How to capture/catch clownfish in a tank

[JHardman]

Since I see so many posts about people having to move their clownfish for whatever reason and I so often see poor or stressful (for the fish and keeper) techniques being tried I thought I would share my techniques for catching and moving clownfish.

First we are smarter than the fish, even though sometimes they make us feel that they are indeed smarter. Since we are smarter than them, we know that clownfish are territorial and we can use this against them.

Using territorial defense response to catch clownfish

Find a clean, clear container that is large enough to hold the fish or pair in question. You can buy clear plastic specimen containers at better stocked LFS or online. These are ideal, but anything that is clear, has a wide opening and is not easily broken will work, the key here is clear.

You will need both hands for the capture. Place the clear container in the tank near the fish. Hold it in place with one hand and use your other hand to herd the fish into the container. Most clownfish if you move slowly and carefully will not flee and can be herded into the container and lifted out of the tank.

If your fish is a runner... Place the container in an open corner of the tank and herd the fish into the corner and container. This is where having a rectangular specimen container is handy, no gaps for escapes.

When you carry or move the fish in the clear container it is a good idea to cover the top and bottom. Scared clownfish tend to jump so having something on top to keep them in the container is nice. Covering the bottom will help to not scare them with suddenly moving floor.

Clownfish sleep, attack at night!

If you are unlucky enough to not only have a runner, but one that is really good at it, you may have to resort to catching them at night when they are asleep. You can either go with the flash light and not light up the tank or you can flip on the tank lights. However if you flip on the lights, the fish are going to wake up, giving you much less time to get the job done than if you just use a flashlight.

Careful not to scare your fish to death with a night time attack! Some species of clownfish are very prone to night time scares and wild runs and jumps that could lead to their death.

Using evil nets!

I do not recommend using nets to catch clownfish. Clownfish are very visual fish with excellent eye sight. Having a large "thing" chasing them around a tank can cause a great deal of stress. I have even seen fish die shortly after netting them. I avoid them and the only ones I own are for straining brine shrimp.

NEVER EVER use a net on a maroon clownfish! Maroons have cheek spines that can easily be caught in the netting and result in very bad, even deadly damage to the fish.

[z_rivers]

thanks for the information J. i also dont like using nets to catch my fish as the main reason being their eyes (imagine sandpaper scraping against your cornea). the method where you herd them into a corner and scoop them up in a jar works good. i have a plastic container that when i dunk in the water, creates a huge suction from the water replacing the air. if you hold this close to the clowns they usually get sucked in and are unharmed.

-rivers

[OrionN]

My tank is large. I find that night capture is easiest. I can easy capture my fish to move them at night with a small net. Often this would be over in 15 seconds and it seem to me the fish is not complety awake when I got them to their transfer container.
Minh

[Rod Buehler]

Ive moved my clowns a few times in the past few years, and tho it wont work for most and probably doesnt belong in this thread.. . I just grab ahold of the anemone, and the clowns dive in. I am able to move all 3 at once. They arent going anywhere withoiut their anemone, and visa versa,

[57chevygirl57]

only thing I had to do was put the net in the water, and the big one swam right in, and the little one followed,,,,,,,,,,,
They are very friendly,,,,,,

[tcarlson]

I have always been an anti-net person and catch clowns in a clear plastic container. It seems like some clowns react better than others my Cinnamons, Ocellaris, and Maroons were unfazed by the treatment but my Clarkiis freaked out and were hyperventilating when they were moved to their new home. (Of course they have been absoloutely the most skitish clowns I have ever owned.) I don't know how anyone can move a Maroon with a net, I saw an uneducated fish store employee do it once for a customer and get both of the pair of maroon's cheek spines caught in the net.

I tried the plastic container trick to catch a Flame Angel and it was completley ineffective. I think the fact that clowns are poor swimmers and ultra trusting, as long as they are hungry, is why this works so easily.

[NicoleC]

What works for me:

Step 1 -- gently and slowly chase clowns a bit with container
Step 2 -- hand feed clowns
Step 3 -- herd fed clowns into container

I don't know why, but Step 2 seems to remind them they can trust me, and they only put up token resistance in Step 3.

