Growout tank (rehoming)

[screaminleeman]

I strongly prefer to buy juvinile or even fry and raise them myself, rather then purchase an adult fish. In general with larger species, I start them in a much smaller tank then will ultimately wind up their home. This has lead to some "challenges" for me in this hobby!

I can not think of a single time that I have "netted" a fish in order to give it a larger home that I thought to myself: Boy that was easy! I have such a miserable time catching fish that I have just finally given up and allowed the all elusive pet to become expensive feeders!

What is the trick to "catching fish"? Is there any secret to honeing net skills? This really is a bummer in an otherwise rewarding hobby.

It does not seem fair to have to house two 1/2" Dovis in a 120 Gallon tank for pete's sake! There has to be a way to "grow them"!

 

[fisher12889]

I like to try to chase the fish into a container of some sort, and then cover the opening with a net. I've also used plastic bags with good results too. Another trick is to remove all the decorations and lower the water level at least halfway.

 

[mdb_talon]

+1 for lowering the water and removing decorations. If you are taking all the fish out then I would empty to only a few inches. Otherwise I would take 40-50% of water out.

Doing it this way I dont really have many issues. Having two nets helps as well being able to direct them with one and scoop with the other.

 

[TTTT]

I remove all decor and get the biggest net I can find and put it in the growout. Take a smaller net and chase them into the big one

 

[rdx1555]

For catching fry I've had success making a fish trap out of water bottles or 2L soda bottles. Just cut about 3-5 inches off the top of the bottle, flip it around and stick it in the bottom piece. Fill it with water and some food and plop it on the bottom of the tank sideways. Fish will swim into the bottle to eat and then can't get out because of the funnel effect.

Can take awhile to make a catch but its set and forget and you don't have to remove any deco.

Otherwise with nets use two. A small net to corral fish into the big net. Go slow and steady to keep the fish calm. Sometimes you can leave the net in the tank for a few minutes until the fish calm a bit.

 

[ravio11i]

I guess my net-fu is pretty good, I don't really have trouble catching fish most of the time...only time I do is when they hide in rocks and I dont want to tear down the rock formation, then I usually do the chase with one catch with another thing.
Rav