smarter than a blue velvet damsel

[mtfish]

Got this fish when it was a fish only tank. The whole family likes his pretty colors. Along comes GC Reef and I start to add a few things. Nice crocea clam. A few nips and the damsel is not so pretty to me. No way to catch him with all the rock in there. But he finally settles down and leaves the clam alone. Earlier this week got a Trachyphyllia. Expands really good until, yep, little nipper harrasses the coral. Find the smallest perch hook I have in the garage and go fishing. Damsel takes the bait but the hook is too big. Just a little frustrated now. So I take a small piece of stranded copper wire and make a microhook out of it. Try deep sea fishing again and this time fish on! He is now living in my sump. Think he will have to live in a 20 gallon tank I have at work. Give me something pretty to look at when I and stuck in the office.

[robalv]

copper and saltwater hmmmmm..?

[mtfish]

I don't think the 45 second exposure did any great harm to my tank!

[hobogato]

nah, you are probably fine. i wouldnt chance it in the future tho, some inverts and corals can be extremely sensitive to even the lowest levels.

[justahobby]

I've been reading about people spot lighting a fish after lights off. Turn lights off for a couple hrs (room lights too) and then spot light it and net it while its dazed/ blinded.

[mtfish]

Believe me, I tried all the "tricks" that I know of. LIghts off attack. Using a clear long pippette with food inside to try to divert his attention while trying to net. Solid copper is not going to be a problem as long as it stays solid. The 3 copper ions that dissolved in my tank in this short exposure will not be a problem, IMHO. I only posted because I could not make a hook this small except for a really bendable metal like copper.

[danvan75]

nobody will believe it if you didn't take pics,lol just another fishman story.