[k_kagy]

I have had luck using the clowns anemone as well. Turning the lights off during any part of the day will ensure that the clown will be in his anemone and won't want to go anywhere else. I then simply run my hand into the anemone and am able to scoop the clownfish into my hand and then into a bag. I have never had to move any rocks, and only use one hand. My tank is a little above eye level so using two hands isn't an option.
For all other fish night time is the best.

[Luis A M]

JHardman,how you catch and count a large number of fish being packed for sale?(and returning those not big enough)

[JHardman]

Originally posted by Luis A M
JHardman,how you catch and count a large number of fish being packed for sale?(and returning those not big enough)
Good question!

I use 10g tanks for growout. I keep basically three types of tanks...

1) For fish that are ready for sale, i.e. size, color, species, misbar or regular.

2) For fish that are not ready for sale. These are for the most part community tanks that I keep multiple species in at a time and only include or exclude based on size or very bad aggression.

3) Mutt tank, this is were runts, deformed, picked on fish go. Some make it out, some don't.

So when I ready to fill a order I remove the stand pipe, cap off the bulkhead after draining about 1/2 the water, remove hiding places and air line. Then I use a large specimen container and herd a hand full into it. Then I drain a part of the water out of the container so that the fish are force closely together, this really helps keep them calm, schooling instinct I guess. Then very gently and slowly I scoop a fish out at a time holding them between my thumb and fingers. Being touched on both sides at once, even if they are out of water generally keeps them calm. I give each fish a final inspection (as they already got when they went to the "ready" tank), if the fish passes then they get plopped into a temp container, if not into the "mutt" tank. I keep one of those little "click with your thumb" counters to keep track of how many I have sorted out. From the temp container depending on if they are going long distance or locally they either get bagged in breathing bags or a plastic bottle with a battery powered air stone in it and then off to the store.

A couple of notes about the above...

1) I would not recommend handling fish by hand with anything but your own fry. Adult fish generally do not take well to it at all.

2) I am VERY VERY careful not to hurt the fish and try very hard to keep them calm during all this. I want these fish to see people and the things they do are not harmful, painful or scary in any way.

3) I keep my hands very clean and do not worry about contaminating the tank or the fish.

4) I do not waste time, this is a fairly quick process once the fish is in my hand, if the fish is in my hand, out of the water for more than 30 seconds, something is very wrong...

[Luis A M]

John,thanks for the description!
I use a net,of a fine mesh though.I also scoop fish needing to be separated with my fingers.Granted,this is kinda stressful for the fish and sometimes one or two are temporarily shocked,but recover.Resistance to stress has to do with the nutritional status of the fish and commercial breeders perform similar "stress tests"to evaluate this.
I use small square specimen container if I need to move very small juvs like damsels,neon gobies or shrimp which can´t take being netted.
On a side note,I don´t use any hiding places in the grow outs.I imagine they could encourage territorial and agressive behaviour.

[finding nemo]

Thanks for the great advice J, always so good to have this kind of thing posted.

[mattjk]

I just had to do this. I waited until they were hungry, and slowly put a specimin contain into the tank. Then I placed some food in there and boom, they went in. :)

[chipmunk]

Originally posted by Rod Buehler
Ive moved my clowns a few times in the past few years, and tho it wont work for most and probably doesnt belong in this thread.. . I just grab ahold of the anemone, and the clowns dive in. I am able to move all 3 at once. They arent going anywhere withoiut their anemone, and visa versa, Once, I bought an anemone, it was in the acclimating container when I noticed movement, what the heck?....
I look closer....turns out a clownfish hitchhiked home with the anemone!

[obarrera]

UUhhh your lucky.:D

[chipmunk]

Originally posted by obarrera
UUhhh your lucky.:D Not really judging from my track record at the crap table. My point was that it's extremely easy to catch clowns, since they usually just dive into their anemones and stay there.

[Dman]

Most of my "parent" moves are done at night with the aid of a red flashlight. They seem to not "see" red. Daylight moves are done with a clear container and are herded gently inside. Fish coming from LFS's or from the outside that are bagged are floated, dripped then cradled out by hand. If you get them by both sides in a cupped hand you can practically walk back to the store with them. Kudos to JHardman for pointing that out, all this time I thought I was a fish whisperer. :D
Dman

[red flame hawk]

JHardman, i bought a pair of oscellaris last month. the female was a bright yellow orange and the male was a bright orange. now the female's color has turned to a brownish yellow. i feed a lot of variety foods with frozen, flake, and pellets. is this normal? i want the fish to return back to its original color. what do i have to do?

