Catching a purple pseudochromis

swannyson7 · May 4, 2011

Yesterday I bought a pair of flame wrasses from the LFS and my purple pseudochromis has decided that he likes te taste of their fins. Needless to say, he's gotta go. I'm using a 2 liter bottle trap and can't seem to get him. For bait I've tried blood worms, mysis and krill (3 things that he normally tears apart), but he won't hop in the trap. I've been trying to catch him for about 5 hours and I'm getting really frustrated. Anyone have some suggestions for other bait for a pseudo that may entice him into the trap? I need to get this guy into my frag tank ASAP!!!

SoCaliReefin · May 4, 2011

Very naughty fish! Used to have one..
Build a trap, sort of a long slim net using some kind of mesh material, where he can get in one end but the other end is closed off. Put food he likes way in the end of the trap. Tie a string to the open end. Lay the trap down on the bottom of tank. When he goes in for it(shouldnt take too long), pull the string up FAST. Good Luck!

swannyson7 · May 4, 2011

The bottle trap is tried and true. I've caught all of the fish that will fit through the opening except for the pseudochromis. The flame wrasses both went in, caught a bunch of chromis, my mystery wrasse, and a blue devil damsel (also wanted him exiled to the frag tank, so this was a bonus). The purple pseudo just kind of stares at it and won't go in...

SoCaliReefin · May 4, 2011

The one I used to have would steal food from my corals. Bit out an eye of one of my chalice trying to steal a mysis. That method worked for me. He literally went in before my hand was out of the water.

Troylee · May 4, 2011

bristle worm in there will do the trick..... i have caught mine a few times by pulling the plug on the return pump when he's near the return nozzle it sucks him right in and drains him to the sump hahahahah.... it was a accident the first time but i have done it a few times so when the day comes i know it's gonna be a easy one.... mine was a role citizen until i added a wrasse he has killed everyone since...:(

snoopie · May 4, 2011

Well one thing I noticed is u said 5 hours.... the way I have caught all my fish is jjust put the trap in there for a whole day. And only feed in the trap.... don't take it out should have a target feeder to push food in there... he will then understand its a food tray. And u will get him. The thing is I have noticed most fish just wont hop into something new that fast.

Some of my fish would take longer. So just my 2 cents

Sent from my EVO.

swannyson7 · May 4, 2011

I haven't fed the fish in two days in preparation for catching him and the trap has been in the tank since yesterday morning. I planned on pulling him anyway, I just got some extra motivation this morning when i saw him nipping at the flames. Today is the first time I put food in the trap though.

snoopie · May 4, 2011

Keep putting food inside he sill learn to go in there once he figures it out.

Sent from my EVO.

swannyson7 · May 5, 2011

After too much impatience, I decided to DIY an acrylic trap that I saw posted once upon a time by Anthony Calfo and after about 2 minutes in the tank, he went right in!!

Now it's time to catch my 5 year old clarkii and find him a new home so I can get some less aggressive clowns. Probably going to just go with a pair of oscellaris, but may spring for a pair of snowflakes if I find a good deal. :bigsmile:

gar732 · May 5, 2011

Congrats on catching him and nice pick up on the wrasses. Did you get them at puppy center? I saw a pair there when I was there on Sunday.

swannyson7 · May 5, 2011

gar732 said:
Congrats on catching him and nice pick up on the wrasses. Did you get them at puppy center? I saw a pair there when I was there on Sunday.

Yep! Now I'm trying to catch my Clarkii. I've wanted to get rid of him for a while and I'm just finally getting around to it.