Need advise to take out a flying fox...

[guntank0079]

Hi,

A flying fox young suddenly appeared in my RCS-only tank...
I have no idea how it was introduced since it was a matured tank without anything added in for months, besides the RCS...

I have found out from a previous thread that it might cause some troubles when the flying fox grew up...
It was 9mm last week and is already 13mm now...

It was a damn fast swimmer; I tried using my two nets for hours and still couldn't get him...
It's probably my bad netting skill in the planted tank...

Can you give me some suggestions how I can at least easily lure it out from the well-planted areas?

[Mordaki]

try carefully removing all your plants and ornaments (make shure no shrimp are attached to them) then it will be alot easyer. thats what i needed to do when removing all my fish from my shrimp tank because i noticed some had eggs and wanted the babies to stay alive. besides that and some patients thats all i can say. try getting it in to a corner block it with the net and gently tap the glass behind it and it should swim into the net and then whip the net out. if that dont work try dropping some food in and netting it when it comes up for food, just put tiny amounts in at a time next to you net that is allready in the water at this point then net it quickly.
good luck .

[guntank0079]

Thanks for your advise!

I did use the food trick first, but it didn't work alone as the plants still got in the way...
I later finally made up the mind (and knocked down my lazy bones) and removed 1/3 of the plants and just left two nets sitting on one side of the tank and waited...

After 3.5 hours effort and 2 unsuccessful attempts (it alarmed itself so fast; no wonder it's called a "flying" "fox"), I finally cornered it and took it out...what a relief!

But one mystery I still didn't solve: how it appeared in the RCS tank?
The only explanation I could think of was: the egg was transferred with the last plant I put in about 11 weeks ago...for some reason(s), the egg had survived for a long period of time...and it became the young I caught...

As the movie Jurrasic Park mentioned, "Life found a way!"

Thanks again for your advise, Mordaki!

[Newjohn]

Be careful if you take out all of your plants at once.
You may cause a Ammonia Spike which is not good for your Shrimp.

As for how it managed to get in there tank.
If the tanks are not covered it may have jumped from one tank to another, if they are close enough.

John

[Neonshrimp]

After 3.5 hours effort and 2 unsuccessful attempts (it alarmed itself so fast; no wonder it's called a "flying" "fox"), I finally cornered it and took it out...what a relief!

Good job getting it out! This was actually becoming your second job. I think you did the right thing clearing out 1/3 of the plants to make more room to manuever

[Mordaki]

hehe np.

also i diddnt think an amonia spike would happen if it took a short amount of time to net the fish, i assume it would if they were left out for a long yime like a day or something

[geofied]

In the future you might consider getting or making a device like the Kordon Fish Catcher http://www.kordon.com/kordon/fish_catcher/index.htm. I had a similar problem with a Siamese Algae Eater that the Kordon rectified in a matter of a few minutes. Fish (and other animals) are much less threatened by this thing as you just dip it in the water, let the fish wander into it (by choice or prodding) and lift it out of the tank. You can get them from PetSmut (changed to protect the innocent) online for less than $5 and free shipping.

[Neonshrimp]

the Kordon Fish Catcher.

I have one of these also, they are great for transfering animals.

[guntank0079]

The RCS were happier after I removed the flying fox...

Water spike was not observed as the tank was still heavy-planted! Especially I was using a floating basket to store the removed plants in the same tank...as they were not really removed out of the water...thanks for the warning though!

I don't have any flying fox in other tanks.
No offense, I just don't like them...
For why it suddenly appeared in my tank, it's a mystery to me...
And I found no other tank to fit the flying fox; it's now staying in the small 5 gallon hospital tank. I may give it to the LFS at a later time.

It seems interesting to have a tool like Kordon Fish Catcher.
But how does it work?
It looks hollow in the handle, with a hole at the end to relieve the pressure from movements...

However, one thing I am still concerned about:
Even it looks hollow in the handle, it relieves certain pressure from the movements of the catcher...it may still create a bigger wave/pressure in the middle of the water and alarm the fish, when comparing to the traditional nets...

For those of you who have used it, do you feel the same also?

It is for sure a better idea to contain the fish like the cories, in which their fins always easily get damaged by fish nets...
Or even transferring eggs, which they won't be exposed to open air...

Anyway, now the flying fox is removed and I wish the RCS would live happily ever after!
(I know it's not really the case, as things change so often in the tank...but at least I have one thing less worried!)

[Neonshrimp]

It seems interesting to have a tool like Kordon Fish Catcher.
But how does it work?
It looks hollow in the handle, with a hole at the end to relieve the pressure from movements...

I was first designed by old school fish keepers to provide a way of catching fish without chasing/stressing. They were first made of glass and now made of plastic (much lighter and durable). You are right about the hollowed handle, with a hole at the end.

However, one thing I am still concerned about:
Even it looks hollow in the handle, it relieves certain pressure from the movements of the catcher...it may still create a bigger wave/pressure in the middle of the water and alarm the fish, when comparing to the traditional nets...

It is designed so that is you move the catcher's closed back side through the water there is low water resistance. If you are still concerned about the small amount of wave/pressure (no more than a normal filter would produce) you can keep the catcher stationary and herd the animal into it.

Anyway, now the flying fox is removed and I wish the RCS would live happily ever after!

Let's all hope

[geofied]

I forgot to mention, however, the biggest issue I have with the Kordon is the large size. about 4 inch diameter opening. This means if you are using it in a small tank, you may want employ a herding technique. I do wish they had a smaller version for smaller tanks and fish.

[Neonshrimp]

I do wish they had a smaller version for smaller tanks and fish.

Me too. If someone out there knows about something like this for small tanks please let us know.

[guntank0079]

Thanks for the explanation!
I want to get one and try it out now!