Help: Catching a Foxface

[Newreeflady]

I need to catch a foxfish from my reef tank. Lots of rockwork, fish is fairly timid/skittish.

How might I go about attempting this? I don't want to blindly go in with a net because I know that won't work.

Thanks!
Angela

[navajo]

Build an acrylic fish trap. It might take a couple of days and some patience, but you'll get it. I have a shy foxface too and he kept going in the trap when I was catching a sand sifting goby I needed out. GOOD LUCK!

[navajo]

Just in case, here is a good step step on building one. I've tried the bottle traps before with no luck. Plus don't think a Foxface would fit in there. Just go to your local department store and buy a clear container big enough for the fish to get into and follow this link:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1200936

HTH!

[vanmo92]

I dont know about yours but mine comes right up and eats out of the baster, and if I feed flakes on the top that float he will come right up and eat of the surface. If I wanted to I could easaly catch him with a big fish net when he is on the surface. I dont know about yours, but if you do catch him watch out for the venomous spines.

[Newreeflady]

I set up the fish trap at the top of the tank, I had all the parts at home. Mine does eat from my hand, though. I'm a little nervous about trying to catch him because he's mad fast.

I guess I could remove the trap and try it by hand. I have to go get a large fish net.


-A

[reefergeorge]

These fish are very very fast. I say try the trap first, but you could always drain it.

[DCcharger09]

I caught mine with tons of rock and he hide when he saw me

I put the net in, crouched down, threw some food in and trapped him eventually

It took quite a while though

[murraycamp]

Here is what I did to catch mine:

Wrap some nori, Sea Veggies or other algae around the handle of a wire-handled fish net, and bend the handle near the end into a "U" shape so that it hangs in the water on the rim. Place the algae right up next to the net, which is submerged in the water. I used a rubber band to secure it in place.

Feed him like this for a few days, as he "should" learn to associate the net with food, and become more comfortable swimming up to it. Then, one day while he is eating the nori, just flip the net up and catch him.

It took mine about three days to start feeding from the net handle, but your mileage may vary.

HTH

[m2434]

I caught mine with no problem - well, it helped that I was moving the tank and had taken out all teh rockwork already

[andrewkw]

why not go for him when he's sleeping?

[Newreeflady]

The nori idea is not bad... I might try it if i'm unsuccessful with just netting from the top.

As for the sleeping, unfortunately he sleeps at the bottom of the tank next to two clams and rockwork. Chances of grabbing are slim.

-A

[Newreeflady]

Originally posted by murraycamp
Here is what I did to catch mine:

Wrap some nori, Sea Veggies or other algae around the handle of a wire-handled fish net, and bend the handle near the end into a "U" shape so that it hangs in the water on the rim. Place the algae right up next to the net, which is submerged in the water. I used a rubber band to secure it in place.

Feed him like this for a few days, as he "should" learn to associate the net with food, and become more comfortable swimming up to it. Then, one day while he is eating the nori, just flip the net up and catch him.

It took mine about three days to start feeding from the net handle, but your mileage may vary.

HTH

You know, on second thought, I think I might try this first. I'm just nervous about trying to get him with a net and missing and never having another chance...

So, do you have a picture? Basically, i'm wondering how to keep the net from inverting? Maybe i'll put a marble in the bottom.

Only issue i've had with nori is that i've never seen him eat it. I guess i'll have to stand around all day. I usually will put the nori in and when I check the next day it is gone. He tends to rock graze when i'm watching, but must eat the nori sometime.

Alternatively, he likes flakes. So, I might do the U-net thing and just let him get used to it in the feeding area tomorrow. Then, when an opportune moment arises i'll (hopefully) just net him out.

-A

[techreef]

well, with all the netting techniques, again, please be careful of the venemous dorsal spines. Good luck!

[Newreeflady]

Caught fish by extreme methods. I thought he needed disease treatment. Now i'm sure he's dying. I've posted in the fish disease forum if anyone might be able to help here's the link:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1254838

Thanks,
-Angela

[drstupid]

try this trap:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...sh%20trap&Np=1

i spent 3 days using it to get a hippo tang out of my tank, and could've caught that foxface a thousand times during that three days....

[drstupid]

sorry just saw your other thread.

foxface are tougher than dirt, i hope your other fish are okay.