DIY Fish Trap Catches Six Line Wrasse

If you have ever wondered how to build a DIY fish trap, it doesn't get much easer than this method I used to catch a six-line wrasse last night. I simply cut the top end off a water bottle and inverted it as shown below. I then placed a frozen cube of mysis shrimp in it. After filling with aquarium water, I secured it in my live rock. My DIY fish trap was exciting lure to all my fish, but the beauty of this fish trap was that the six line wrasse was the only fish that could fit through. Within 20 minutes on my 2nd attempt, it did just that and this proud fisherman successfully caught his fish. See all details and more pics below.


My DIY fish trap draws the curious Six-Line Wrasse


A cube of frozen mysis shrimp is good bait


Anybody can build this fish trap.

How to build this DIY Fish Trap:

1) Cut the end off a water bottle as shown above.
2) Invert end of bottle and place firmly inside the bottle as shown below.
3) Place fish food inside trap.
4) Slowly fill bottle with aquarium water.
5) Secure trap with rock.

When fish is caught, quickly and carefully remove bottle while placing one hand over open end of bottle to prevent escape.


Assembled fish trap


A happy cheesehead with fish


DIY fish trap success


Ready for transport to the fish store


Fish safely back in fish store


My irritated urchin whom has since let his hair down with fish removed



Why did I have to catch my six line wrasse?

My six line wrasse was a recent impulse buy. I had gone to the LFS for coral and the wrasse caught my eye. I had a six-line in my old 20 long aquarium and did not have any issues with it. So I considered this fish reef-safe based on my experience.

However, shortly after introducing the six line to my new tank, it began to be apparent that I had made a mistake. The difference between my aquariums was that my new one has a halloween urchin. My old tank did not. Well, what I did not know was that six lines are known to eat urchins.

From Live Aquaria:

Oops. It didn't take too long for my wrasse to begin picking at my urchin. This greatly alarmed me and the urchin. The urchin spent every day since with its spikes out and all of its feelers retracted. My urchin is king in my aquarium and keeps the algae in check. Without it, my shallow, intensely lit tank would be completely green so the six line wrasse had to go.

This DIY fish trap was a blessing. Effective, low-cost, easy to build and harmless to the fish. And you know what? I owe it to you all. I was ready to spend a few bucks on a trap but I thought I should search 3reef first. I found several examples of cheap DIY fish traps including this one. Cheers!

matt

 

Very nice trap!

You must not have Cleaner Shrimp, I tired that same trap but my cleaners were all up in it.

 

Thanks!
Nope my cleaner shrimp of a few years died over the summer.
It is easier to feed things now.

 

Nice job.:clapping: Have used that same method several times with the same result. Tear the tank apart to catch a fish you gotta figure there's an easier way.

 

Well done Matt.

Great image of you showing off your prize, Matt 1 Fish 0.

They can be a HUGE nightmare to catch.

Interesting information regarding Wrasse vs Urchin.

 

Nice job Matt!

I laughed out loud at the mental image of you and the urchin simultaneously freaking out.

 

Great work Matt! Glad you finally got that guy out of there!

 

Thank you - me too!

No kidding, I definitely did not want to do that!

I thought it might be. Thanks!

Yeah. I freak out with the best of them!

THanks all! I am happy it worked out. I hope it helps others.

matt

 

Matt i just made a video on this and i was about to post it and i saw this lol

I used a 1 liter to catch my red corris wrasse in less than 1 day

Nice job Matt

 

Congrats Matt, great info on the predation.