Any tips? Two small, fast fish- planted aquarium

[Maroonostrich]

Ok, todays the day that the two boys are being evicted...

They are pretty quick little guys and I am worried I am going end up terrorising the other tank residents and uprooting plants/ throwing about decor....

Any hints and advice- I remember a feature in PFK on this but no idea where I put it!

 

[Synirr]

I caught my WCMMs today for transfer to a different tank by holding the net open just under the water's surface and sprinkling food above it... of course, this only works on fish who aren't smart enough to remember that the net is a bad thing from one second to the next

 

[millym]

hi
ive always found using 2 nets is easier - a smaller one to chase the fish into the big one, or even try using the small net to chase the fish into a clear plastic bag - like the ones from a lfs.
if this fails you could try a plastic bottle trap, we used this to catch our aggressive chinese algae eater who we just could not get.
to make the trap cut a clean plastic cool drink bottle in half & turn the top around & put it inside the bottom half ( with the bottle opening/top facing inwards) put some food in the trap & place in your tank. we found every single fish in our tank ended up in the bottle at one time or other, they get in to get the food & then cant find their way out. even our barbs who were too big used to spend ages at the opening of the trap spinning around trying to fit in the hole. it might take a few days but it is an easy, stress free way to catch a difficult fish.
if you do a search on google ( type fish bottle trap)you'll find a site with a good pic if its difficult to understand what im on about. (but you dont need to wire the bottle together with fishing line as one site says you can just put the top into the bottom without it) sorry i cant work out how to do a direct link for you.
im not sure what fish your trying to catch but this works well for most small/medium sized fish.
good luck

 

[emma12321]

Two nets are easier but if you only have one use it to guide the fish into a pint glass or clear jug.

Emma

 

[Maroonostrich]

I may screw up deliberately! I know it's best for them but I don't want them to go!

Thanks for all the suggestions, it's safe to say I will be trying a couple of these and will tell you how it goes!

 

[jollysue]

Wow! Thanks maroonostritch. You read my mind. I was looking at spending money for a trap. I am tired of tearing up tanks.

These were great. I think I can catch my serpae terrorists with at least one of these.

 

[jollysue]

Well I caught my little terrorist serpae easily today. I tried two nets but my tetras take one look at a net and scoot. I wasted some time and nerves: mine and the fishies.

But the bottle trick worked great! It is now stored with my treasured fish tools. Thanks millym whole big bunches. And wouldn't you know that the first guys in were the aggressive little serpaes. Everyone will eat a little easier now.

Interestingly three were shimmying around in the bushes this morning. I definately think they are spawning. Perhaps by separating them I will be able to see what's up.

One of them appears to have a damaged eye from "the Horror."

Thanks again folks. This forum has proved it's true value to me.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

if you plan on leaving the bottle in the tank without supervision, make sure you poke holes in the sides or you might have some dead fish in there when you come back

 

[jollysue]

Oh yeah, I was going to say that it looked like a process that should be monitored. It really looked like fish could get stuckand darkhedeos is wise to see that the water could get stale too. I definately think it should be monitored. But it worked for me very well, and I'm sure it was less stressful than tearing up the tank in a net chase.

I was ready to spend $25 for a trap.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Use the biggest net you can, I got a 5 inch net today to aid with catching my danios when I need to, its still blooming difficult and I should have go a bigger net...

 

[Soaup]

Genious bottle idea, wow that is a great trick.. Thanks for the tip

 

[jollysue]

I think darkhedeo's idea of holes in the bottle might be a really wise idea, the more I've thought on it. I think I will put some ice pick holes in my new fishy trap, so water can flow through and keep fresh. Still I think it shouldn't be left unattended.

I just got a new 5" net for my orandas. My tetras took one look at that and said, "You've got to be joking!" If they would just I might have a shot.

 

[Maroonostrich]

LOL- I think mine knew what I was up to! I had a pint glass in one hand and a net in the other, but the little ******* knew what to do and buried themselves under bogwood- cue a lot of removal of tank decor- in the end I had to outsmart them (outsmarting fish, well that university education did not go to waste... ) by flushing them out of the plants and into the corner- where I finally caught both at once, along with virtually the entire shoal of neons who were most unamused!!

The tank looked like a war zone! I had a lot of water changing and picking of debris out when I got home to have it looking decent again, it's only now, a couple of days later that the whole thing is really settling down...!

 

[Jules H-T]

I'd be careful making the holes though, you don't want jagged bits of plastic sticking into the bottle when the fish realises it's trapped and thrashes about. Could rip it to shreds.

I'd rather supervise the operation. Wish I'd known about this a week ago though, might not have killed Redstripe in my upgrade. Will remember for next time though Millym, thanks very much.

 

[jollysue]

Sorry about your loss, Jules H-T. You're probably right about the jagged edges, too. Definately supervise, huh?