Living Reefs > Technical Discussion > Do It Yourself (DIY) > Homemade Fish Trap

Reply
 
Living Reefs Supporter
sen5241b's Avatar
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Arlington VA
Posts: 4,966
Thanked: 362
iTrader: 0
 
      October 3rd, 2008
I need to catch my dottyback. There are some examples of using a 1 liter plastic soda bottle on the web. Has anyone tried this or got a n idea?

 

Take Nothing from the Sea unless it is Plentiful

Current Aquarium(s) Description: One incredibly simple and easy 20G Long - Phd in RTA
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: Five years or so
 
Reply With Quote
 
 
 
 
Living Reefs Supporter
Rcpilot's Avatar
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,948
Thanked: 376
iTrader: 0
Images: 424
 
      October 6th, 2008
It's easy.



Cut the top off a 1 liter soda bottle. Use a steak knife. We're not building a space shuttle here, just hack it off.

Turn it upside down and stuff it back in the body of the bottle to trial fit. Cut a little off the neck of the top if you need, so it will slip inside the body of the bottle.

Run a big goober of 100% si8licone around the top part where it will contact the body of the trap. Stuff it in and let it sit for 3 or 4 days to cure.

Starve the fish for a day or 2. Put a couple rocks in the trap so it will sink. Put some food in the trap. Drop it in the tank. Don't feed the tank. If they want to eat, they go in the bottle.

If they refuse to eat, take the bottle out after about an hour. Drain it by poking a hole in the bottom. You can poke a large hole, so long as the dottyback can't fit through the hole.

Drain the food and water out. Leave the rocks inside. Stick it back in the tank so the fish get used to it. Tomorrow, try it again. No food in the tank. They swim in the bottle to eat or they starve.

You'll catch him eventually.

Removal? Steak knife.

Current Aquarium(s) Description: .
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: .
 
Reply With Quote
 
 
 
 
Living Reefs Supporter
Oscarsdad608's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: belleville,wi
Posts: 1,622
Thanked: 143
iTrader: 0
 
      October 6th, 2008
I did it to catch damsels. It worked great. All 4 of thoughs stupid bastards were all caught in 30 minutes.

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 120gallon mostly sps 2 250 watt halide and vho actinics. 75 gallon sump/fuge/frag euroreef 250
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 7 years
 
Reply With Quote
 
Living Reefs Supporter
sen5241b's Avatar
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Arlington VA
Posts: 4,966
Thanked: 362
iTrader: 0
 
      October 6th, 2008
The dottyback swam in the 1 liter trap last night after only an hour or two. Seconds after I grabbed the trap he wiggled out thru the inverted nozzle. I'm thinking of a 2 liter trap in addition to the 1 liter.

 

Take Nothing from the Sea unless it is Plentiful

Current Aquarium(s) Description: One incredibly simple and easy 20G Long - Phd in RTA
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: Five years or so
 
Reply With Quote
 
Living Reefs Supporter
Oscarsdad608's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: belleville,wi
Posts: 1,622
Thanked: 143
iTrader: 0
 
      October 6th, 2008
I covered the end of the bottle with a net as fast as I could.

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 120gallon mostly sps 2 250 watt halide and vho actinics. 75 gallon sump/fuge/frag euroreef 250
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 7 years
 
Reply With Quote
 
Ceritfied Mantis Hunter
yote's Avatar
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Ringgold,Ga
Posts: 26,914
Thanked: 3775
iTrader: 0
Images: 20
 
      October 6th, 2008
Just run down to your local fly fishing shop and pick up the smallest trout fly they have.File the barb off,stick a split shot right above the fly,pop the top on a cold one,and wait for a bite
Used that method several times with great success.

 
When you can't count on 911,put you're trust in 1911.

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 125gal SPS tank in the works
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 2+
 
Reply With Quote
 
Living Reefs Supporter
sen5241b's Avatar
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Arlington VA
Posts: 4,966
Thanked: 362
iTrader: 0
 
      October 7th, 2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by yote View Post
Just run down to your local fly fishing shop and pick up the smallest trout fly they have.File the barb off,stick a split shot right above the fly,pop the top on a cold one,and wait for a bite
Used that method several times with great success.
I may have to do that! I have two of the plastic bottle traps in there and he won't swim into either! That fish is as fast as lighting! I have also considered dropping an M80 into the tank!

 

Take Nothing from the Sea unless it is Plentiful

Current Aquarium(s) Description: One incredibly simple and easy 20G Long - Phd in RTA
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: Five years or so
 
Reply With Quote
 
Living Reefs Supporter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Marietta, GA USA
Posts: 9,262
Thanked: 652
iTrader: 0
 
      October 7th, 2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by sen5241b View Post
I have also considered dropping an M80 into the tank!
you cant be that desperate yet, can you?

 
shhhh girl......shut your lips. do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 120 gallon with built in dual overflows
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: >1 year
 
Reply With Quote
 
Ceritfied Mantis Hunter
yote's Avatar
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Ringgold,Ga
Posts: 26,914
Thanked: 3775
iTrader: 0
Images: 20
 
      October 8th, 2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by dustin_P74 View Post
you cant be that desperate yet, can you?
You'd be surprised Dustin.I've actually thought pretty dang
seriously about either doing that,or dropping the toaster in the tank.
At times,a problem fish can drive you insane.

 
When you can't count on 911,put you're trust in 1911.

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 125gal SPS tank in the works
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 2+
 
Reply With Quote
 
Living Reefs Supporter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Marietta, GA USA
Posts: 9,262
Thanked: 652
iTrader: 0
 
      October 8th, 2008
oh trust me i know that feeling, i took me three hours and half a filled tank to get a fish out but atleast i got it

 
shhhh girl......shut your lips. do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 120 gallon with built in dual overflows
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: >1 year
 
Reply With Quote
 
 
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Homemade Sump samstern New to Reefing 1 August 22nd, 2012 03:54 AM
homemade wavemaker????? chuysvt New to Reefing 5 April 25th, 2011 06:12 AM
Homemade sump fyretr7 New to Reefing 12 September 17th, 2009 02:13 AM
homemade reef food reefpanda Reef Fishes 11 August 2nd, 2009 10:44 PM
homemade canopy for less than 150$ wicho Do It Yourself (DIY) 26 August 30th, 2008 01:06 PM