I have never had a problem such as yours (love the humorus telling of it!), but when I neet to rid myself of an annoyance I just chase them with a net or two untill caught, after of course removing the drift wood and other scenery from the tank.
Get Out!!!
OK, I know you have all been there, and hopefully, you have come up with a solution! In 30 years of fishkeeping, I have not!
I have a 180 (now with discus) tank that has been set up for 3 years. It is heavily planted. The discus are eight adult tangerine/pb and were introduced in December. All is well and they are very happy, except when two species sneak up under them and cause them to panic. Our dilemma is, how do I get rid of these annoyances-three keyhole cichlids and two SAE? The tank is open top, so I know it is just a matter of time before the SAE take the plunge to the hardwood, but I prefer not waiting (for the discus' sake and theirs!). The SAE also make my R. wallichii look like a ponderosa pine forest after a wildfire, and it is one of my favorite plants (not after the fire, however)!
This past weekend I drained the tank down to about 5 " of water above the substrate, and I could swear the hunted somehow temporarily beamed up to the Enterprise until I filled the tank back up. Hmmmmm. I stirred everything around with my fingers, hating every moment sticking my fingers where I can't see, trying to scare them out of the rotundifola, vals, crypts and P. gayi, and they are just not in there anymore. They are all adults, too. The keyholes are 3" sl and the sae are a good 4". Where oh where did they go?
OK, now, what have you done in the past to get unwanted fish out of a large aquarium short of tearing down an established, healthy plant tank? Miniature speargun? Small sticks of dynamite? Small Havahart? Electroshock (no, not for me!)?
If anyone comes up with a way that works, there is a prize! Two SAE and a breeding trio of Keyholes (you pay freight!).
HELP THE DISCUS!
Thanks and best of humor!
Steve
I have a 180 (now with discus) tank that has been set up for 3 years. It is heavily planted. The discus are eight adult tangerine/pb and were introduced in December. All is well and they are very happy, except when two species sneak up under them and cause them to panic. Our dilemma is, how do I get rid of these annoyances-three keyhole cichlids and two SAE? The tank is open top, so I know it is just a matter of time before the SAE take the plunge to the hardwood, but I prefer not waiting (for the discus' sake and theirs!). The SAE also make my R. wallichii look like a ponderosa pine forest after a wildfire, and it is one of my favorite plants (not after the fire, however)!
This past weekend I drained the tank down to about 5 " of water above the substrate, and I could swear the hunted somehow temporarily beamed up to the Enterprise until I filled the tank back up. Hmmmmm. I stirred everything around with my fingers, hating every moment sticking my fingers where I can't see, trying to scare them out of the rotundifola, vals, crypts and P. gayi, and they are just not in there anymore. They are all adults, too. The keyholes are 3" sl and the sae are a good 4". Where oh where did they go?
OK, now, what have you done in the past to get unwanted fish out of a large aquarium short of tearing down an established, healthy plant tank? Miniature speargun? Small sticks of dynamite? Small Havahart? Electroshock (no, not for me!)?
If anyone comes up with a way that works, there is a prize! Two SAE and a breeding trio of Keyholes (you pay freight!).
HELP THE DISCUS!
Thanks and best of humor!
Steve
1 - 16 of 16 Posts
Look up fish traps, and you can also try and net them out at night when they are sleeping.
I don't have a solution but I do have empathy.
I have been hunting a rogue Jack Dempsey in a mixed
african cichlid tank for 2 years. It a perfect little habitat
with rocks and caves and baby africans..and Jack. It is a 4ft
100 gallon and he knows I am after him...
On another note - I have a pretty little 55 with demonsoni
and yellow labs - and for a while there was terror auratus -
we had it's parents - but got rid of them - way to aggressive
we thought we had them all but this baby appeared...and grew
and grew - I left him alone but did not like him. One day I am
pointing out this really really small cute baby demi - when out
of the bottom the (*&#% auratus EATS THE BABY!!!!! - it was
about time for a really really good cleaning and auratus went bye bye
There is a bounty nailed to the mast for the great rogue Jack....
I have been hunting a rogue Jack Dempsey in a mixed
african cichlid tank for 2 years. It a perfect little habitat
with rocks and caves and baby africans..and Jack. It is a 4ft
100 gallon and he knows I am after him...
On another note - I have a pretty little 55 with demonsoni
and yellow labs - and for a while there was terror auratus -
we had it's parents - but got rid of them - way to aggressive
we thought we had them all but this baby appeared...and grew
and grew - I left him alone but did not like him. One day I am
pointing out this really really small cute baby demi - when out
of the bottom the (*&#% auratus EATS THE BABY!!!!! - it was
about time for a really really good cleaning and auratus went bye bye
There is a bounty nailed to the mast for the great rogue Jack....
Hmm,
Some ideas:
- Flashlight at night-time (same idea as deer in the headlights)
- Fish trap
- Right at feeding time, when the keyhole cichlids and SAE come to the surface, net. Not sure if they go to the surface for food though.
