Possible way to catch Damsel?

Reef Breeder 2013 · Nov 3, 2024

I'm thinking of getting a Yellowtail Damsel, but I need to have a plan B. I've read that they are really hard to catch, but I just had a possible idea: What if you take it out while it's eating? Look, my idea is to quickly catch the Damsel while it is eating. Has anyone had success doing this?

Tompickles · Nov 3, 2024

Could work. I’ve also siphoned out small hard to catch fish with a larger tube they can easily fit through right into a 5 gallon bucket

littlefoxx · Nov 3, 2024

Reef Breeder 2013 said:
I'm thinking of getting a Yellowtail Damsel, but I need to have a plan B. I've read that they are really hard to catch, but I just had a possible idea: What if you take it out while it's eating? Look, my idea is to quickly catch the Damsel while it is eating. Has anyone had success doing this?

Get an eel if it becomes a problem. Lol all jokes aside Ive had some luck capturing them at night, my yellow tail liked to sleep up by the clowns sometimes or in another corner. Other damsels Ive had seem to like caves, so Ive trapped both ends with nexts at night (red light also helps) and scared them into a net.

RedReefer · Nov 3, 2024

If all else fails you will have to pull your rock which sucks!

exnisstech · Nov 3, 2024

What is your concern with the damsel that you need a plan B? It's not like a damsel is one of those I just gotta have fish that makes a person want take risks to keep one. I'm not saying I've never had to remove a fish but I don't add one that I'm already suspecting may not work. I learned my lesson with a domino damsel that became a terror in a 6ft tank. I tried traps, little bitty fish hooks and even made a miniature harpoon and still ended up pulling the rock to catch it.