Need help removing Blueband Goby from tank

[racsoh]

Hi all,

I have a Blueband Goby that has taken home under the cave at the bottom left of my tank. As pretty as it is, my corals are buried in sand every day, and I'm tired of dealing with this issue.
In all honesty, I bought it without knowing too much about it and now I'm paying for my lack of knowledge.
I already talked to my LFS and they are willing to take it back, however, I have no clue as to how I can catch him, since he barely leaves his cave and I don't want to move the rocks. I've attached some pics of the tank if that helps. He hides in the cave onleft bottom corner where the two duncans are. Any ideas welcome. THANKS!

 

[BristleWormHater]

Fish traps!
One of these guys should know
@tbrown @felda001 @steveschuerger @twentyleagues @Slocke @i cant think @Spare time

 

[racsoh]

Fish traps!
One of these guys should know
@tbrown @felda001 @steveschuerger @twentyleagues @Slocke @i cant think @Spare time

Thanks. I hope one of them can give me an idea. I'm pretty handy, and I can build stuff. As I was talking to my wife now, I may have come up with an idea to isolate it in the back of the aquarium and net him out once he leaves the cave, but it will requireof me being present when it goes out.
I'll wait to see any other ideas. Thanks a lot.

 

[tbrown]

Gatorade or water bottle fish trap. Put some of his favorite food in there and squirt a little bit on the entrance to lure him out of his cave and into the bottle.

https://images.app.goo.gl/9TyoT8zWwgnFuyB17
Easy and works 75% of the time or more!

 

[BryanM]

Gatorade or water bottle fish trap. Put some of his favorite food in there and squirt a little bit on the entrance to lure him out of his cave and into the bottle.

https://images.app.goo.gl/9TyoT8zWwgnFuyB17
Easy and works 75% of the time or more!

any change this works for somewhat larger fish? Dwarf angel specifically. I have a NYOS trap coming, but not convinced ...

 

[tbrown]

any change this works for somewhat larger fish? Dwarf angel specifically. I have a NYOS trap coming, but not convinced ...

Wide mouth Gatorade Bottle might work. The fish has to swim through the neck of the bottle. If the opening is too small it can injure the fish or the fish might not go in.

I've caught a Foxface and Tomini tang in a 32 oz Gatorade Bottle.

 

[tbrown]

any change this works for somewhat larger fish? Dwarf angel specifically. I have a NYOS trap coming, but not convinced ...

Another option for larger fish is the DIY NYOS type trap with a pitcher or Rubbermaid/Tupperware type container and some form of float - several people use pool noodles cut to size.

These types you have to sit and wait and watch and pull the string when they're in the trap.

Double door/trap door type traps work good for bigger fish also, but you still have to pull the string to close the door.

 

[racsoh]

Gatorade or water bottle fish trap. Put some of his favorite food in there and squirt a little bit on the entrance to lure him out of his cave and into the bottle.

https://images.app.goo.gl/9TyoT8zWwgnFuyB17
Easy and works 75% of the time or more!

Thanks. I'll build the trap and let you know how it goes.

 

[racsoh]

So, I built the trap and all fish went inside except the goby. He literally looked at me through the glass, gulp a bunch of sand and sprinkle it all over my corals (that was last night). Today I had enough and after a lot internal debate, I put my big boy pants and I removed everything to catch him, which I did. Tomorrow first thing, he's going back to the store.