My twist on the classic 2-liter bottle trap
This past weekend, I successfully caught my 6-line wrasse using the classic soda bottle fish trap (link), but with a couple of new wrinkles. After not feeding the tank for three days, I drilled several 1/4" holes in the bottom of the bottle. That way, some water could flow through the trap from front to back and carry the scent of the bait (mysis this time) to the rest of the tank. Next, I attached a couple feet of air tubing to a large syringe. I sucked some mysis into the tubing and teased the fish by squirting just a few mysis at a time into the tank. The bolder fish (including the wrasse) figured out pretty quick that food came out of the end of that tubing. They politely followed the tubing down to the mouth of the trap, where I would periodically squirt a few more mysis. After about ten minutes, the wrasse and one of my chromis both swam into the mouth of the trap at the same time. I shot some shrimp in front of them, and competition kicked in - they both went zooming into the trap after the mysis, and I had my quarry, plus one.
I think the 1/4" holes made all the difference. When I had tried using a bottle trap in the past, minus the holes, the fish would lose interest shortly after I baited the trap. This time, because the fish could smell the bait, they would keep investigating until they found the trap opening. Because the holes in the trap were small, it allowed enough water movement to spread the scent, but not so much that the bait got swept out of the trap. Before I finally caught the wrasse, I inadvertently caught my GSM, as well as each of my chromis about three times a piece.
I hope my experiences help someone else out there who's trying to catch a problem fish. It sure beats tearing the whole tank down!
Reply With Quote
