Mission: Damsel has to go...

hefner413

hefner413

Active Member
Well, my damsel is my target. I've been trying to get rid of it for a month and now it's getting serious
. I've tried netting - absolutely to no avail. I've also tried the 2L bottle trick - it didn't even go near the bottle. I've tried going out in the middle of the night, when he's sleepy - but he must sleep down deep in the rock. I just don't want to start taking out my rock - I have 120 lbs in my 55gal, and things are pretty set now. So I finally decided to go fishing - an idea of another user on the forum.... so I went and got a small hook last night (size 14). I rigged it up on the end of a medium sized plastic rod and put his favorite food on it. I then waited... he didn't go at it at first... then after about a half hour - finally started looking at it.. then became quite interested and started picking at it. He finally started going at it - but he picked the food off! So I rigged it up again and he went right back at it... and then again - picked it off. Then again and again!!!!
If someone has a lion that they could spare for a couple nights... let me know!
Well, I'm going back to fishing tonight - wish me luck!
 
renogaw

renogaw

Active Member
not sure what size 14 is, but best way i've seen is using a fly fishing hook. if they are the same, then you are in deep trouble
 
grumpygils

grumpygils

Active Member
Originally Posted by Hefner413
Well, my damsel is my target. I've been trying to get rid of it for a month and now it's getting serious
. I've tried netting - absolutely to no avail. I've also tried the 2L bottle trick - it didn't even go near the bottle. I've tried going out in the middle of the night, when he's sleepy - but he must sleep down deep in the rock. I just don't want to start taking out my rock - I have 120 lbs in my 55gal, and things are pretty set now. So I finally decided to go fishing - an idea of another user on the forum.... so I went and got a small hook last night (size 14). I rigged it up on the end of a medium sized plastic rod and put his favorite food on it. I then waited... he didn't go at it at first... then after about a half hour - finally started looking at it.. then became quite interested and started picking at it. He finally started going at it - but he picked the food off! So I rigged it up again and he went right back at it... and then again - picked it off. Then again and again!!!!
If someone has a lion that they could spare for a couple nights... let me know!
Well, I'm going back to fishing tonight - wish me luck!
Keep fishing. How many other fish do you have? Don't feed him anything, just fish. Hook a mysis shrimp from tail to head on your micro hook.
Mc
 
t316

t316

Active Member
Looking at your info...you have a lot of other tankmates, otherwise this would be easy in your size tank. But, you are in a delima. Don't stress out the rest of the tank (as I did) trying to catch one fish. I'm not sure how you currently feed, but start feeding from surface only for a few days. Damsels will learn to come to the top and be the first ones at the buffet. Within a couple of days, I could grab them with my bare hands. If this doesnt' work, get a netting material and slowly start isolating him into a smaller, and smaller area( live rock & all) untill you have him pinned & you can get him with the net.
Plan B...a 20 guage with bird shot ammo will get him for sure...
 
mmm33732

mmm33732

Member
i agree with surface feeding for a few days then trying the net from the surface as fast as you can. be sure to hide the net behind your back. they'll see it coming. if that doesn't work, what you could do is get a piece of scrap acrylic and use it to section off the tank and move it slowly toward one end so the fish is trapped in a smaller compartment for you to catch him in.
 
hefner413

hefner413

Active Member
I'm fortunate in that I have the split tank - the acrylic tank with 2 sections that are connected with 2 horizontal tubes. So I have divided the tank - the damsel is on the one side and my other tankmates are on the other....
Update - I don't think that the #14 is small enough - yeah, it's a flyfishing hook, but they make much smaller - just none of the sports shops have them and there's no fishing store around here....
I fished for another 2 hrs tonight... he picked and picked... got a good dinner out of it.
I've tried sectioning off the one side to isolate the damsel in a corner or something with acrylic, but my tank is just quite difficult to section off with the rock and all... here's a pic:
 
monkdaily

monkdaily

Member
it may get a lil messy but get a larger clear siphon hose, and she will never see it comin. good luck with that
 
matt b

matt b

Active Member
i found these i dont no if they will work tho
[*mod edit= your post violates the linking rules of this board please do not post links like this*
 
hefner413

hefner413

Active Member

FINALLY! The score was Damsel 10 vs Me 0. But the last point was for the WIN!!! I finally put down the hook and line and decided to use what you see on all the movies when someone has to catch a fish but doesn't have any fishing pole.... I made a

[hr]
! I got a metal clothes hanger and a couple needles and some fishing line. I wrapped the needles down real tight and taped down the line. and then bent the needles to point out straight. I then put smashed a couple peices of food on the end to attract him out of the rock. As soon as he stuck his head out - boom!
I'm started dancing around the room! I can only imagine what it would have looked like from a bystander! Now... I'm kind of sad that it's all over... and I think I might miss the little guy, just a tad bit... OR NOT!! Finally, my fish can swim free without the bully!!! And now I can finally look into getting another tankmate!
Well, for all of you that think I'm cruel, sorry. And you never know... I put him in my 10 gal QT just in case he makes it... But for all of you that also have that damsel that you just want to be rid of, here's a pic of the ULTIMATE DAMSEL CATCHER!!!!
 
isistius

isistius

Active Member
congrats on the catch. i just took out almost 100lbs of rock to catch a flame angel in my 135 for someone. what a pita.
i love the tank............
 
hefner413

hefner413

Active Member
Wow, guess what... the damsel was put in the QT. I've also moved my cleaner wrasse to the QT b/c it started picking at my derasa clams.... AND now - the damsel is alive and well and picking at the cleaner wrasse!!! The thing is crazy
!!! If I flushed it down the toilet, it just might make it back to the ocean...
 
hefner413

hefner413

Active Member
well, just thought I would let you all know -- it's been just about a week, and that damsel is just fine.
If only all SW fish were so durable!
 
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