Gotta build a better fish trap...

mdmacolyte

Member
Howdy ya'll! I need to build a better fish trap. I have a tomato clown I want to swap out of my 90 reef to my now-ready 55 FOWLR. I attempted to make a 2-liter trap, but the fish is so big that the hole I had to cut to invert the top of the bottle into the bottom was futile because he could just swim right back out. I REALLY REALLY REALLY dont want to have to take out all of my rock and water to snare him and I would prefer not to have to spend $50+ on a commercial fish trap and shipping. Any and all advice is welcome. Thanks!
 

spanko

Active Member
Have you tried a fly fishing hook with the barb filed off? Then go fishing. I never have tried this but have read other posts where this has worked.
 

mdmacolyte

Member
Ive tried that! I have let the net sit in the tank for a day and then put a frozen cube of brine shrimp to entice him (and all I netted was my lawnmower blenny). I tried to make a "new and improved" fish trap out of a couple of chinese food containers (the big plastic ones buy soup in - not the cheap cardboard kind obviously) with a hole big enough for him to swim in and weighed it down with large empty snail shell and yet another frozen cube of mysis - trapped my yellow tang! I am really at my wits end with this guy. So, unfortunately, I figure tonight Im going to go buy an oversized rubbermaid container and tommorro will be "overhaul the 90 to get the dirtbag tomato clown out" day.
Meanwhile, it has been fun - Ive been letting the kids take turns trying to net the tomato... I told them Ive give $20 to the one who catches him and gets him in a bucket. They each get a turn for 15 mins at a time and its been quite entertaining!
I really didnt want to have to break down the reef, but I really dont have a choice now. I don't want him to end up killing my percula "Rocky" who has been in there pretty much since I started the tank.
Thanks to all who have tried to help tho!
 

reefforbrains

Active Member

Notice the hooks have no barb. This way they wont stick and should heal right up. Just hold back a feeding for a day or two to let them get hungry and then go fishing.
 

reefforbrains

Active Member
they make hooks down to size 28 but they are probably too small beyond #20. Check a local fishing supply and be sure if anyone asks, tell them your going surf fishing.
Manditory to wear a printed shirt and straw hat when using this method.
 
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