[CaliforniaDreamer]

I don't know if this is true with all clowns, I have only had maroons but they are use to attacking my hands when they are in the tank. When I want to catch one and the hand is holding a specimen container the attack takes them right into the container. :thumbsup:

[RayLovesNemos]

We had a maroon that put up a fight in my biology class tank. There was a rose annemone that was "his" and the annemone split so he thought both were "his" he tried to protect the annemone by nipping me even though i was feeding it. He was really hard to catch because he stayed close inside the annemone and we did not want to damage the rose. but the suction tecnique does work :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

yeah!

[bgi]

I'm constantly amazed how trusting tank-rased ocellaris clowns are. I can practically reach in and grab them with my hand (not that I would...) The clear container trick works great: Food in the container, clown follows. One of mine has gill parasites. So catching him for a FW dip was a no-brainer.

Any good links for clown gill parasite info?

[rtcpenguin]

Originally posted by z_rivers
thanks for the information J. i also dont like using nets to catch my fish as the main reason being their eyes (imagine sandpaper scraping against your cornea). the method where you herd them into a corner and scoop them up in a jar works good. i have a plastic container that when i dunk in the water, creates a huge suction from the water replacing the air. if you hold this close to the clowns they usually get sucked in and are unharmed.

-rivers Wow, great idea! Thanks

[chiapet]

I just prefer to rearrange my tanks....

[Curtis1]

Well all of you are lucky I guess ??? I have a monster 4" Tomatoe Clown, that can draw blood !!! He, of course is a runner. If I stick my hand in, he comes for me,,, add a net or speciman container and he's out of there !!! I thought that I would try to either put a net over him and the rose, while he's asleep, or maybe try to slip a large fish bag over them ???? I was concerned about scaring it to death !!! He's a real pain, has become hyper dominant, it's a wonder that he hasn't torn my Rosebud apart, he's really rough on it, he messes with my Yellow Tang, and kicks up the substrate ALL THE TIME. Maybe that's why my corals are all doing so good ????? I have even thought of trying to catch him with a small barbless flyhook !!!! Anyway, mine's not peaceful and has become quite the rogue !!!! This fish takes food(krill) right from the mouthes of other fish for himself and the anemone !!!! Anyway, I want him gone !!!

[jhcivicex]

I have two of these little guys and I have never had a problem with catching them. Actually if I put the net in the tank to spread shrimp the clowns run into the net and wont get out ,they like it. Maybe they have ADD or something and dont know that the net is not the anemone but there so cute who cares..here's a pic!http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/68187598111606105_0_ALB.jpg

[Clownen]

I have found clowns to be really cute. My favorite is the Percula.
Jhardman, Can you sell me some perculas and how much? Possible to do over night shipping?
lmk, I really want a nemo or 2 in my tank!!! Got an anemony waiting for them.

kyle

[Clownen]

Also, as most nets can be painfull, and if a net is your last resort, its a smart Idea to use a mesh shrimp net. These nets are soft in texture, and will be less painfull for your clown.

[Foster]

I don't know what fantasyland you guys buy these clowns at, that you can hand feed, herd into a container, grab with your hands, scratch there heads, rub there bellies :lol: but every clown I have had (every fish for that matter) becomes very concerned whenever a net, hand, or container is present.....including the 2 GSMs I'm trying to remove right now. HELP!

I have a RBTA that they live in, but the clowns have dug up most of the sand under my LR, and the anemone has moved to the underside of the LR, I cant really get my hand in the anemone to grab them at night, they run from the net, container, and my hand.

My tank is 225, and I have over 350lbs of LR, so it is a pain chasing them around the tank. I have tried baiting a clear container, (I think I actually heard them laugh at me :lol:), I tried the night attack, to no luck, as soon as I get my hand down there, they are awake, and just cruise into the rockwork and wait for me to give up.

I guess my last resort, is to try to remove the anemone to an open area, so I can snatch them up.

