To catch a Tang

Ben Seaver · Jan 16, 2017

Hello, I am at stage 2 of attempting to catch my clown tang and remove him. I tried blocking off sections of my tank with acrylic sheets but he was able to wiggle through the sides and escape, unfortunately scraping himself up a bit. I'm going for a more humane approach here, but I know everyone's been through it before. There's a few pictures attached, I'm an amateur so be nice eh..
#ReeferMadness

Bdog4u2 · Jan 16, 2017

Get a large fish trap and put a mirror in it. I caught every fish in my tank in 5 mins........except the damsel i was trying to catch

DRoth335 · Jan 16, 2017

Fish trap works great.

Salty1962 · Jan 16, 2017

AquaMedic Fish Trap. Let it set in your tank for 3~4 days and start feeding from it. Works very well, just have to be patient;)

clownfish chris · Jan 16, 2017

For tangs, I always feed nori by hand. I can pet all three of mine. The problem is now I feel guilty when I have to catch them.

eatbreakfast · Jan 17, 2017

I second the fish trap and mirror method.

Dlefty · Jan 17, 2017

Ben Seaver said:
Hello, I am at stage 2 of attempting to catch my clown tang and remove him. I tried blocking off sections of my tank with acrylic sheets but he was able to wiggle through the sides and escape, unfortunately scraping himself up a bit. I'm going for a more humane approach here, but I know everyone's been through it before. There's a few pictures attached, I'm an amateur so be nice eh..
#ReeferMadness

I don't see a photo of a clown tang, only a sail fin tang. Is he hiding? Nice tank though!

4FordFamily · Jan 17, 2017

I always remove rock and just remove the fish that way which is a huge pain but is somehow less total aggravation. I do have a fish trap and feeding them inside it for a few days often works.

Throw an algae clip in it, and a mirror!

Waters · Jan 17, 2017

I have caught many fish using acrylic fish traps. For the more difficult ones, you can try turning the lights on after sitting in total darkness for a few hours. The fish can literally be picked up with your hands. This only works if you know where the fish "sleeps"...assuming it isn't wedged up under a rock somewhere.

Ben Seaver · Jan 17, 2017

Thank you everyone. Yes my clown tang was hiding when I took those pics as I was previously trying other methods of catching him and definitely was stressing everyone out. So after less than 24 hours I got him! Poor guy was freaked out but I think it's for the best. All my other tangs have bites taken out of their fins and in general the clown tang was a bully and has to go.

My next fish I really want is a swallowtail angel. I'm hoping World Wide Corals has one.

4FordFamily · Jan 17, 2017

Ben Seaver said:
Thank you everyone. Yes my clown tang was hiding when I took those pics as I was previously trying other methods of catching him and definitely was stressing everyone out. So after less than 24 hours I got him! Poor guy was freaked out but I think it's for the best. All my other tangs have bites taken out of their fins and in general the clown tang was a bully and has to go.

My next fish I really want is a swallowtail angel. I'm hoping World Wide Corals has one.

I would take it off of your hands if you were local, he wouldn't be able to bully my gang of tangs ;)

Congrats on the catch!