Catching a fish, harder than I though  4/26/08
I thought this would be easy.... wrong! I have a 65 gallon saltwater, live rock etc. My problem is my Longnose Hawkfish. He's not full grown yet but has taken a dislike to my two Banggai Cardinalfish. I wrote to you before about this and realize this isn't going to work. My pet store is willing to take him back and will replace him with another type.
I have two questions....how do I catch him.
<Two nets...>
I've tried the two nets at feeding time, not a feeding time, a plastic tube to get him out of the rocks. With 85 lbs of rock and number of other fish and corals I have to careful. He is so fast. I've even fed the fish later at night in dim light, he caught right now. My Cardinalfish are now staying in a back corner and they have to be stressed, I know I am. After three days of trying I've run out of ideas and I don't know how a Hawkfish thinks.
Second question, I would like a yellow tang. I know only or three and they don't always like others them. I've read about their food etc. My store has a large one and 3 small, I think I'm better with one small so they fit in with the other fish that are still young.
This may help some other aquarists as well, but I think my Hawkfish is just unusual. It's also not a good idea to name them, I feel really badly about having to give up McGregor.
Marilee Derby
<There are ways to train a fish to make it easier to remove, but it may be necessary to drain this tank, remove the rock... Bob Fenner>

Re: Catching a fish, harder than I though   4/27/08
Thanks for the fish catching idea, will try with the nets again.
Drain the tank, etc etc...I'm still chuckling. Great sense of humour but, probably has had to be done.
What are your suggestions on the yellow tang replacement (one or three).
Marilee
<Posted... please read here as well: http://wetwebmedia.com/netfaqs.htm
Bob Fenner>

Blue Tang Severely Ill...Strategy Suggestions Needed For Removal Of Tang...Input From a WWM Reader  - 05/22/2006
Hey all,
I hope I'm not butting in too much here, but I've tried this in numerous tanks and have had great success with it.  Unfortunately it might be too late to help save this guys tang, but it might help others in the future.  First get a large net and stick it in your tank first thing in
the morning before the lights come on when all your fish are still asleep.  Leave it there all day and feed as per normal (this is very
important....DO NOT MOVE THE NET) I got really lucky one day and had a fish swim right in it during feeding, that made a nice easy catch. The next day get up before your fish do (in other words before the tank lights come on.  Turn another light on in the room your fish will start to wake up slowly, not be moving quite as quickly as usual, makes it easier to catch them.  I've caught I don't know how many fish this way for people I know: at least 7 of the zebrasoma species, 2 blue hippo tangs, a dragon wrasse, a red Coris wrasse,  a particularly stubborn yellow canary fang blenny, and a terrorizing clown trigger to name some of the more difficult ones I've netted.  It's always worked for me, hopefully it'll work for you.
<Thank you for the suggestion, Amanda.  Will post.  James (Salty Dog)>
Cheers
Amanda

Australia Collecting License and fence/barrier nets   1/17/06
Hi Bob am looking to buy a fish collecting licenses in Australia what do you think and were can you bye fence nets etc Hank
<Mmm, licenses in the "Land Down Under" are closely numbered and regulated. Likely you would have to become a citizen, and either buy into an existing one, or add your name to a list, lottery to win one if/when same became available. Fence nets can be made (I used to do this... don't!), or bought from outfits that make them by machine... Look to the aquaculture industry, magazines... I used to get mine from Memphis Net & Twine. Bob Fenner>

Re: Australian collecting marines...  1/18/06
Bob Thanks for that. I am a Australian, and l have found a license for
sale. what fish are sort after in the US and Japan that's were. l would like to export too .
<... easy enough to find out... look at their listings... principally the hardier angels, butterflies and wrasses... But there is always room to try new, good-looking, hardy new ones>
You used to get the fence nets from Memphis & twine do you have phone number or fax still . Hank
<Mmm, nope. I would try searching the Net for... Nets! In the U.S.... look through on-line catalogs for ones with integral float and lead lines. Bob Fenner>

Collection Nets
Bob,
<Mike>
I've been trying to research materials used for netting by different net collectors. Steve Robinson has been gracious enough to give me a few leads and share his perspective on my questions. I was trying to find Chip Boyle's contact info to see if he might share his.
<I will bcc him here (he and wife Alice are still living, working in Roratonga in the Cook's unless something has changed>
I 'Googled' him, and found some info on WWM, but not the actual info. The page seemed a little older, so I thought I'd ask you if you had his current information or not.
<His email doesn't "bounce" but I haven't heard from Chip in more than a year though>
I also happened to notice while looking for your e-mail address that you also worked as a fish collector for a time. Might you mind also sharing the types of nets you used and the materials used?
<Certainly, glad to help. Most folks years back used to sew their own float and lead lines on their fence nets (most of which had a 1/4 to 1/2" "draw"), whereas I refer folks to "Memphis Net & Twine" and other automated makers nowadays... much faster, sturdy nets... and neat continuous lead lines. Hand nets can be made of the same netting or nylon mesh (a bit softer) per the "Super Nets" article posted on WetWebMedia.com. Sorry for lateness of this reply. Have been out (diving) for a few weeks in Indo. Bob Fenner>
Thanks!
Mike

Re: fisher net
Hi, I would like to know if the net I have in my saltwater aq. is safe
chemically for Mr. Fish?                                                       
       Thank You  sandy from Va.
<Say what? Please read over your message. Bob Fenner>

Fishing Nets. Not for aquarium use
Hello, I put a fisher net in to a tank of marine fish for decoration. Then I
begin to worry about the fish. Is the net okay or will it harm the marine
fish? Ty  sandy
<A fisher net, as in one made, intended for lifting fishes as in "going fishing"? Most are too coarse for aquarium use (too rough on the fishes bodies), and the frames are often made of aluminum, even steel... toxic metals to sea life. Bob Fenner>