HELP.... damned sailfin

[MichaelFreedman]

I have a sailfin that has now wiped out $300+ worth of fish. How can I get him out of the tank. I'm to the point where I am ready to dissasemble my entire tank..... any suggestions?

Thanks a bunch,
Mike

 

[Chris L]

what size tank is it in? do you have a fish trap?

 

[MichaelFreedman]

Sorry about that... I know better than not posting details.... I have 90 gallon tank lots of live rock and hiding spaces and lots of softies/lps and two anemones. Am now contemplating the drain the tank method but am a little concerned about the potential nitrate spike from stiring the sandbed too much. I have a shallow sand bed though. Right now I have the lights all off and am going to try to surprise him with the lights in a couple hours. It's time for Don Fin to go!!!

Mike

 

[wrassefan]

I've removed difficult fish with a flashlight to stun them instead of lighting up the entire tank. Since I knew where the tang slept, I even took a small net to guide it out of the tight spot in the rock and then used a larger net to catch it . It was paralyzed by the light in the middle of the night.

 

[MichaelFreedman]

WOW... I can't believe how easy it was to get him out. I read an article on RC about turning all the lights off for a while and then turn them all on and go in and get him. I turned out the lights for 20 mins.... then all on. The sailfin sleeps under a ledge so when I turned on the lights I used a turkey baster to sort of blow him out from under the rock, then I scooped him right up. Took no more than 30 seconds. My Mimic Filefish was a little shook up, but I think he's doing ok now. My poor CBB is in the fuge swiming some, lying on it's side some. Has a good size gash behind it's eye most likely from the Sailfin. GRRRR... it was doing GREAT too.... eating anything I put in the tank... and took out the aptaisia that I had. I hope it comes around.

Mike