_trap.php

[MissT]

Oh, and Welcome to MAAST!!!

[Mr Cob]

Great ideas unless you have a 3 stripe damsel that seems to already know all the tricks :)

My 120 gallon semi reef was equipped with damsels for the first year and about three months ago I began catching all 10 of them minus the one stubborn 3 stripe in order to switch to more peaceful and enjoyable reef fish. My only problem in making this transition is this darn damsel.

I seriously wish I had a little mini harpoon! Maybe it could be built with toothpicks and a slingshot.

I'm afraid that I'm left with the dreaded plan "Z"...tear down the reef.

:(

[TinyTanker]

So Your Saying The Cattle Prod Shouldnt Be Used, Shocking I Like The Ideas When I Get Home I Will Try It By The Way The Four Eye Will Be For Sale, I Might Pin Him On The Wall To Show Everyone The Murderer Of A 120 $ Elegance $$. Hell Be The Most Expensive Fish I Have Owned . Lol

[Mr Cob]

So Your Saying The Cattle Prod Shouldnt Be Used, Shocking I Like The Ideas When I Get Home I Will Try It By The Way The Four Eye Will Be For Sale, I Might Pin Him On The Wall To Show Everyone The Murderer Of A 120 $ Elegance $$. Hell Be The Most Expensive Fish I Have Owned . Lol


LOL..."The Cattle Prod" WILL work for you! It just didn't work for me!

Post a pic when you do catch him!

[blueboy]

i always just drained the tank into my WC container. it's really not that much trouble, you don't have to remove the corals. they'll be okay high and dry for a few minutes. just be sure and turn off your halides if you have them.

[sharkbait29]

lol, a mini harpon outta toothpicks, thats great! Howd your luck turn out?

[BA]

if you really dont care about the guy i did this for one of my HUGE damsels. literally fish him out, put a chunk of shrimp on a little fishing hook and drop it in the tank, if he is the aggressive eater of the tank he should go after it and get hooked, and WAALAA he's out. but be careful none of your other fish go after it, so just be ready to jerk it out if another fish goes near it. ORRRR cut the barb off the hook so it wont hurt the fish, just sometimes he'll come off of it

[Mr Cob]

if you really dont care about the guy i did this for one of my HUGE damsels. literally fish him out, put a chunk of shrimp on a little fishing hook and drop it in the tank, if he is the aggressive eater of the tank he should go after it and get hooked, and WAALAA he's out. but be careful none of your other fish go after it, so just be ready to jerk it out if another fish goes near it. ORRRR cut the barb off the hook so it wont hurt the fish, just sometimes he'll come off of it

That's pretty funny...

[bananags]

if all fail, try my method: leave a dim light in the room so that you can still see what is in the tank, turn off your main tank light, as soon and the tank light is off, the fish will try to adjust to the darkness, that is the best time to scoop it up, you got lesser than 15 second to do so, you can also use a flash light and shine on the fish face when he begin to adjust to the dark, the instant /quick bright light will mess their sense of direction.

Good luck, this method problably wont work with fish that goes in hiding when light off like blue tang. but it has work for me with various fish.

take some practice =)