What is the technique to get the anemones foot off LR?? I really don't want to have to do this, but it is either this, or I make a small harpoon out of rubber bands, and bamboo skewers, to which I will probably shoot my eye out :lol:

[bgi]

For me, I got TR ocellaris clowns. They come running up for a snack any time I get close to the tank. I can hand feed them. Way back when I had one in the JBJ 12 gallon with an orchid dottyback, if I forgot to feed them, the clown would jump into the back sump area. I assume the dottyback was the cause. To get him out, I'd place a small plastic cup in the sump - he'd jump right in expecting me to dump him back in the main tank, then look for a snack. Your clowns are obviously uncultured, untrained heathens. :clown: :jester: :fish1:

I've read here that aiming a powerhead at an anemone's foot will encourage it to let go. I've never tried it. I wouldn't want to pull one off.

[Hound]

this method works with even damsels ...dont feed for a few days...put some good smelly food in a net against the current so it stays to the back of the net and so the net is fully open and not bunched and wait for the fish to creep up and grab the food ....got my PITA damsel in 5 minutes and i agree wish i could find friendly fish that let me hand feed ...all the fish ive ever had hides in sec as soon as THE HAND comes in

[p0tpie]

i find that sucking them up with a syphon is very easy but will probably also kill them

[matt the fiddler]

that depends on the size of your siphon. 2" would work :)

has anyone resorted to slurp guns?

[Rod Buehler]

I used to use slupe guns (turkey baster) to get baby banggai out of the main reef. Worked well. ;)

[Foster]

Update on my GSM. After trying everything I could think of and read. Nothing worked. I resulted back to the only way I know how to get fish out of water. 2lb line w/ a size 22 barbless hook. I fished out both GSM in less than 3 minutes uninjured. They both lived in my fuge for 2 weeks before I got rid of them.

[matt the fiddler]

:) that has to be my fav method to read about

[Foster]

Originally posted by matt the fiddler
:) that has to be my fav method to read about

:lol: They are fighter :lol:

The hardest part was trying to keep the other fish from snatching up the hook. Both of my GSM were in an RBTA, and the RBTA kept grabbing the fishing line when it would touched its feeler.

The second clown went after the hook with no bait on it. :lol:

[jwedehase]

I just had a success story I thought I'd share. I read all these ideas, but none worked. My tomato clown is a runner, and a world class one, at that. It darts into its host if I even enter the room. As soon as anything foreign entered the water, it was out of sight, hiding in places I didn't even know it fit into.

Luckily, he hosts in a xenia, which is easily moved... even INTO a specimen box. It took him about 4 hours to get used to the idea, especially after I had stressed him with the whole net episode, but it worked. With the host inside the specimen box, which was on the sand bed, he eventually made his way into the box, as well.

http://www.cvreefers.org/modules/gallery/albums/album36/caughthim.sized.jpg

[rtcpenguin]

What a silly clown. Great pic.

[markcasto]

I use a small sheet of glass to move them along where I can herd them into an acrylic box 5x5 I think clear is best and nets are just highly suspect!:smokin:

[Fursphere]

Originally posted by rtcpenguin
What a silly clown. Great pic.

What clown isn't silly? :p

[kayl]

I like to do a variation on the specimen box- I use bags like from the LFS...

[MJI]

Having tried all the methods I'm still out of luck.

I have a very bullyish clarkii, who at the same time is very skittish, and in the months I've had her i hae never been able to get her to hand feed.

Can anyone suggest any more tricks for catching. Her BTA is at the back of the tank, foot under a rook, and yu can guess what happens there - she darts right under there too.

Im stuck, and this bully is beating up anything she can.

[kayl]

tried it @ night yet?

[MJI]

Yup, sleeps in nem, base of back of tank!!

:o(

[kayl]

did you try not feeding her for a few days? I've NEVER seen a fish that could resist coming to the top after not being fed for 3 or 4 days...

[TheyCallMeFishy]

oops, i just netted my marron yesterday and it did get caught in her gills, althought i originanly thought she was bighting on to it.

[r 3lusive]

yeah i think you should get the biggest mesh net possible turn off or dim the lights and herd it into a corner and scoop him up from underneath has always been the easiest for me

[Meezer]

Great advice, all of it! Sincere thanks from a newbie!

