how to catch pleco?

[rottbo]

the nets get caught on the fins and tear the heck out of them the only net I ever use on plecos is my huge rubber fishing net.. other wise I hand grab all th others.... I have also used a pitcher on its side in the bottom of the tank corral the fish in there and scoop it up

 

[pophead]

if you use the white, finer net it isn't so bad. I used a coarser green net on a pleco once and had to cut the net off...

 

[WyldFya]

if you use the white, finer net it isn't so bad. I used a coarser green net on a pleco once and had to cut the net off...

The white nets can actually do much worse damage. If a pleco gets caught up in the white nets, it takes much longer to free them, and never ends well.

 

[davo]

I agree nets aren't good if they have a lot of odontodes, but im not a great fan of picking them up either if they are small. Best way i find is if you've got a pipe in the tank for hiding places, you can just pick them up in that.

 

[Masta Flan]

i grab them by hand too

funny whe nyou pull em out of the water they go stiff with a "wtf?" look

thank god I wasnt alone. I thought my pleco was the only retard that does that

 

[abpositive]

Best way i find is if you've got a pipe in the tank for hiding places, you can just pick them up in that.

Yup!
I bought a monster sized net so that I can grab a chunk of 3" PVC with plec and all in it...

 

[sandtiger]

I use a large container for catching all my catfish. Just place it in the water and herd the fish into it.

 

[StiffMeister]

just pick them up with your hands. works fine

 

[vicedretard]

Personally I am against the use of nets for these fish at all. They often will get stuck, and will either cost the net, or the fish. This is a VERY stressful method, and is not recommended. I personally just reach in and direct them to a corner. Then (dependent on the size of the pleco) I will either use my other hand to come in from the front, or just move to the head. The goal is to get in front of the pleco in a place where they cannot turn around fast. Put light pressure on the head, and slide it up to the top of the tank. I then slide one finger under the body of the fish, and slowly slide toward the head. This will gently coax the fish to release his grip. Just like that, and the pleco is out, faster than with a net, and has been out of the water for a minimal amount of time.

hardest way but indeed the best...i used a net once on my albino marble sailfin...lets just say his fin wasnt sailing for a few months...i now catch by hand both in the tank and most times in the rivers down here.

 

[WyldFya]

I find it to be a LOT easier. You don't need to deal with removing them from a net, and in my tanks where they have a lot of room to run, a hand can move through water faster than a net.