Tips to catch a wrasse?

[Slyguy00]

So obviously catching my Melenarus wrasse is proving to be a challange. I seem to have better luck with my hand then a net as he isn't afraid of my hand. I caught him in a corner with my hand but he snuck between my fingers. Wondering if anybody had any tricks or tips to catch this guy. I really don't won a remove rock or coral from my tank either. I will be trying tonight once he sleeps in the sand but if anybody has any secret tricks I'm all ears. thanks.

[Tn23]

Try using a fish trap. That's how I've personally caught them in the past. They always go for that mysis!

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[Aquattro]

Drain tank, pick him up.

[Slyguy00]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Drain tank, pick him up.

With coral and rock exposed to air?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Slyguy00

With coral and rock exposed to air?

Yup, just don't go for dinner while it's empty. Drain, catch fish, refill. Takes me about 30 minutes total for the 180.

[Slyguy00]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Yup, just don't go for dinner while it's empty. Drain, catch fish, refill. Takes me about 30 minutes total for the 180.

So if I did that and had all my sps exposed to air for say 20-30 minutes that wudnt hurt anything? It does sound a lot easier then what iv been dealing with. Just don't want to effect anything else in the process.

[Wheelman76]

If you drain it make sure you pay close attention to where he goes and hides in the sand or you could be trying for a while.

[Aquattro]

An example of draining tanks

Years ago I was moving across town, running a 75g SPS tank. Was feeling lazy, so I rented 20 5g water bottles with caps. Drained tank into bottles, disconnected the plumbing and loaded the full reef with fish flopping around the bottom into a van on 4x4 blocks. Drove about 10k across town to my new condo, moved the stand in, carried tank up and placed it then dumped the water bottles back in the tank. Other than some really annoyed fish, everything was fine. Nothing moved or shifted, all corals were intact

Did it again moving out of the condo into my current house.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Slyguy00

So if I did that and had all my sps exposed to air for say 20-30 minutes that wudnt hurt anything? It does sound a lot easier then what iv been dealing with. Just don't want to effect anything else in the process.

I've drained my current tank 3 times in the last year. Average time is about 30 minutes, but see my moving adventure above!

[albert_dao]

Your SPS will be fine exposed to air for half an hour. You can mist them down if you get nervous.