Fish stuck in rock

[FrozenReefer]

I’m in the middle of transferring tanks and just noticed that my blue tang won’t come out of its hiding place deep in my live rock. It makes sense that it’s trying to hide with all the commotion in the tank but I need to move the rock.

My rock structure is one massive combination of Marco rocks and pukani. The tang loves to swim in and out of the tiny nooks and crannies. Any tips to convince it to vacate its hiding spot?

I can always fill the new tank and then move the rock but I’m not sure I have a container large enough to carry the rock still submerged. At least not strong enough that I would trust picking it up filled.

 

[BonnieB]

I am assuming you tried to bribe it out with tasty treats already so I don’t have an answer for you but I feel your pain! Following!

 

[FrozenReefer]

Funny thing is I have a Trigger that likes to hide right near the tang and I saw it before I moved the rock to a temp tank. I tried feeding, using a power head to blow right near it and even lifted the rock out of the water for a second, but that trigger refused to move. I ended up quickly moving the rock out of the main tank and ran downstairs to the temp tank. It was out of the water for maybe 15-20 seconds. By the time I got to the temp tank the trigger had flopped itself out into the tub I was carrying the rock in. I got the trigger and rock into the new tank. That whole time, the tang was hidden in a smaller cave in the same rock and I didn’t see it. I didn’t notice it till I was trying to find all the fish and saw its tiny little tail shifting around in the new tank.

 

[FrozenReefer]

What I think I’m going to have to do its add water into the tank enough that the cave will be submerged, then come back and add the sand. I really didn’t want to do it that way because of how cloudy the water gets, it just can’t be good for them but I don’t have much of an option.

I always try to do rock first, sand second and livestock after the sand is settled but little Dory might have made the decision for me. Fingers crossed it survives.

 

[BonnieB]

What I think I’m going to have to do its add water into the tank enough that the cave will be submerged, then come back and add the sand. I really didn’t want to do it that way because of how cloudy the water gets, it just can’t be good for them but I don’t have much of an option.

I always try to do rock first, sand second and livestock after the sand is settled but little Dory might have made the decision for me. Fingers crossed it survives.

Fingers with you!

 

[FrozenReefer]

So I went against my plan and put the sand in first last night. Not only has both the tang and the trigger moved into the rock, my starry Benny has now snaked himself in too. I tried all the usual again but no luck. So plan B it is, the tank is now covered in sand and the fines are settling. Tonight after work I’ll take the big rock out of the temp tank and move it, with or without any stowaways. Then I’ll finish adding the rest of the water and get the tank move finished. This tang has now extended the move and additional 24hrs, I’m beat.

The main rock structure is super steady with flat rock at three points so I’m not hugely concerned about stability but I can’t say this was my preferred option. I think it will be ok over time, plus I’ll scrape the sand a little to give it the most stable footing I can. Just would have been better to be right on the glass.

 

[FrozenReefer]

Well, all the inhabitants made it through just fine. After about 24 more hours of hiding in the new tank, they finally came out and started swimming around freely.

Here’s what I ended up doing: I put one of my two islands in first, then filled the tank with water and sand. After letting that settle overnight, I added the second island—the one with the stubborn fish still in it. I even tried leaving nori near them overnight, but they wouldn’t budge. In the end, I just pulled the rock out of the water, placed it in a bin, ran it over to the new tank, and set it in. Total air time was maybe 20 seconds.

I’ll admit I’m not a fan of putting rock on top of sand—flat rock on the glass gives much better stability—but in this case I didn’t really have much of a choice.

 

[BonnieB]

Well, all the inhabitants made it through just fine. After about 24 more hours of hiding in the new tank, they finally came out and started swimming around freely.

Here’s what I ended up doing: I put one of my two islands in first, then filled the tank with water and sand. After letting that settle overnight, I added the second island—the one with the stubborn fish still in it. I even tried leaving nori near them overnight, but they wouldn’t budge. In the end, I just pulled the rock out of the water, placed it in a bin, ran it over to the new tank, and set it in. Total air time was maybe 20 seconds.

I’ll admit I’m not a fan of putting rock on top of sand—flat rock on the glass gives much better stability—but in this case I didn’t really have much of a choice.

That’s so awesome to hear!