On Thu, 22 Jan 2004 09:56:50 -0500, "NetMax"
wrote:


"Dick" wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 23:41:50 -0500, "NetMax"
wrote:


"Jim Morcombe" wrote in message
...
I always keep as many plants in a tank as I can. This seems to help
with
the nitrates, but not with the nitrites.

I do this because I like plants and the fish like the plants.

I have bought fish from people that call themselves breeders and
they
have
completely empty tanks except for the fish. I couldn't ever do
this.

Mind you, its pretty hard to catch fish in my tanks. It becomes
quite
a
game with many people involved everytime we want to catch something.
Invariably someone gets excited and destroys a plant or something
just
to
catch the fish.

Jim
snip

The technique (I use) to catching fish in planted tanks is to use 2
nets.
Enter both nets very slowly into the tank. Position the first net
between the glass and a natural obstacle (rock, plant, driftwood etc),
and keep it absolutely still. The 2nd net is the chaser, and it
slowly
manoeuvres the fish into a small crowd. Push the fish forwards around
the back of the obstacle and around the front of the tank. When the
corralled fish at the front see the 2nd waiting net, gently wiggle the
chaser net behind them to push them forward. This cause the fish in
the
back of the corral, to rush forward, so the whole crowd gets the extra
urgency to move forwards. Fish will always react to the moving net,
and
when bunched up, will tend to continue moving as a group, because to
escape from the group can be a greater risk. Too fast and they all
scatter, too slow and they catch on, but at the right speed, you can
push
most of the contents of your tank right into the waiting net. I
regularly do this at work, scooping a dozen Neons or other tetras at a
time. There are other ways (dropping your water level, using a pail
and
traps, etc), everyone has their favourite techniques.

NetMax

I think you miss the point, a net is too big to manuever among plants
without damage. A probe can move amongst the plants just pushing
leaves aside. Two nets works if the manuever space is big and the
wanted fish stays out of the "rough". Darn wanted fish always seem to
understand strategy as well as I do.

I don't have as much luck with a probe (I reverse the net, so the chaser
is a net handle), because when they see the waiting net, it's more of a
threat than the chasing probe. For really difficult fish, be sneaky.
Drop in some ornament with caves, and when the fish (ie: loaches) are in,
cover the opening to the cave and lift the ornament out ;~) I also set
traps. Simplest one is a large net, held horizontally about 2" below the
surface. Leave it there for a day or 2. Always feed directly above the
net. Eventually, the smarter fish (who are the ones you want, but they
avoid the net) figure the dumb fish are getting all the food (because the
dumb fish swim into the net area and eat first), and everyone becomes
bolder. Then it's all in the wrist action. There are also various
sinking traps, home made or sold on the internet, however the traps
usually have very little circulation, so prolonged capture can lead to
suffocation, ymmv.

And some fish seem to view all my futile efforts as just a new form of
entertainment. For them, I've considered dynamite *sigh*.

NetMax


note my laughter! :-)

I know what you mean about the game playing. Fortunately most of my
netting is for a sick fish to move it to the Q tank. However, I do
move fish that are still very vital. "Trapping" is an interesting
approach, never considered it. When I go after a fish I usually want
it NOW.

I think your reversed net is much the same as a probe. My "probe" of
choice is one of those extended clutchers. They look big and bright
(orange) but move easily through the plants.

I find patience (for a few minutes) helpful. The game players can't
resist coming back for more.