How to catch an engineer?

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mhayes462

Guest
My engineer goby is driving me nuts and I think I just want to get him out. I regret putting it in my tank. Is there a way I can catch/trap it without tearing apart my tank? Please don't tell me I have to leave it.
Mike Hayes
 
mr. limpid

mr. limpid

Active Member
First I would like to know what it is doing that driving you nuts? Have a net in tank behind its hole, lure him out with food, come from behind with net. You have to be quick. My need to leave net in tank for awhile to let him get use to it being there.
 
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mhayes462

Guest
He is moving my sand everywhere! He piles it onto corals and everything. I don't mind that he tunnels, it's just where he puts it is what I mind. Plus I don't like having a fish that never comes completely out.
Mike Hayes
 
rickross23

rickross23

Active Member
should've researched.... i did the same thing by introducing a kleins butterrfly into my future reef. i wasnt thinking and the lfs peeps along with the family conned me into one to help with aiptasia....i have zoas and he nipped them like 4 times in the first 10 minutes, but i havent seen him touch them since and the zoas are thriving. i pray he doesnt nip expensive, beautiful corals that i will soon attain- especially not brain or SPS coral. always research before buying and know what you want when you go into a LFS. dont let them con you either. let my story be a lesson.
 
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mhayes462

Guest
I wish I had a bare bottom so he couldn't do it! Stupid instincts! Lol
Mike Hayes
 
adonis311

adonis311

Member
Hate to say it but you may not have any other option but to take the tank down and uproot him. Catching him otherwise is a job for Steve Erwin (God rest his soul). They are just so quick and they possess senses that make them impossible to catch, save an error on their part.
 
rickross23

rickross23

Active Member
I saw a Vid of a guy who had bait on one end and line on the roger and he pulled out a engineer next thing:)
 
njbillyv

njbillyv

Member
Did he survive and did you find him a happy home? I have one that's like a foot long, one of my favorite fish. His name is Eelie cause we're creative like that.
 
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mhayes462

Guest
Yeah, he survived just fine. Just scared him a little. During my wc I shoved his mounds of sand back in the hole like I do periodically when they get too big. Then while cleaning the glass I noticed he was out and had no place to go. He kept hiding in the rocks and looking for a place. Then I scared him to the front of the tank and nabbed him with the net. He went straight into my sons tank. No worries about moving sand in there as it is gravel. :)
Mike Hayes
 
M

mhayes462

Guest
Shame too, I love the look of that fish. Just never saw him and moved tons of sand around!
Mike Hayes
 
brun67

brun67

Member
i have 2 of these guys and mine are extremely social. they are always out and about. there skittish still but they warm up eventually.
the only problem i have with my 2 is that my hermit crab will push the sand back into their burrows and that will just make them mad. so they end up digging holes on the sides of the tank for no reason. its weird.
 
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