Catching fish

[Ianab]

wouldn't it remove the slime coating if catching by hand?

No where near as much as having to spend 5 minutes untangling a mad pleco from a net

Your hands or towel are wet, so they wont harm the fish much, and the quicker you can catch and move them the less chance of stress or injury.

Ian

 

[guppy]

Latex or wet rubber glove also help protect the slime coat, for active fish like balas I have also used 2 liter soda bottles with the top cut of and labels removed. Chase the fish in and cover the open end with a net.

 

[sandtiger]

Unless your're constantly rubbing the fish and holding it the slime coat should be fine. Just make it short and sweet.
Personally, when I want to catch a large fish I just lower the water level, put a bucket in the tank and herd them into it.

 

[suzydiver]

Yeah, I had thought of trying to catch them in a large colander - but, that herding into a bucket seems like a real sensible and the least harmful way to catch them. Thanks for all the helpful advice..

 

[Ianab]

A square 'bucket' works better though. You can wedge it into the corner of the tank then herd them in with your other hand. No gap in the bottom corner for them to sneak through

Cheers

Ian

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

I just use a big net like 12" and net them out.

 

[Dr Joe]

Unless your experienced catching real catfish and pain, I don't suggest catching the pleco by hand the only result will be both of you hurt. They will tear up a net too, so go with the plastic bag or cloth method (they can get tangled up in terry cloth threads).

You know they sell larger tanks (my favorite answer for most fish problems).

There are no large fish ...just small tanks .

Good luck,

Dr Joe

.

 

[mgctutor]

I would catch the pleco... I would put my dive glove on though... That way I knowing I'm not going to get hurt I could focus on caring for the fish... The other one I would trick into swimming into a clear plastic container... It wont know its leaving... no stress...

 

[Mystix212]

I'd use a shirt/towel for the plec and a bucket for the bala. But almost any of the methods so far is useful. Transportation is the biggest leap. How are you going to move them? etc.

 

[thatonegirl]

I am a total wimp about catching plecos with my hands and I always drop them when they thrash. I've found that using a hand towel and grabbing them with the towel covering the eyes/head works best for me. Plus I don't get my thumb split open when they whip their body. It seems like they're a little more relaxed when they can't see what's going on.

To catch a big, freaked bala, I would just use a two big nets method. Use one net to herd it into the other, and then when lifting it out of the tank, make sure you keep the nets together, like a bala sandwich.