[saltkreep]

I have never had a problem. Do you use a bayster for feeding? clown fish will come right to the tip for feeding. get a net breeder and use only the top frame and net. tie fishing line to all four corners with a single line out of the top of the tank. you will need to turn off all pumps. try to keep the net about mid way from the top. as long as you can get the clown to the bayster thats over the net, YOU GOTTUM!!! this has worked for me many times. hawks,clowns,damsels! GOOD LUCK

[ReeferJones]

Originally posted by platapus
Update on my GSM. After trying everything I could think of and read. Nothing worked. I resulted back to the only way I know how to get fish out of water. 2lb line w/ a size 22 barbless hook. I fished out both GSM in less than 3 minutes uninjured. They both lived in my fuge for 2 weeks before I got rid of them.

I am seriously about to do this, I can't get this bastard clarkii out.

[ReeferJones]

I was able to get my bully, clarkii finally after 3 days using a trap made from a water bottle and fishing line. laid the bottle horizontal in the tank with food in it for a couple days. just about all my fish wandered in there at one time or another, and when the clown came in, I just yanked the string. :)

[Green Thumb]

Originally posted by ReeferJones
I was able to get my bully, clarkii finally after 3 days using a trap made from a water bottle and fishing line. laid the bottle horizontal in the tank with food in it for a couple days. just about all my fish wandered in there at one time or another, and when the clown came in, I just yanked the string. :)

Thats a good one.

[goalieman92]

use a home made fish trap.(for larger clowns use a gatorade bottle.

all of you reef tank owners know that if you have to remove a fish for whatever reason, you can't use a net because it will get snagged on live rock or a piece of coral. your solution is a fish trap. im going to tell you how to make one.

1. Drink a bottle of spring water.
2. Using a razor blade or ultility knife cut bottle top off at the first ring.
3. Remove lables.
4. Turn top so that the mouth is pointed in.
5. Insert top.
6. Place bait inside.(I use freeze dried brine)
7. Fill with water.( make sure there is no air in it, if so just squeze sides)
8. Wait.

there isn't really a need to wait. once a fish,crab,shrimp is in, it won't be able to find its way out. But if a luckey one finds its way out of the hole it will come back for the food.I tested this on my cleaner shrimp. within seconds he was in it, he ate a little bit of brine and went back out, but Scampi(my shrimp) is very smart. :cool:


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid175/p1d9a569ff6af18d3394452700f6da82f/f36c5401.jpg

[brad23]

my false perc isn't scared of the net he comes out to attack it and my hand.

[nuddybuddy]

good info

[darcitananda]

My problem with catching clowns is that when I'm trying to catch another fish, the clowns swim right into the net or bowl!

Food is usually a good way to lure fish out.

[Poorcollegereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6547121#post6547121 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by darcitananda
My problem with catching clowns is that when I'm trying to catch another fish, the clowns swim right into the net or bowl!

Food is usually a good way to lure fish out.


Yeah, I move alot so I can take apart my 20 gal in less than an hour. Most of it goes into giant coleman coolers including my clowns. I trick them with food and since I hand feed them it is easy. I open up a ziploc bag underwater with one had and the feed the clowns with the other. I can sneak up below them quiet easily. And if they are being really difficult, i remove the live rock and drain most of the water out. then it's really easy.

[Ken-21]

I've had my clowns for about 5 years. I've had to take them out of the tank a few times and they don't really mind it. I put my hand in the tank and they swim right into it. (I think I need to spend less time with my fish!) <LOL>

[NCreefwannabe]

haha. yeah my clowns hate the net. they run and hide if they even see it outside the tank lol. BUT, they are hardcore sleepers. I usually just reach in and grab them if needed.

[YeahitsK]

Ok newbie question then. If nets are bad for the fish, how do you add fish to your tank and not introduce LFS water after the acclimating process?

[jowgafist]

Roll up sleeve...Take 2 to 3 deep breaths...and "GRAB!" the fish out of the water with hand. That's how I do it and that's how Chuck Norris does it:p lol

CHUCK NORRIS FACTS (http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com)

[expertreefer]

whenever i need to move my clowns i just pick up the little rock that their host anemone is on and they just follow. love working with these silly little clowns.

[Ryanqk]

free pajama cardinal to anyone who can catch him!

[Morphieus5150]

Took me 3 days to catch my Maroon Clown..I finally had to put the lta she was trying to Kill into the fish trap...After an hour or so she just couldn't take it anymore and went in..
Ps.. She was ****ed when i dropped the door on the trap,. Lol.

