How to catch cichlids?

[Stratoquarius]

I know that many of us on here have a tough time catching our stock. for some its easier than others.

for me? I have an 8" net and a tank thats 5'x3'x2'. and the 3' width makes things very very difficult. so lets all pool our information and find out some easy methods for catching fish. this thread is designed to help anyone who has struggled or is struggling, to read about different methods and how effective they were.

here are a few that I have used before

1. chasing the fish into corners/under ornaments.
works well if you chase them into a pipe withy a net over one end and just lift up.

2. emptying the water level down a lot and just swiping at them much easier.

here is an experimental Idea i've been toying with. I call this 'The Messiah'


The Messiah strategy, by Stratoquarius:
Get a large piece of rectangular netting, 7-8'x5'.
Empty the water level down slightly, and place the net under all of the fish so the net sits in there, flowing over all 4 edges of the tank. Lift up and haul it in just like Jesus told peter to do. and ta da. a magnificent haul of fish, and an empty tank.

any idea if that would work?

 

[wantokeeptrout]

try in the middle of night using minimal lighting, pop a little light into the tank and swoop in with whatever you need, since the cichlid are likely to be asleep and much slower to react, great stratagy to net that one fish...

 

[Stratoquarius]

That sounds like a great strategy for a single fish, but for more than one fish, they wouldmost likely awake and start swimming away. especialyl if you have quite a large lid that you need to get off and everything.

but still, for a single fish. thats a really nice way to make a quick catch. providing of course you have somewhere to hold the fish overnight. lets keep the ideas coming guys!

 

[Freshwaterpredators]

I use two nets and sometimes ill put a divider in making less room for them to run nice slow movements stress them out less. And I can usually get them to swim right into the net no problems

 

[COG Commando]

The only way I'm ever able to catch my cichlids is by draining the water down to about 2" haha they're fast little buggers

 

[freebyrd]

slow n steady my friends. they get used to the net but still weary...also i use two net method with large fish.. ill put a white mesh net in as a distraction and run them into a black petco net works like a charm.

 

[virgil2090]

i have used 2 nets,a divider cut to your tank width keeps them in a small area,then remove decorantions so they have less chance of getting injured

 

[ryansmith83]

I catch multiple fish at night. I give them about an hour of complete darkness, then go in with a flashlight and quietly net the fish. They often just sit there. If you are quick and quiet, you can catch several. It takes them several minutes to wake up if you only use a spotlight and don't turn on the tank or room lights.

 

[kevinfleming21]

two person job. distraction person and a netter!

 

[fug202]

I've had success putting bloodworms in a net and letting the net hang near the bottom. Some fish remain too skittish to fall for the trap, but others can't resist.