Advice on removing fish from tank

[flbuilder]

I have a 58g with malawi cichlids. It has plenty of rocks, which is part of my problem. My fish have started to breed, which is cool, but I have now reached the point where my tank has become overcrowded, the fish have started to fight, and I need to remove some. Any suggestions on how to remove small fish from a tank that has countless hiding places?

I 've tried just catching them in a net. Didn't work. I tried coaxing them out with food and using the net. Didn't work. I even tried buying a 1 1/2" dia. tube (like the one you use to clean the tank with, just lots bigger) hoping that the suction from the large tube would be too great for them to swim away from, and they would get sucked into the bucket. Didn't work. Any other creative suggestions?

I don't want to tear down and rework my tank. I have everything just the way I like it.

 

[revfred]

Sounds like a real pain. I've seen clear plastic "fish traps". I don't know much about them.
Maybe someone has had some experience with them. But here is a link http://www.bigalsonline.com/cgi-bin...inCatID=99:Breeding/Isolation Units&inSub=256 A bit expensive, IMO, but if they work . ..

 

[FroggyFox]

A variation of the way I take babies out of the tank might work. I use a cut off bottom of a bottled water that is clear (not as scary as the net) and patience. You might try food in a clear container instead of the net.

The other one is to have two nets...one to flush them out with, one to catch.

Good luck... (and welcome to the board)

 

[revfred]

Froggy reminded me I did see a device that was a clear plastic scoop. It was solid and clear but shaped like a net. The handle was hollow so when you scooped the fish, the fish and water went into the handle. Sounds like a variation of what Froggy suggested.

You might use a net to chase them into the clear bottle. It's a real task to get those little ones. I've also found that just when the aquarium lights go on . . . is a good time to catch them. They seem less active.

 

[Velvet AciD]

I've seen it too... it kinda looks like a long clear plastic tobacco pipe... but if nothing else, take a picture of the tank and try to reconstruct it. *shrugs*

 

[Gomer]

With my zebras danios (which everyone knows are a nightmare to catch) are now easy to catch.

Instead of holding the net veritcal, i now use the net horizontal....and just lift up. I was able to EASILY remove all of them using this method as opposed to the normal vertical method.

 

[flbuilder]

Thanks for the advice. I'll give the minnow trap a shot.

 

[420Loach]

i usually just tear down my deco and put it back in, so my tank looks different all the time. but it gets a little old... i need to simplify.

 

[fishysmell]

I heard of this metrhod about a week ago on site which unfortunately I didn't bookmark.

1. get a clear pop bottle (use different sizes for different sized fish)
2. cut off the top right where the bottle tapers in. The cut part will look like a funnel.
3. insert the "funnel" end into the rest of the bottle only inverted so a small space is left at the bottom of the bottle. At this point it sould resemble a crab trap.
4. insert some live food into the space between the "funnel" and the bottom. This will attract the fish's attention much better than frozen or freeze-dried foods.
5. place in the fish's favorite swimming place.
6. wait a few minutes and you will have yourself a very caught and bewildered fish.

I have not yet needed to try it but apparently it is a lot less stressful and much more successful than netting a fish. Give it a try and tell me if it works.

 

[sailfinmolly]

sounds like you don't want the babies. I'm assuming that whatever you catch your probably going to destroy. Is this right or wrong? If you plan on killing them, I have an idea, but i'll only post it if that's what your thinking of doing.

sailfin

 

[revfred]

Here's the link to the gizmo mentioned earlier http://www.novalek.com/korgd23.htm

 

[flbuilder]

The soda bottle minnow trap has had partial success! I had 6 fry in the tank that I wanted to get out. A day and a half into the test, I've caught one fish, which is better than any other method I've tried so far. I set up a temporary holding tank for them and I toss them in as I catch them.

No, I'm not going to kill them. I plan on selling them (or donating if they won't give me any $$) to my local LFS.

 

[Somonas]

I have had to do this in my malawi tanks more than once. Taking apart tanks is a pain in the butt, but it's part of the hobby unfortunately if you choose to breed your fish to sell the fry. If you only want it for show there is no reason you have to take your tank apart. only a few fry will survive though.

If you really want to -breed- fish to raise the fry and get credit at your LFS. might I suggest setting up some dedicated breeding tanks. bare bottom, square long tanks (50's min, 40's work, 90's are nice) with only a few clay pots or rocks. then put the species you want to breed in these tanks. and save the best looking males for your show tank. Or 2/3 other species max in this breeding tank. Wild and tank raised fish in my experience breed no problem on bare bottom tanks with only few rocks..

What kinda fry you got anyway? (just curious)

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Do you have pics of this tank......i'd love to see it.