[reefarmer]

my sons'clown was lost for days and we thought maybe the new carpet anenome got him since he didnt quite acclimate himself yet, today my younger son noticed him in the back chamber of the tank hooray!!!!put his hand in and the fish just let himself be picked up , it was obvious he missed his LTA! happy ending!

[Flamehawk365]

I have never been able to catch a fish in the net. As its been said... it tends to get snagged on the rock and/or my fish just are too smart.

I have been very successful at catching my fish in the wee hours of the morning. When the lights have been off and the fish are resting.

But even then... I can only catch them with a clear container of some kind and LOTS of patience.

I did have two clarkii fish. They used to always swim and stay together. I noticed the one fish getting bigger while the other grew very slowly. The bigger Clarkie turned on the little Clarkii... beat it up badly.. bite marks all over. The little Clarkii couldn't fight back. I had to take it out of the tank. Made my 10 gallon hospital tank into the little Clarkii's reef tank.

It was the only time the fish jumped into my hands... to help him out of the tank.

[Kathy55g]

I am breeding clownfish, and when they are big enough to leave home, I just use a plastic shoebox to scoop them out of their tank. I then float the box in the tank, and then hand catch individuals as J H says, decide if they are going or staying, and place them back in water, either the grow out tank, or the transport bucket.

For the QT (and other fish) I used a clear glass jar arranged with some disposable rocks into a cave. This was available for the whole Q period. The fish liked to hide in the jar, so when it was time to move them, I got them into hiding and slipped a plastic lid over the opening of the jar and lifted them right out. Coral beauty and firefish in one neat package.

[Lishoop6]

another way is to get a tube a bit bigger than length of fish wanted for questioning and simplely get in a corner siphon out

[clownfish-god]

isn't their traps that can be purchased?

[cubman20]

Mine are so active i just put a cup with food in it and they swim right in.

[Qxsilver01]

Another great reason on why to not use the net on fish in general, (since we're on the clownfish subject, Maroon Clowns) is the fishes operculum tends to get caught in the net, and tangle it a bit.

[shiftyfatdwarf]

never had much trouble catching them. i agree with chipmunk they just dive right in

[tpdpercula]

All my clowns are well trained and all I have to do is blow the dog whistle and they do tricks (i.e. play fetch, jump through hoops, etc). I have also had great success with turning off the pumps/powerheads, and placing the net in the water and feeding. They begin to feed and are netted without harm. : )

[the nemo guy]

thanks for the help, came in handy didnt kno how to catch my maroon clown

[KURTIS T]

two tomato's started causing problems in my tank. I caught one with the sleeping attack.....had to pull the tank appart to get the other clown and it's 2 blue damsel buddies

[IeatFish]

ya, i agree

[jfish298]

Thanks for the great advice

[imsocool5609]

I think that is easiest to just pour cyanide in to catch them.

[AquaJern]

Ill have to try that when I upgrade my tank!!!
Also Im glad you mentioned the cons to netting a maroon clown I was getting ready to purchase a pair and that information will help....

[mst3kguy07]

Grab one of those plastic containers and put the plastic container next to the fish he will be safely sucked in to the container and flip over the container!

Or you can put his anenome in the container and see if the clown will folloow him in and see if this works!

[JMartin]

Thanks for the advice. I tried for hours to catch the tomato clown with no success.

[reef211]

Sup reefer,

Here is my story on my GSM, I have him for about 2 years now and he love his RBTA, this sucker is giving me a heart attach for months now, I try every method in here and still no luck. Every days i have to restack my rocks work and restack all my sps frags because he push everything on to the sand floor. I have 120 gallons and 150 pound of LR, man it is a headache trying to fish this guy out. Well, i will try and try until i get him out.

[Radioheadx14]

i just put floating food in and then swipe when they come to the surface... I always get them on the first try... very tame

[redline]

i never have any trouble either with them coming to the surface

[Integral9]

Mine will bite the crap out of me, my wife, or anything or anyone that comes w/ in 12" of their anemone. Catching them isn't the problem, it's keeping them away from me that is. It doesn't hurt, but it does pinch a little.

btw. Tomatos are probably the most aggressive of the clowns imo. If he runs away when you go after him in his anemone (he's a loser clown, he should be protecting his anemone... j/k), you'll need a fish trap or food in a bucket or use a water bottle with lots of small holes in the bottom and the top cut off. Put some food in the bottom and when he swims inside pick him up.

