How to catch a zebra loach

[bern]

Hi all,

I need to remove a zebra loach from my 240L tank. Having a really hard time catching him, As soon as I get anywhere near him he just dives straight into the plants out of sight. I've tried netting, and making a bottle trap (which every other fish will get caught in except him!). It's driving me crazy now.

Any tips on how to catch fish that are very cautious/ aware of your attempts to get them?

 

[Ryan Thang To]

i would try couple of hours after light off when they are in sleeping mode lol

i did it when i had some mollie in a 400 litre tank

cheers
ryan

 

[alto]

You might ask over on LOL
🙂

 

[EnderUK]

It works for smaller fish so can't see why it wouldn't for bigger fish. Get a 5L water bottle or any bottle with a large opening. Cut the neck off it and push it back into bottle the opposite way around so you have a funnel. You can drill a couple of holes in in and put some cable or string through to help left the thing. Sink it into the tank with your fishes favourite food. Leave 5 minutes and you have yourself a bottle full of tank life.

 

[ian_m]

 

[bern]

EnderUK: Yes, this is the trick I've already tried... but the loach won't go near it! As for catching it after lights out... well not sure how I can do that because it disappears into the undergrowth to sleep. I really don't want to end up having to strip the tank down just to catch one fish.

 

[Guest]

Tricky little suckers...I've always found that most fish eventually succumb to dynamite. It's well documented as an effective and efficient way of fishing...albeit a little unsporting😀

Two nets is best...usually works, even with the most illusive/evasive piscine characters.

 

[bern]

Thankfully I finally got him today, so I didn't have to resort to dynamite. I tried getting a bigger 5L bottle and tried trapping again. Caught 5 other fish, but still... he was in with them. Thanks guys.

 

[Ajm200]

We have to catch fish in a 520l tank and resort to a big net in the centre of the tank and chase the fish into it with smaller nets then dump the contents into a trug to sort through. Will give the bottle trap a go next time. Thanks fit the tip