Catching Large Fish

paul_southend2k · Post by **paul_southend2k** » 30 Apr 2007, 19:26

I have 3 Large Puntius Denisonii in a Jewel Rekord 120 but i am having problems catching them. any ideas??

snowball · Post by **snowball** » 01 May 2007, 01:56

I caught five of them out of my 300l tank, I had to take out all the big bits of wood and drop the water to less than half. All I can say is good luck!

pturley · Post by **pturley** » 01 May 2007, 03:10

With Puntius, I would drop the water to just a few inches. These things can jump like a missile!

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 01 May 2007, 10:52

Further to lowering the water levce, using a sheet of some sort (perspex, plywood, cardboard) that fits tight [1] along the edge of the tank can help "heard" the fishes to a smaller area of the tank, making the capture much easier.

[1] Tight enough that the fish can't get past - it doesn't have to be WATER TIGHT tho'.

--
Mats

Post by **Shane** » 01 May 2007, 11:48

Lower the water as stated and use two large nets. Use one to herd them into the other. I like these a lot for the fish room. They do not hold up on collecting trips however.
-Shane
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=n%3A ... nc.&page=1

snowball · Post by **snowball** » 01 May 2007, 14:25

Further to Shane's point on their hardiness or lack thereof, I've seen myself and heard from a few others that these fish can drop dead during transport, possibly as a result of acidosis. This tends to occur when the fish are roughly handled or otherwise unduly stressed.

When I got rid of my five I took my time to catch them and did the herding trick with a pair of big nets. I tried not to chase them, rather I would wait until they passed between the nets and then slowly close the door on them, getting them one at a time. I also put them in an extra large bag with plenty of water, and transported it in a dark bag.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 01 May 2007, 14:38

snowball wrote:Further to Shane's point on their hardiness or lack thereof, I've seen myself and heard from a few others that these fish can drop dead during transport, possibly as a result of acidosis. This tends to occur when the fish are roughly handled or otherwise unduly stressed.

I think Shane's comments on hardiness was referring to the nets that he was recommending (or NOT recommending if you're going collecting in South America), rather than the fishes.

--
Mats

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 01 May 2007, 17:21

pturley wrote: These things can jump like a missile!

Say no more! I'll have the same troubles shortly when I (have to) get the Leptobarbus hoevenii out of the tank.
These fish are easily scared: you only have to look at the tank and they dart off in miniature sand storms. Strictly bottom orientated and I have enough fishes living on or near the bottom. Not any good as dither fish and that was the only reason I purchased them....
Luckily next week will be a holiday week.

paul_southend2k · Post by **paul_southend2k** » 01 May 2007, 22:30

Thank you for all your replys, i like all the advice and tips, problem is i cant lower the level to much as have other fish in the tank. I need to catch the 3 redlines and 4 clown loaches and put them into a larger tank i have set up along side....its been running for about 4 weeks now.

Is it ok to just catch them and put them in the new tank without baging them up and floating/adding water??

Ive tested the water and they have the same 0 amm, 0 nitrite, 20-30 nitrate...

snowball · Post by **snowball** » 02 May 2007, 00:40

MatsP wrote:I think Shane's comments on hardiness was referring to the nets that he was recommending (or NOT recommending if you're going collecting in South America), rather than the fishes. --
Mats

Indeed, the link to the nets makes more sense in that light!

paul_southend2k wrote:Is it ok to just catch them and put them in the new tank without baging them up and floating/adding water??

As long as the pH and temperature are similar, that would certainly be the best way to move them.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 02 May 2007, 10:33

paul_southend2k wrote:Thank you for all your replys, i like all the advice and tips, problem is i cant lower the level to much as have other fish in the tank.

And why does this mean you can't lower the water level? Of course, it's a bit more trouble-some when you have other fish in there. Just do it at the same time as you do a water change, and if you do MUCH more water than a normal water change, just save some of the "old" water in a tub of some sort, then fill it back from the tub and top up as if you did a water-change. Fish won't be harmed, I can assure you [as long as you don't leave the tank with half the water for VERY long - like days, and you would of course need to turn the heater back on before it goes too cold].

Is it ok to just catch them and put them in the new tank without baging them up and floating/adding water??

If the water is same pH and hardness, yes, shouldn't be a problem. Of course, it's also helpfull if they are close together so you don't have to carry the fish for a long time in the net, as that can cause problems. But if it's a few steps, no problem.

--
Mats

paul_southend2k · Post by **paul_southend2k** » 03 May 2007, 21:32

Moved the 3 fish today, lowered the water to about 4-5 inches and as soon as the net hit the water all hell let loose! They must have remembered from last time! I had one and it jumper out of the water and hit the glass down the other end of the tank a meter long! Still after 5 mins got the three of them into the new tank and they are enjoying the extra space.

Will post pictures soon.

Thanks for the advice.

Paul

pturley · Post by **pturley** » 05 May 2007, 02:27

paul_southend2k wrote:

I had one and it jumper out of the water and hit the glass down the other end of the tank a meter long!

It's not rude in the UK to say "I told you so" is it

Good to hear the move went OK.