[Reef-LeGeNd]

my picassos come up to my hand. If you cant catch a clown, then quit.

[mat167]

It's kind of an old thread, but I read through and didn't see anyone mention this. If you are stuck and have to use a net, I suggest two things.

1. Use the biggest net possible (within reason of course). I use a 12 inch wide net to catch a 3 inch fish. Obviously this makes it easier to catch the fish, but more importantly this also makes it easier for number 2.

2. Don't take the fish out of water while it's still in the net. ESPECIALLY if it is a surgeon or maroon clown or anything with bony appendages. They will get caught in the net. Instead, bring the net to the surface and use a specimen container to remove the fish from the net while still under water.

This has worked miracles for me at the store where I work, especially for maroons and lots of FW fish like pictus cats and shovelnose cats.

[kes_reef]

I used to put large mysis shrimps in the net and hold it in the tank. Initially, fish will run away from it but little by little, hunger will get to them, and by 1 week, half of the fish are in the net eating. By the 2nd week, all fish should readily come in the net. This obviously takes lots of patience but it worked for me.

The better way is to just simply use a trap. After awhile, few fish will go in and then the rest will eventually follow.

[Proxissin]

I cant beleive all you people are soo lucky. I have a bastard of a gold stripe maroon clown. I have a 92 gallon corner sps lps mix reef tank. Any new coral i put in my tank my clownfish will pick it up and toss it, he does that for a while until i epoxy it in place then he calms down. I want him gone! I have tried every trick in the book from clear containers and bags to nightime netting and fish traps! Nothing has worked. he is very skiddish around me and anything wierd and unnatural looking in the tank, he will hide in the rocks in two seconds. does anyone have any more suggestions? There is absolutely no way im unrocking my tank i have over 40 pieces of coral and 25 fish.

[dzb912]

nice nice nice

[KorL]

Catching clownfish at night works well for me. Mine usually sleep near surface.

[candeewolf]

So, if there is copper in the water with the clownfish (either from QT or LFS), how do I transfer a maroon or other clownfish to the tank without a net and without getting copper in the reef tank?

[DTeuton]

I have 2 tomatoe clowns fish, my are the same way ,I will never get any more like them ,I just want them out of my tank ,they want let any one eat

[Titus77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13380007#post13380007 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DTeuton
I have 2 tomatoe clowns fish, my are the same way ,I will never get any more like them ,I just want them out of my tank ,they want let any one eat


I am taking donations...just PM me...:)

[nightime]

good luck

[djchristone]

this is a good thread :) thanks for the tips :)

[Sculp1n]

I didn't read the whole thread but I had two tomato clowns that were the terrors of my 235 and after they took a chunk out of my Harlequin Shrimp it was time for them to go. I tried everything but came to the conclusion I had to do it the way I've been catching fish for years.

I bought a super small hook (size 18) from a fly fishing store, removed the barb, used 4 lb line, baited the hook, and Bam! with in a few minutes I had both clowns in my sump. No permanent damage and I sold them about a week later.

Hope that helps.

Sculpin

[norgemorir]

What did you use for bait? small silverside perhaps?

I'm considering going down the same route. My GSM feels like it's his job to bury corals in sand and terrorizes just about everyone. After trying the trap and net approach, he won't give my any opportunity to catch him otherwise.

[fmuakkassa]

Great thread. I need to catch an aggressive marron clownfish but it sleeps at night under the rocks. Any other ideas when you have a 180g reef aquarium with plenty of hiding places?

[norgemorir]

I eventually got mine out with the 3day wait on food and trap method.. I cut the top off of a 1 litre water bottle, cut 2 holes and put fishing line through it, put some food in dropped it down in front of his normal stomping grounds.. took a long time (20min) and 2 tries to catch him but hunger and his bullying won out. had issues with hermits getting into the trap too, but it eventually worked.

good luck

[Tinkanator2000]

the info in this thread helped me catch my clown in no time, thanks

[atsirhc]

some good tips. Thanks!

[RedClay]

I have a misbar black ocellaris that recently jumped into my overflow (built in). Space was tight, but 15 minutes and a fine mesh net had him back in the tank safe and healthy!

