Best way to capture hard-to-catch fish?

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/sp/index.php

That should help a little. I know it's more about reefs, but you're not stupid. You can apply the same thing to freshwater fish. There are some links to fish traps, but I find $20-$40 for a plastic box stupidity.

Try to bait them with lettuce or zucchini slices, get a clip to hold them at the top part of the tank. Then just snatch em up.

Something with a suction cup like this should work: http://www.gulfaquaria.com/fefrsecl.html

Well I'd have to say I get this myself but my tanks aren't planted anymore. The plants are going to give you the toughest challenge. Generally if you can take everything out, that's the best situation as the fish cannot seek cover and it's just a matter of time before you corner them. Since you're in a situation where you can't take the cover away, I think your best approach is to use the two net approach.

I've found and seen many times, with fish, they tend fo focus more on what they can see, or instead, what is directly in front of them. In doing so, you drive them with one net towards the other. Ideally, what you want to do is corner the fish. When stressed and excited, they will dart upwards since the left and right angles would be a trap, no choice but to go up, but what's weird is they must lost their bearings or something because they always seem to come right back down. If I see one is going to dart up, I just wait, and they always come right back down. They don't seem to have enough sense that they could extend and escape once going up. Wait for them to come back down if they dart up, and close off the top by angling in the net and thus trapping it. Unless you feel like spending money on these advertisments, that's what I'd do.

If it's not too inconvenient for you, you may want to just take the water level down a bit so it's a little easier for you. (kill 2 birds with one stone, water change and ditch the rascals). The way I catch hard-to-catch fish is I corner them with the net, and then put an algae scraper or poking stick in between the corner and the fish. Usually the fish try and get away from the poking object and swim right into the net, and that's when you quickly pull up and get the fish out of the water. You have to act fast though, the one thing I've learned is if you act fast, even though you might think your hurting the fish by shocking it with fast movements, you get it done quicker which means less stress for the fish. Good luck!

You gotta try this... and you don't have to empty the water or anything.

I have a 60 gallon and couldn't get my fish with the net. So I found this on the internet and built the contraption in like 10 minutes, put it in the tank and it only took about 15 minutes for all my fish to get trapped safely. They will swim around it at first looking all curious but then they will swim right into the trap. It is really easy, safe and effective.

http://www.riaquatics.com/free_fish_trap.htm

You can start by cornering the one you want to catch, then slowly move your net toward them, so that they won't consider it a threat. You can't catch most kinds of fish with speed(except honey gourmais and rasboras). Do several feints at them, it cause the fish to make bad decisions, like going into the net.

Good Luck catching the fish.

Get cover open and things ready as they would be if you were trying to capture the fish. Turn out lights and so you go into an darkened room. Shine flashlight on fish. Scoop them with net. It works pretty well.

Marv

Remove all the ornaments and hiding spots from the tank.

if your tank isnt heavily planted, or your using fake plants just try to take out as much as you can and take out as much water as you can safely take out, the less room they have, the easier it is!