Slough Shark Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Hey folks, Just wanted to share with you a quick method I'm trying for catching those tricky fish without ripping everything out of the tank. You need any plastic pop bottle (I usually use the smaller size since it takes up less space) and some electrical (or otherwise) tape. Cut the top of the bottle off 1/3 of the way down the length of it so that you can fit the lid section tightly into the other 2/3s, forming the trap. Just tape it up and fill the bottom with sand or rocks. To better explain it, here's a pic: I used this design to catch minnows for fish bait, so I don't see why it wouldn't work in this application. I'll let you guys know how it goes tomorrow morning. Taylor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Yep, I've used this method before. Works great for catching loaches in a planted tank. Put a few pellets or a sinking waffer in the bottle and it wont' take long to catch them. A good tip that Arixonbarnes told me was to drill some little holes in the body of the bottle. That way the water can flow through and not become polluted if you leave it in there too long. Then it can also be used as a strainer to "net" out the fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shai Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 I imagine you have to untape the bottle after the fish is in it to get the fish out?? Is there any possibility of the tape adhesive introducing nasty chemicals to the water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slough Shark Posted January 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Yep untape it once the job is done. I did think of the possibility of bad chemicals, so it's out of he tank until I can think of another way to secure the top. It didn't catch the fish anyway, I should have baited it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 I've used electrical tape in my tank before and never had any problems. I use it to tape a piece of plastic to the out take of my filters, so it was in constant contact with the water. It didn't loose its stickiness either. Its been there for years and never noticed any issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slough Shark Posted February 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 Good to know, thanks for the tips Valerie. I think I might try it again tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corrosionjerry Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Good luck.... I tried this method to catch my young Africans about a year ago.... it just didnt work for them / I finally had to rip out the rock work to get then out of the tank... It will probably work for loaches as they are a little different.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slough Shark Posted February 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Didn't work for these little guys. I think maybe the hole was too big for them. I guess I'll have to go in and rip up the tank one day, or try and catch them each time I feed them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Try using a flashlight to catch them at night... you'll need a net, too - you can't do much scooping w. a flashlight. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slough Shark Posted February 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 LOL yeah. I'll give it a go maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dayrude1981 Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 flashlight is the way i do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sumergold Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 Made the suggested catcher last weekend, caught a yoyo the next day! Was so excited. Every day this week I've caught tetras, but not the second yoyo. I really want to get the yoyo out WITHOUT ripping up the entire tank. Any suggestions? The yoyo is in a 80g planted with about 15 tetras and 5 cories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slough Shark Posted February 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 I'm glad it worked for you! I guess the net and flashlight like the two above guys suggested might work. Or else the only other way I can think of is to rip the tank up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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