Went fishing in my tank yesterday!!! Yes really.

skennelly · 06-03-2007, 07:06 AM

Thought I'd share this.

I've had a Sargeant Major in my reef tank for about a year and a half and it was a big mistake adding him...I know. He terrorized the whole tank and I've been trying to catch him, but as everyone probably knows it was impossible using a net because the amount of live rock in the tank.

So I found a #16 sized trout fly at the sporting good store and went fishing. I put a mysis shrimp on the hook and the major took it right away and I finally got him out of the tank.

Don't worry the hook didn't do any damage to him, in fact if popped out soon after I put him in the temp storage container I setup. He is doing fine in a seperate tank now. Needless to say the fish in my reef are much happier now.

Sean

coral reefer · 06-03-2007, 07:08 AM

Hahahahahaha!!!! cool, I am running into the same problem, but my two Sargent Majors don't bother anything in the tank but each other, however, I can't add any other fish to the tank!!!
Nice job!

sssnake · 06-03-2007, 07:10 AM

Good stuff.

Beats the heck out of tearing the tank apart.

omard · 06-03-2007, 07:47 AM

Works great...I did same to large Blue Tang a few months ago. Only way I could get her out and move her to a larger home.

Using a tiny hook did not hurt the fish.

geekdafied · 06-03-2007, 07:57 AM

I tried making one of those bottle traps to catch some blue damsels, the biggest one swam in, ate the food and swam right back out. We dont have a local fly fishing store, and I couldnt find a small enough hook to try and catch them.

skennelly · 06-03-2007, 06:54 PM

I got my fly's at Sports Authority in the Chicagoland area. I'm sure you could find them in whatever local sporting goods chain in your area. My sargeant major is about the size of a silver dollar and it the hook size was perfect.

Kentanner11 · 06-03-2007, 07:22 PM

wow fishing in your tank... Wow does this do anything to the fish??

zombie13 · 06-04-2007, 07:03 PM

now that adds sport into home aquariums. talk about a lazy mans fishing trip. i wonder if that would make pay per view. ill have to remember that when i get ready to move my blue tang. and id imagin you cut the barb off the hook.

omard · 06-04-2007, 10:42 PM

Here is the real deal on "tank fishing"

Tips and Tricks, by Steven Pro

Get Out of My Tank!
Fish Removal Tips & Tricks

(Reef Keeping Magazine)

Happy Fishing!

skennelly · 06-10-2007, 08:11 AM

Yep. I took a pliers and crimped the barb so that it would be ineffective. Like I said as soon as I moved him to a new environment the hook popped out by itself, so I don't image it had any effect on him whatsoever.

He is doing fine after a week with no signs of any side effect.

Sean