Help catching clown in rbta

[boontonbob]

Hi all - Can anyone share advice on how to catch a smalll clown from a large rbta? I have a fish large box trap and don't see that this would have any kind of success because it rarely leaves, even to get food.

One suggestion is to catch it as I would a fish in a pond. With a tiny fly hook and fishing line. It's seems barbaric though and I would think could serious harm if it manages to start to swallow the food.

Any better techniques??
Thx

 

[redfishbluefish]

If the RBTA isn’t one of these massive ones, feed the anemone and it will close up while it feeds, kicking out the clown.

I just had to catch a maroon clown about two weeks ago, and what a pain. It wasn’t in the anemone, but I eventually had to take out half the rock on one side of the tank and prod him over to that side of the tank to net him. Took about five hours.

 

[SirFragalot]

Hi all - Can anyone share advice on how to catch a smalll clown from a large rbta? I have a fish large box trap and don't see that this would have any kind of success because it rarely leaves, even to get food.

One suggestion is to catch it as I would a fish in a pond. With a tiny fly hook and fishing line. It's seems barbaric though and I would think could serious harm if it manages to start to swallow the food.

Any better techniques??
Thx

I had a simillar episode last night with catching my Gold Banded Maroon Clown. He resides in one of the two GBTA's that I have. I had to force the GBTA to retract with some food. So what does the clown do??? ....moves to the other one. HAHAHA!! Fed the other one and netted him while he/she attacked the net. Took a while. Good luck.

 

[NikkiT]

You can also try using a plastic container. Carefully brush the container against the anem's tenticals, herding the clown towards the glass while you waive your fingers in front of it. Goal: get clown to swim away from your hand, into clear container. I've seen the guys at my LFS do this.

 

[Phyl]

As Nikki suggests, clear plastic containers (specimen container) are the easiest way to catch them because they can't see them coming. You should be able to use your hand to encourage the fish out of the 'nem and into the container. I caught Todd's crosshatch trigger out of his FOWLR that way and it didn't take too long. Of course that was a bigger fish.

Do they trust you enough to swim to you when you're holding food in the water?

 

[Nickjr000]

I caught 2 different clowns out of my nem. Wat till late at night and scoop em right out with the net while the lights out. I found you can get a little jump on them this way, they're not expecting it in the dark

 

[boontonbob]

Thank you everyone. That's the advice i was hoping for. I will surely try the clear plastic capture before I even think about dropping a hook in my tank

Paul - I saw that Maroon in Rod's tank last night. Nice looking guy, but I hear he is a tough dude, huh?
Bob