DIY Fish Trap

[mramc3]

I've seen other thread before and I am sure you can google it, but here it is in all its DIY'ness:

I have done this plenty of times to catch damsels, chromis, clowns, and a racoon butterfly. You can use a two liter, a 1 liter, or in this case a Fruit Punch bottle 1 gallon I believe. This all depends on the size of your tank and the size of the fish you are trying to catch.

Tools:
- Clear container of your choice as mentioned above.
- Blade or rigid knife
- Clear Tape
- Scissors

Time to make: about 5-10 mins.

First get your container and wash it out thoroughly:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/mramc3/55G%20Saltwater/DSC00224.jpg

Remove any excess plastic and stickers. For the adhesive part, you can just run it under warm water and scrape it off with the knife:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/mramc3/55G%20Saltwater/DSC00225.jpg

Next, with the cap still on, (keeps pressure in the bottle for the initial puncture) make your slit where the cone part of the bottle meets the cylinder part and cut all the way around the bottle.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/mramc3/55G%20Saltwater/DSC00226.jpg

I used the scissors to clean up the edges on both ends.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/mramc3/55G%20Saltwater/DSC00227.jpg

Then cut the cap off using the same method as before.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/mramc3/55G%20Saltwater/DSC00228.jpg

Now turn the cone piece inward so it creates a funnel:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/mramc3/55G%20Saltwater/DSC00229.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/mramc3/55G%20Saltwater/DSC00230.jpg

Next use some clear tape to hold the funnel in place.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/mramc3/55G%20Saltwater/DSC00231.jpg

That's it!!! You're done!!

Look at it and admire it:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/mramc3/55G%20Saltwater/DSC00232.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/mramc3/55G%20Saltwater/DSC00233.jpg

TO CATCH THE FISH

1. You can put the trap in the tank so that the fish get used to it. This can be 10 mins - 1 hour depending how smart the fish is.

2. Take the trap out and put food in it. (I prefer Mysis)

3. Sit and wait...

4. Catch the fish and take it out

5. PIF to Jeff


HTH reefers! Please don't cut yourselves and make your own variations if necessary.

[lth03]

5. PIF to Jeff
I really like that idea ;)

[Techknowledgy]

This (http://www.sdreefs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39278&highlight=Fish+trap) is the one that works for the smart fish.

[goody]

Might be a dumb question, but why doesn't the fish just swim out of the funnel?

[GEORGIE]

I used a smaller water bottle. It worked like a charm. And it only took about a half hour. Good luck.:)

[Techknowledgy]

They do swim out. That is why I like the jaws of life.

[mramc3]

Depending on the size of the hole and the fish, they can sometimes swim back out if the hole is too big. Most of the time, they get guided in by the funnel when they sense the food. When trying to get out, they get confused by the now seemingly smaller opening and cannot swim out easily.