Any tips for transporting catfish?

[Kelly_Aquatics]

So I have a big 14" common pleco and a 6" spotted pictus and im tired of having my nets being shredded when ever I transport them from tank to tank. The pleco is not so bad but the pictus has razor sharp barbed fins so every time I use a mesh net to transport it it gets stuck and many nets have been wrecked trying to get him un stuck and now im chasing him around with a large ziplock bag. so what do you guys use im thinking rubber nets might be the way to get but let me know

 

[Toby_H]

I used to have a rectangle bucket. I'd put it in the tank about an hour before I actually tried to catch the fish. Drain the water down to the top of the bucket. Then, as peacefully as possible (often not very peacefully) I'd herd the fish into the bucket. When it goes in, stand the buck up and quickly cover it.

I had a big Trimac that I had to catch that way several times. Also because he consider my fingers food and I was afraid of him.

 

[fishguy1978]

With plecos, I try to get them to swim into a corner of the tank and then lay my flat hand over them to pin them. I am then able to use both hands hopefully to pick them up. Carefull doing this with rafael cats they will do their best to get your finger between their pectoral fin and the body thorns.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Yeah, many ran into this problem. I would often use a plastic strainer, or a cup with drilled holes. Surely a rubber net should work far better.

 

[Kelly_Aquatics]

im trying a net with a plastic bag with holes poked into it draped over the net all my rubber nets are over kill for carp and salmon fishing

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

What amazed me was one recent container I got my current big L24 in it had shipping bag fortified on bottom and sides with flat plastic thinking itll be perfect for your pictus cat and the big pleco of yours is about same sized as my L24 I dont count the streamers on mine. When I get home from work tomorrow morning I'll snap a picture of it if I remember

 

[Scrappy71113]

Probably not a great idea, but an old t-shirt.
I had to use an old t-shirt for a blue channel cat that I was moving to a pond a long time ago because I didn't have a net big enough for it. It was a lot calmer and easier to move once it's face was covered and it couldn't see.
The method is very flawed, and probably not the healthiest option, but it might do the trick.

 

[Fishman Dave]

Agree with Victor for the Pictus, sieve or strainer then straight into an old 1kg flake food tub to move cos they will start flapping in the strainer so the lid off the flake food tub goes straight over the top.
Unfortunately what I do all too often is use a coarse grade net and cross my fingers, but all too often that’s another net ruined, and a Pictus wearing arm bands for a few weeks!
I have rubber nets but the smallest is way too large for Pictus and more for koi, and I still wouldn’t guarantee then not getting caught as it’s still a fabric net ,just rubber coated.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

What amazed me was one recent container I got my current big L24 in it had shipping bag fortified on bottom and sides with flat plastic thinking itll be perfect for your pictus cat and the big pleco of yours is about same sized as my L24 I dont count the streamers on mine. When I get home from work tomorrow morning I'll snap a picture of it if I remember

I think you are speaking of a standard 15 mil PVC shipping bag for spiny fish with an orange thickened flat bottom portion.

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

I think you are speaking of a standard 15 mil PVC shipping bag for spiny fish with an orange thickened flat bottom portion.

Maybe that is it. Thought mine was was blue but my memory sucks tho I'm now back at work and wont be home again til tomorrow morning. The people I brought the L24 is well known in the industry sponsoring alot of fish events and I'm lucky to be 45 minute drive from them I've been out of the hobby for a while and alot of things changed. I love the upgraded stuff and ideas. Amazing vs many years ago