Punk damsels

[Blizzo]

Hey hey,
This is the first time I have ever posted on the internet for any reason. My first question may not set the best tone, but here it goes. I have had FW fish for about six years and just swithched over to salt water. I got to say now when I'm at the fish store I just ignore FW fish, and can't believe I ever had them. Anyhoo, My tank is a long 45 gallon w/50+ lbs of live rock. Everything is cycled and going godd, thanfully I have not run into any problems as of yet, with the exception of one thing. My LFS hooked me up with some damsels to help with cycling, which I was not very thrilled about. Yesterday I purchaced a blue tang, put him in the tank and this damsel (the alpha?) who is a third the size of the tang will not stop attacking him/her. I want to get that bugger out o there but he keeps tucking into the rocks. I spend a solid hour and a half trying to catch this dude, but had no luck. I'm shooting at stars here but my hope is that someone out their has a litte trick or something to lure this guy into a net, without having to remove my rock. Will greatly appreciate any help.

 

[arnjer]

I hate to say it but unless you are just lucky you will prob have to take the rock out to get him. Some damsels are really a PITA. Hopefully you don't have alot of rock. Think of it this way if you are not happy with your rock work now is a good time to change it. The damsel may pick on the tang for a while and then stop who knows. I have one damsel in my 90 and when he dies....no more. When I first started in salt I did the same thing and whenever I put a new fish in it sometimes got picked on. It may just be they have to find thier "pecking order". You may also try this take a picture of another fish or of the tang and tape it to the side of the tank. Maybe the damsel will think there is another new fish and divert it's attention there for a while to let the tang settle in.

Jerry

 

[usafresq1]

this really isen't going to help you much I don't think but I will respond anyways. Back when I was working at a fish store acouple years ago I use to be one of those guys who told people to help cycle their tank with damsels. Then I took an interest in keeping salt water tanks and started doing research and realising how big the mistakes were that I made. After I "dun learned myself well" about how to keep salt water tanks I felt really guilty and bad about talking to my loyal customers that I helped out from my unknowlegeable past....if that makes any sence :wink:
Any ways I ended up redoing the entire salt water section so that water flow was better. Over all healthyness of the aquariums were improved about 100% (we were close to walmart quality...sad to say) and I introduced corals to the store. Needless to say my manager and the store owner were very happy with me because salt water business sky rocketed. They also had me over see the reconstruction of the fresh water department which was a breeze compared to the salt tanks LOL. Anyways I always hated catching damsels to sell and I had acouple of my loyal customers ask me how to get them out of their tanks. In the store I just left the net in the water so the fish got use to it and when they swam past it I was just a tad quicker than they were. Not the best way to catch them but it worked. I told this to a customer and he came back about a week later with two rather large yellow tailed damsel fish. I asked him how my trick worked and he said it didn't, what he ended up doing was getting a specimen container (ya know the kind the LFS uses to plop the fish in when its caught) and he drilled acouple small holes in the bottom of it. He also drilled to holes in the top sides and attached fishing line to them and placed some food in there. When the damsels got comfortable enough to swim into it to eat he just pulled it up. The holes in the bottom acted as a "suction" to keep them in the container. I'm not sure if this idea would ever work twice but its worth a shot if nothing else will work. I am sure you could also search this site and find tons of horror stories about catching damsels and most of them end up with the rock having to be taken out.
Best of luck, let us know how you got them out.
~usafresq

 

[Blizzo]

Yo Yo,
Thanks for the replys, I really appreciate it. I think I'm Going to try the net thing, I got close a couple of times, but I was not leaving the net in the tank. I even thought of of making a mini non-barbed fish hook so I could fish for him ( I may be going overbaord). If the trap does not work i was also thinking of moving most of the rock to one side of the tank and seperating the two sides with cheese cloth, unless cheese cloth would do harm. Again, I do appreciate the responses, i will give it another shot in about 5 more hours. Hopefully I can make my second post a successful one on how i got them out.

 

[reefNewbie]

youd almost be better off catching the tang instead. Because that tang will grow larger than your tank can handle quite quickly.

 

[Marrowbone]

I got a few yards of fine nylon mesh at an art/craft store that I draped over the majority of the rock, leaving a small hole for the damsels to come out... then I closed the hole behind them and used my hand behind another portion of the mesh to catch them. It's huge mess and much easier said than done, but an option. I have also had some success catching them using a small mirror at the bottom of a jar. I wouldn't be afraid to give a small fish hook a try either

 

[Blizzo]

That's what I had read. I was almost not going to get one but my LFS had said it should be fine. It is a rather small one. I was told that I could always bring it back if it did get too large, providing it was healthy, and get some credit. This response actually answers another question I had, which is in general are most fish limited by groth in relation to the size of the tank. I'm sure some will keep growing but was kinda hoping they would stop.

 

[Blizzo]

Hey hey,
Thats a good idea, i think I will give this a try. I kinda laugh at the fish hook method because I certainly don't want to kill anything on purpose just because I'm not into it, but dang, if the little booger would be alright i'd give it a shot. I think my response is out of order. I was responding to the tang comment then got this response.

