Hints for catching fish?

Inga

So when the time comes to net my Leporinus, how in the world do I do that in a heavily planted tank with tons of hiding spots? any hints welcome.

CaliforniaFishkeeper

Saw this crude diagram for a fish trap made out of a 2 liter bottle. You just put food in there and lay it on its side and the fish swim right in.

Inga

Seriously? I wonder if that would work for the Leporinus, they are pretty big already. I set the net in there thinking they would calm down and come out of hiding. Everyone else was literally swimming into the net and hanging out but not the Leporinus, nope, they kept hiding. I swear they were sticking their tongues out at me. How in the world do they know that they are the targets?

Why could they not swim out of the hole they just swam into?

CaliforniaFishkeeper

I would be lying in wait with something to cover the hole... Maybe try fasting them the day before you try and catch them? It doesn't hurt the fish and some people even fast their fish once a week for improved digestion.

ElectricBlueJackDempsey

if you have 2 medium sized nets, just set them in the tank and wait till the Leporinus comes out and quickly corner him. Thats what I did with my Clown Loach

Inga

That is exactly what I have been trying to do but they just keep going back into hiding the second I move. They must have better eye sight then the other fish or something. They are naturally more wary of movement then the Barbs or Gourami. Heck, the Gourami was like "you want to take me?" and kept swimming in the net. That poses another issue.

With the trap idea, what if a bunch of fish go in the trap? I mean, won't they freak and hurt each other? Has anyone tried that method?

bones14

I use 2 nets to catch them.Hold one net in place and use the other one to coax the fish toward it.Don't move it until they get close enough.It beats chasing them all over the tank with one net and stressing out the fish.You just have to take your time and be patient.

aunt kymmie

What I did was to drain the water level down to net "height" and then used the two net method, with lots of patience. I still ended up having to move some of my driftwood and did trash a few of my plants.

Inga

That is what I was afraid of. I have had to move my tank around so much I am surprised my fish are still alive. Not to mention surprised I have any plants left at all. They will get a reprieve for tonight but If I see any more aggression, the tank is getting drained and the pots, plants wood and Leporinus are all coming out.

I can deal with the killing of plants, not that I am happy about it, but I can't deal with chasing down other fish to kill. Yup, I am a wimp.

CaliforniaFishkeeper

Try the trap <,<