how to catch a damsel- life saver!!
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Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Fish
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about fish.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=74814
Printed Date: October 04 2025 at 12:27am
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Topic: how to catch a damsel- life saver!!
Posted By: juliagulia
Subject: how to catch a damsel- life saver!!
Date Posted: February 12 2015 at 1:37pm
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So. I recently overcame one of THE MOST frustrating situations that I have ever dealt with. DAMSELS! two of them to be specific... damsels that started out cute and yellow and non aggressive and turned into giant black jerks who would attack any new fish, one to the point of death by stress. After thinking about it for weeks and trying for days, I finally found the perfect damsel trap. I read forum after forum with crazy suggestions like draining the tank to catch them, or catching them with a fishing hook ( I did like this idea, but my bigger beefier fish would probably beat them to it )... so after destroying my rock setup trying to net them, making a soda bottle trap that they had no interest in, to borrowing an actual fish trap with absolutely no luck.... I found one suggestion. a mirror! these little suckers are soo aggressive that if you put a mirror in the tank... they will go at it like noones business. now, while this wasn't enough of a distraction to net em, it led to a whole new idea. We put a mirror at the back of the DIY soda bottle trap. after trial and error.. still not trapping them with the funnel inside, too much turbulence trying to pull it out.. etc, we cut some holes in the bottom (not big enough for the fish to escape out of, just big enough to get rid of some of the turbulence ) and tied some fishing line to the top. We also had a larger mirror in the tank next to the trap that they would pester at.. I think thats what got them interested in the mirror to begin with. anyways, it took a couple of tries, but fish swims in,,, a quick pull up to the top of the tank and boom! trapped fish. I feel so accomplished and want to share with the world so noone else goes through what i have to catch the darn things. happy fishing!  ------------- one fish two fish, red fish blue fish |
Replies:
Posted By: Will Spencer
Date Posted: February 12 2015 at 2:07pm
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I think you may have come up with the latest and greatest fish trap for damsels. Good thinking!!! |
Posted By: Pete Moss
Date Posted: February 12 2015 at 2:09pm
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Wow, good idea! I'm impressed! ------------- 125g 90g 2x33g 34g What stores do I recommend? Up North: Bill ( Saltwater Paradise 801-317-8115 ) Down South: Jerry ( Reef On 801-563-0600 ) Member of GCFB |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: February 12 2015 at 5:16pm
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Awesome. The club trap you borrowed usually takes several days for fish to get accustomed to going in for the food. Sounds like this worked almost immediately. I'm going to add this trick to the Reefkeeping Tips: Catching fish the easy way: http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=29554" rel="nofollow - http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=29554  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: February 12 2015 at 5:21pm
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Another idea... for future reference... wet to dry vacuum. Get it close to them, then flip it on. Adam ps- lemon damsels are gorgeous when they are little aren't they? ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: DMower
Date Posted: February 12 2015 at 5:36pm
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All great ideas! Love it. I have several damsels that are model citizens. My other fish don't put up with their "crap". Three Talbot's Damsels One blue damsel (Male with orange tail and belly) great colors! One blue velvet damsel. My tangs and angels put them in their place. ------------- 150 gal reef with 50 gal sump. Reef Octopus DCS-200 Skimmer. AI Sol Blues. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: February 12 2015 at 5:36pm
Hey Adam do you remember the story of how Susan and Fred forgot to immediately turn off the vacuum and pull the hose out of the tank. They siphoned something like 5+ gallons of salt water on their hardwood floor. The target fish just kept swimming around the tank.  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Will Spencer
Date Posted: February 12 2015 at 5:42pm
I think they got the vacuum turned off, but forgot that the hose would still siphoning water until the siphon was broken. When the tank filled up the water just started coming out of the seems where the tank and the motor come together. The little ball on the intake is supposed to stop water from getting into the motor but it doesn't stop it from going elsewhere. Sad but funny. I'm sure even Susan can laugh now that it's years in the past. I think I like the OP's way of doing it better, though Susan was after a yellow clown goby so it may not have worked as well. |
Mark Peterson wrote: