how do i catch my plec?

[bluehighways]

put a container of some kind, maybe a pipe, in your tank as a hiding space and then cover the opening and remove it when hes inside

Yes. Absolutely what Phil said. I have moved a very skittish Jack Dempsey this way and it worked great. I used a plastic skull that the fish liked to hide in, then lifted it up with a net underneath.

For your pleco, a piece of PVC pipe with an end cap on one side would work good, or even a plastic 2 liter soda bottle with the bottom cut off (rinsed well of course). Just place the 'hiding spot' in the tank and gently chase pleco into it, then lift out and move to the adjustment bucket.

This should be easy on you and your fish. You won't have to destroy your tank to catch pleco, and pleco won't suffer the stress of being chased relentlessly with a scary net, nor will pleco suffer damage to spines or skin.

Good luck!

 

[siang]

i need to use a bucket to adjust them? they are only little, i though a big bowl would be ok, although i do have a 12 inch tank i could use. which one should i move first, the big one or the little?

 

[ar0wan]

We call it the polar bear method
idk why we do that
roll up your sleve and catch him by hand

he's pretty little but for a bigger one
its thumb and middle finger behind fins
index finger on his head
make sure you have an audience
cause it can be hollarious

GL

 

[viewofthebay]

You can just net them but use a net that is the fine type so the spine or thorns won't get caught up in the mesh of the net. The fine mesh net is so fine the fins can't go in and get caught. Especially fishes like pictus cats, it a requirement otherwise keep a scissor handy and be prepared to cut the net to get fish out. Good Luck.

 

[Allan01230]

Just use a big ole net and let them swim into the new tank. I have done this with my albino bristlenose many times and they never got caught in the net.

 

[Laticauda]

I use the plastic containers that I buy Maxwell House coffee in. I use these for scooping water out to transport fish, and when I need to transport or remove a pleco, I scoot them into the blue "bucket." I pour out a lot of the water, and float the opaque container on top of the water the fish is to go into, then once the temperature is the same, I pour out the water, and dump the pleco into the new tank.