net stuck on cephalocassis fin, can't cut it off completely

[tongolino10]

I was catching out one of my cephalocassis borneensis and it got its fin entangled in the net. I tried several times to cut the net off, but only succeeded in removing approximately 90% of it. I fear that continuously handling it and trying to remove the net will stress it too much. For some context, the net is entangled in the right pectoral fin spine.

Will the remnants of the net cause any infection or damage the fin in any way?

Furthermore, do any of you have suggestions on any sort of nets that would be better suited for catching catfish with spines? I wouldn't like to have this issue recur if possible.

 

[Conchonius]

No experience with lasting damage after net entanglement, but I've used colanders and plastic fruit baskets with success while moving large spiny fish.

A small bucket or any other solid container that you can chase the fish into will also work.

 

[audioscience10]

For rays we use a silicone fishing net. They are made for hooks to not get stuck and work good for stingray barbs as well. Being less tangley it might also be a good option for a fish with spines.

 

[Fishman Dave]

Had lots of experience especially with pim Pictus cats. If you can keep them calm you have a 40% chance of them not getting a pectoral fin stuck in a net. But , I find that your best chance is using a net to guide them towards a plastic sieve or colander. The good thing is that these have holes in. I have found that trying to guide a fish like that into a container without holes doesn’t work, they recognise the “closed space” and often try to bolt from it, so jugs and buckets have less success.
As for the infection etc.
The net should come away fairly quickly, often within days but certainly within a week and I have never known any infection occur, even when my fish have torn the pectoral first ray off from the rest, but this will be very much case by case basis,