[Reefy Fishy]

I would put hungry lion fish in the tank. Look carefully until lion fish eats the clown fish. Then take them out and quickly rescue the little one. The timing is everything... lol

[MikeFisher1972]

i have one i cant catch.
i was gona take my kids fishing pole and get him.
no i will probly take most of my 250lbs of rock out and catch him.
i think it would be ezer to use the fishing pole but i like him.

[DeathWish302]

All I can say is Cyclopeeze after a 24hour fasting and ANY clown will come out of hiding disregarding any unfamilar objects in the tank ~clear containers & nets.

[pamlee78]

Thanks for the info! I guess I have one of the fast ones. I tried your technique for catching at night, but it didn't work the first attempt. I really don't have much room to maneuver a container in a 40Gal.
I want to put the clown in his own 40Gal tank with a small anemone and live rock, so I guess I'll have to be more clever to catch him. LOL!!

[aquaph8]

my clown bites me so often, I could probably catch him with my hand

[pamlee78]

I finally had to take out most of my LR to catch him, but I was in the process of moving the LR into another tank anyway.
I decided to add a Mandarin fish in the one tank and maybe Seahorses in the other eventually. I set up a 10 gal Pod tank too. All along with my Discus tank, 3 dogs, 2 birds and a horse - I am a VERY busy lady!

[nflores]

I can usually net these guys but for the feisty ones I've boxed them into one side of the tank with a clear piece of plastic. The plastic is invisible under water and it gives you a smaller, rock-free space to work in. Those clear disposable paint tray liners from Lowes work great.

[GrimReefer82]

I just caught my maroon clown....I waited until he was relaxed after the lights had been off a few hours. I had a little LED flashlight and while he was in the anemone I shined it right in his eyes for a min and then snatched him up with the light in his face. A few seconds and it was over. Hes now in the sump and doesn't appear to have any vision damage. I don't think it was bright enough to do permenant damage.

Can't figure out how to catch the clown tang tho.

[vaporize]

Not sure if somebody has mentioned it but using Calfo's method of draining the whole tank.

I didn't believe him before but once I tried it once, I am a believer.

I completely drained a 120G and filled it back up, catching a stubborn skunk clownfish in less than an hour. No corals or fish is harmed in the process.

[seababy]

I totally agree with J Hartman

Careful not to scare your fish to death with a night time attack! Some species of clownfish are very prone to night time scares and wild runs and jumps that could lead to their death.

Using evil nets!

I do not recommend using nets to catch clownfish. Clownfish are very visual fish with excellent eye sight. Having a large "thing" chasing them around a tank can cause a great deal of stress. I have even seen fish die shortly after netting them. I avoid them and the only ones I own are for straining brine shrimp.

NEVER EVER use a net on a maroon clownfish! Maroons have cheek spines that can easily be caught in the netting and result in very bad, even deadly damage to the fish.

[ju66alo6]

My clown is so mean when he bites you he can and has many many time brought blood to my hand. I have always used a net to catch mine when he sees the net he runs to it and swims right into the net and starts trin to bite it, i simply move net against side of tank let the wife hold the net and i do what i have to. then i have to phisically dump him out of the net cause he wont get out of it.

[vwmike]

Very informative, great article. I'm still having a heck of a time capturing mine due to all the caves in my live rock.

[jefferino]

The clear container trick works great.

[GP]

I had a hell of a time catching my tomato clown last night. I had to basically uproot all of the live rock (in a 200 gallon) remove some from the tank completely and finally after 2 hrs. i was able to corner him on the glass. I will not do this again.

[Henryreef]

The clear container trick works great.

That one worked for me too... Great thread with lots of info! :thumbsup:

[pimpman75]

put food in a clear 2 liter coke bottle with the top cut out attached to string. when u see him go get the food pull the string and pull him out! works like a charm

[ecureefer]

Since i can hand feed mine when i sold my last pair i just put the net in and held the flake food near the top and when they swam to the food i just lifted the net i havent tried it lately since i dont plann on gettin rid of any of my fish no time soon

[Aqua_boy]

Thanks for the information.......

[Chasmike]

Good advice.

[deangelr]

I have even thought of trying to catch him with a small barbless flyhook !!!!


that actually works quite well.. Im sure a most would never say to do that.. I have personally seen many fish caught and unharmed this way in the aquarium.

[Fishinboy84]

this makes a hard job easy.
thanks