Damsels

[artist55]

Well, here's my problem. I'd like to know the easiest way of getting my damsels out of my tank when it's completely cycled. I'll take them to my LFS and start getting some real fish. Not that I don't like Damsels but they will have served their purpose. From what I've seen they are so lightning fast that unless I take all the rock out of the tank to take away their hiding places I'll never catch them. Is this process going to disturb my newly cycled tank? I'd hate to have waited all this time and ruin the whole thing by taking all the rockwork out while I catch the fish. Any ideas?

 

[coachklm]

Originally Posted by artist55
Well, here's my problem.
I'd like to know the easiest way of getting my damsels out of my tank when it's completely cycled.

I'll take them to my LFS and start getting some real fish. what are real fish?
Not that I don't like Damsels but they will have served their purpose.

Is this process going to disturb my newly cycled tank? it could if the rock is out for too long but not much of a change should happen dont disturb the sandbed too much
I'd hate to have waited all this time and ruin the whole thing by taking all the rockwork out while I catch the fish. Any ideas? this is why many dont put damsels in at all because unless you one in a million who get succesful with a fish trap you'll have to take the rock out..
no offence i just want too make sure someone else reading knows that the majority of the board doesnt support cycling with a damsel(as there main purpose) when they could have used a 25c peice of shrimp.
how many damsels?
what size tank?
how much rock?
are you sure the "cycle" is finished?
so in conclusion yes you may have to take apart the rock work
it shouldnt upset your system to much (unless your working with a nano tank)

 

[artist55]

I was doing the cycling with Damsels on the advice of my LFS. I should have come here first I guess. I'll not listen to them again. Since starting I have read many complaints here about how the LFS's are sometimes was off base but looking to sell stuff instead. I only have one LFS in my town and even though I really hate his attitude I go there anyway. I have not had a SW tank since the 80s and much has changed according to what I read here. There was never any mention of LR way back when as far as I know. Anyway, I have 3 damsels in there now and it's a 30 gallon tank which is almost 4 weeks old. By "real fish" I mean what I want in there in the long run is maybe a small yellow tang and a small angel and I'm not sure what else yet. I'm just trying to plan ahead is all. I know that there can't be too much due to the size of the tank. I'm doing the research all the time and finding this forum very helpful. Please be patient with me as like I said, it's been a long time. Thanks for you answer though.

 

[coachklm]

allright.....now let's get down to business.. a yellow tang (your gonna hate me but..) is not the fish for a 30g tank it will bring problems later on....if your looking into angels the only ones you can keep halfway happy in there are dwarf angels and only one at that. make sure you got the clean up crew....do you have sand,CC, or BB substrate? what lighting do you have what is your intentions? - fish only with lr (FOWLR) or reef? these are the basics to get us to help you be happy and excited about the inventment you are making.

we love helping you make the right deciscions

 

[aredmon]

Take a 2 liter soda bottle cut the neck end of the bottle off were it is at its biggest. Turn the neck upside down into the bottle to make like a funnle leading into the bottle. place the fishes food in the bottom of the bottle and when the fish swim in the whole to get the food they will not be able to get back out and you have fish in a bottle.

 

[aredmon]

I agree no tang!!!

 

[artist55]

Well the Yellow Tang was just a thought so I'll have to wait till I can afford to convert my 55 to salt. I have been looking on the site and the dwarf angels seem very appealing to me so that won't be a problem. Is it right that I'll have to wait a bit before I get the cleanup crew? My substrate is CC and from what I read I'm already sorry I did that. Not possible to change it over now unless I want to start from square 1 so I'll have that for the 55 as well. My lighting is just the regular one bulb flourescent and I have used what the LFS called lace coral rock so I guess you'd call it a reef? I have two pieces of LR in there but they are turning brown. Is that normal? Is it dying off only to come back? The more I think about my LFS now the more mad I get. I'm quite sure I asked what was the best substrate to use and he said CC. Well again, thanks for your responses......

 

[jktenpro]

I caught my damsel on the first try. After the lights were out a few hours, pitch black, I turned the actinics on. The damsel usually appears in a few minutes from a cave in the rock so I had the net waiting down near the sand. With him being groggy and out of it he hardly moved and I scooped him up the first time. I was amazed and knowing I would have had to move all of the live rock.

 

[travis89]

Originally Posted by jktenpro
I caught my damsel on the first try. After the lights were out a few hours, pitch black, I turned the actinics on. The damsel usually appears in a few minutes from a cave in the rock so I had the net waiting down near the sand. With him being groggy and out of it he hardly moved and I scooped him up the first time. I was amazed and knowing I would have had to move all of the live rock.
I would have done that if I would have thought of it except my damsel was picking at my newly added 6- line wrasse so one or the other had to come out NOW, i liked the 6- line better so the damsel had to go. I was about ready to just push the rock over on it and kill it by the time I caught it.