Need help, fish stuck under the refugium.

[billm44]

I have a Finnex 30 gallon which is running topless over the back chambers because I broke that cover. My Pygmy Agngel has jumped into the center chamber and is swimming in the small space under the refugium. Anyone have any ideas how to get him out? Finnex owners will appreciate how difficult it is to even reach the small area, let alone net a fish. Any help you can offer would be great.

I have also posted for help over at nano-reef.

Thanks,
Bill

[billm44]

Bump

[Cshradr7]

your going to need to remove the pump probably and the plumbing and maybe just put a net down there with a piece of food in it and hope it swims in.

i don't know of anything down there that could harm it so i don't think that you need to rush in there and tare it all apart.

take a pic for future entertainment!!

[billm44]

The pump is out for now. The problem is that the refugium sits on top of two supports. You can't even get a net into the corner of the tank where the fish is hiding.

I have built a "trap" out of a gator-ade bottle and baited it with food. Now to wait and see....

Bill

[Poorcollegereef]

I would like to see this trap being used as well as the hiding space since I am not familar with finnex

[Cshradr7]

here is a pic of the back of this tank. the refugium is on the top left but there is approximatly a 4-5 inch gap between it and the bottom of the tank

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r217/Cshradr7/Newtankback.png

[Poorcollegereef]

wow, thats a tough hiding space! I guess you can use a wire skimmer brush to bend behind there to scare him out and then catch him as long as you block the way back into the "cave"

[billm44]

I appreciate the picture being posted so people can see the quandry.

I have removed the "trap" for now. It was just a bottle cut about one third down, with the top then re-inserted backwards. Fishies swim in to get the bait, but often can't figure out how to swim back out. The problem is that it has to be very small - a 2 liter bottle works great but I don't have space. And you basically have to run without the main pump while the trap is in there because there isn't enough space for both. I am going to wait until tomorrow when hopefully the fish gets hungry and then try the trap again.

Any other suggestions are definitely welcome!

Bill

[billm44]

Any food treat that a mostly herbivore fish like an dwarf angel just can't resist?

Bill

[Sk8r]

Spirulina cubes [spir. mixed with chopped squid]? My tang will kill for it.

[billm44]

That sounds like a winner. I will go out and get some.

Bill

[billm44]

I caught him using a net and food.

Thanks to everybody who helped!

Bill

[Poorcollegereef]

Congrats, now how are you going to block that area off from further fish hiding?

[billm44]

I have improvised a new glass cover from an old hood which should keep him out.

I should also give credit to my eight year old daughter, who used a laser pointer to help lead the fish to the net!

Bill

[ELCHUPACABRA]

Your fish does tricks???

[billm44]

He has an agent:rolleyes: !

Bill