 

[whiirly]

i am quite frankly suprised that the Tang Police havent
been here yet but i bet there coming any way i too was fooled into
the damsel thing the only way i got them out was to remove all
the live rock and chase them with two nets for what seemed like
forever after they were removed i replaced my lr and ended up
with a better arrangement so the bad ended good
anyway good luck
whiirly :lol: :lol:

 

[Blizzo]

This is the second reference to me getting a tang. I'm starting to get scared. I have read up a little on tangs but have'nt seen anything not recommending getting one, other than tank size. If this is a major no no I will return him before he gets too comfortable. Now I am pretty new to salt water tanks and the main reason i don't want to take out the rocks is that i'm affraid of some die off the may affect the fish. My gut tells me it should be fine, buuut ya never know.

 

[whiirly]

when i did it i had several and they were all ok a little stressed but
all made it
as for the tang i personally only put fish in that will be
able to stay in for life so you dont have the same problem getting
the tang out when he gets to big and he will get to BIG
good luck
whiirly

 

[Modo]

If you would like to know opinions on Tangs please do a search up top on Tang Police or Tangs. You'll get about a 10,000 hits and know what your asking after about the first 10.

Most peoples opinions here are Tangs need LOTS of swimming room. You stated Blue Tang which may be several different species. None of which are really recommended for a 45g especially right after cycling. The Tang Police is a tag for people who have more than strong feelings towards those who keep Tangs in small tanks and let there opinions flow freely like a loose line on an Iwaki.

Also do a search for LFS or Local Fish Store and after about 2-3 of those threads you'll understand how the majority of the people here feel about those as well.

Some are very helpful and others are definately not. Education is the key and being here is a GREAT start. Making educated decisions on your own and not on the advice on the LFS will get you further in this hobby and save you many a frustrating days.

WELCOME ABOARD and read, read, read, read......

 

[Blizzo]

Thanks for the advice. I certainly do not want to keep a cooped up fish in my tank. at the very least, me just knowing it is not a good idea will be swirling in my head while I watch him, which is not too relaxing. I think I'm going to take him back after work today and check out what the tang police say. At the very least it will buy me some time to lure my damsels out.

 

[Modo]

Good Idea. Once the Tang is out it should also make it a little easier to catch your Damn-sle.

You may try leaving your net or nets in the tank overnight. This will allow the fish to adjust to them. Then they won't be so panicked once they start moving.

I hate to reiterate what someone already stated, but I believe more than likely you will have to tear out alot of your rock before you catch the Damsel.

Good luck and in the meantime check out the library on the main reefs.org page. There is alot of good info there. Check out this site too. Good stuff....

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/

 

[ReefRian]

If you do decide you need to take the rock out to catch the fish, do a water change and put the water you removed into buckets and then place in the rocks. Be sure not to smash anything you notice living on the rocks, expecially what you want to keep. The rocks should be fine for a few hours or more while you catch the fish, there really shouldn't be much or any dieoff. Then just be sure to put the rock in as soon as you are done.

Rian

P.S. Goodluck on removing the fish and getting into the feel of things with SW. It is so much more rewarding than FW, and much more enjoyable to watch. Just be patient and everything will work out, and if it doesn't, that's what we're here for.

 

[Blizzo]

Like I stated, this is my first type of internet contact with actual people for anything. I greatly appreciate all the advice that I had received and am convinced I shall return. As nice as my LFS is I am also convinced not to take their advice literally anymore. so once again thank you all for your advice. I will also post how I got those damsels out( I like to optimistic) in the next few days.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd get rid of the damsels regardless of what you do with the tang. Damsels are evil and often harrass any new fish that you may want to add.

As for the tang in a 45, it's not going to work out long term. There is nothing wrong with putting a very small tang in a 45 if your are willing to remove it and return to the LFS or buy a bigger tank in the future, when the tang starts to show signs of stress due to his growth.

I have had yellow, purple, and sailfins in my 75. All became increasingly beligerent with age. My tank is currently tangless, though I am looking for juvenile atlantic blue, that I will relocate into a 300G tank that I am in the planning stages on.

HTH

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Somehow I see this quote as a great caption for a Farside 'toon.

I'd get rid of the damsels.... Damsels are evil and often harrass any new fish that you may want....

:lol: :lol: :lol: :? Maybe it's just me. 8)

 

[Blizzo]

Not that I am just into seamaiden but hey I live in orange county as well. Right off of chapman and the 55. Anyhoo, It is unfortunatley looking like i'm going to have to take some rock before getting that booger out, which I have to wait until tomorrow to do, it will be a full production i'm sure. I think I'm just going to get a new rubbermaid can and put the rock into that whilst I go fishing.

 

[dvmsn]

Another usefull trick, you will need a two liter soda bottle. Starting from the top of the bottle, cut the bottle in half at the area where the bottle becomes a cylinder. This should leave you with a peice of bottle that looks like a funnel. Turn that piece around and place it into the top of the remaining part of the bottle upside down. Your contraption should look like a soda bottle with the top upside down in the body of the bottle. Place some food in the bottom of the bottle and sink it in your tank. The fish should smell the food and inspect the cavern to try to find it. When they get inside the bottle they can't find the hole to get back out.