Search: "fish trap": http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/s..._searchinfo=1&photoplog_searchquery=fish+trap
This fish trap idea might work: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/fish/27444-catching-these-discus-help.html#post235710
Some ideas:
- Flashlight at night-time (same idea as deer in the headlights)
- Fish trap
- Right at feeding time, when the keyhole cichlids and SAE come to the surface, net. Not sure if they go to the surface for food though.
Search: "fish trap": http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/s..._searchinfo=1&photoplog_searchquery=fish+trap
This fish trap idea might work: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/fish/27444-catching-these-discus-help.html#post235710
I usually use a net or 2 as well. I try to net the fish going upward, instead of from the side. The fish doesn't like being chased as it probably things it's being eaten. I find their blind spot seems to be coming from the bottom.
I've used a wire mesh spegetti stainer and getting them from underneath. Although those SAEs are really hard. When we last moved I drained my tank and thought I had all of them until I woke up in the middle of the night to find one SAE I'd missed. Even with only two inches of water I still had a remarkably hard time seeing him because he blended in with the bottom.
Someone here turned me on to this place and I just got one of these traps, but I haven't gotten it in yet in the mail. It sounds just like what you need. I tore the sh** out of my tank trying to catch my clown loaches.
http://www.plantguild.com/fishtrapp.html
http://www.plantguild.com/fishtrapp.html
I have caught my SAEs many times to move them to a different tank. The best way is to either slowly follow them with a net till you get them against a wall. If you go slowly enough they don't generally run. The other option if to use one of those small plastic rodent cages (they are plastic and have a plastic mesh top with a smaller lid that flips open) I have put food inside of them and just waited for an SAE to wonder in and then stealthily close the top on it and then just pull them out.
I have done this in both a 75gal and 120gal tank.
I have done this in both a 75gal and 120gal tank.
How about some 2lb test fishing line a real small hook and a nice wriggly garden worm?
When I have my rather large saltwater tank I had a 24" Panther Grouper that I couldnt catch for almost 6 months. I took my ultralight fishing rod and tied on a minijig with the hook barb removed. He slammed it and I pulled him out of the tank. Did very little damage to the fish. as the barb on the hook was pinched down. He was pissed with that "oh ****" look on his face be he lived another 7 yrs in my buddies tank.
When I have my rather large saltwater tank I had a 24" Panther Grouper that I couldnt catch for almost 6 months. I took my ultralight fishing rod and tied on a minijig with the hook barb removed. He slammed it and I pulled him out of the tank. Did very little damage to the fish. as the barb on the hook was pinched down. He was pissed with that "oh ****" look on his face be he lived another 7 yrs in my buddies tank.
How about some 2lb test fishing line a real small hook and a nice wriggly garden worm?
When I have my rather large saltwater tank I had a 24" Panther Grouper that I couldnt catch for almost 6 months. I took my ultralight fishing rod and tied on a minijig with the hook barb removed. He slammed it and I pulled him out of the tank. Did very little damage to the fish. as the barb on the hook was pinched down. He was pissed with that "oh ****" look on his face be he lived another 7 yrs in my buddies tank.
Best answer on the two forums I posted this!!! Now if I can find tackle small enough for a bloodworm!!!
dekstr:
I am going to try two of your ideas this weekend; first the late night raid and then the "fish in a pop bottle" if that fails.
Called my wife this evening (I am traveling) and she said she is pissed at the keyholes; they kept eating the bloodworms she was trying to feed the discus. She paid for the discus for Christmas and my b-day and she is an accountant, so she was watching all those $ starving! You can guess what 8 adult discus cost!
Thanks to all and I will let you know how I fair!
Steve
This one is expensive but it pays off in the long run. It sounds like they are really aggressive eaters, so there shouldn't be a problem trapping them.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+18180+14700&pcatid=14700
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+18180+14700&pcatid=14700
Think fly fishing! Get a #22 or smaller midge hook and some tippet material. Any flyfishing shop will have these items.. Hell, they would probably GIVE you a hook and length of tippet for free.Best answer on the two forums I posted this!!! Now if I can find tackle small enough for a bloodworm!!!
dekstr:
I am going to try two of your ideas this weekend; first the late night raid and then the "fish in a pop bottle" if that fails.
Steve
Dad is a fly fisherman, so he may actually have them! I will reserve this one for "last resort"!Think fly fishing! Get a #22 or smaller midge hook and some tippet material. Any flyfishing shop will have these items.. Hell, they would probably GIVE you a hook and length of tippet for free.
I place some sort of decor near a corner for them to hide behind, chase them to it and wait for them to reside. I then place one net so they can't get around one side of the decor. Then I use another net to catch them. I removed a keyhole cichlid and bolivian ram from my tank within 15 minutes, no damage to plants or undue trauma to any fish.
I'd love to get my hands on that trio, but I already have 2 keyholes in my tank
I'd love to get my hands on that trio, but I already have 2 keyholes in my tank
1 - 16 of 16 Posts
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