Catching Your Loaches

[Spank]

arragrahgh I've just spent the best part of 2 hrs trying to net my pair of yoyo Loaches, they're too ####ing sneeky They're not really gonna fit into my new stocking plans so I want to exchange them for some credit at the LFS but goddammit I cannot even get close to them.

Any advise on how to catch the sneaky little buggers?

 

[Lateral Line]

Cut a piece of opaque pipe about twice as long as the loaches and wide enough for them to easily fit in, but not too generous. Put it on the gravel. Sooner or later one will "explore this new wonder" and feeling quite safe in there, will stay put when you put your fingers over the end and lift him out.

 

[Spank]

Cut a piece of opaque pipe about twice as long as the loaches and wide enough for them to easily fit in, but not too generous. Put it on the gravel. Sooner or later one will "explore this new wonder" and feeling quite safe in there, will stay put when you put your fingers over the end and lift him out.

excellent *puts hands together like monty burns and cackles*

I was managed to find one caught in one of those terracota rings that come with potted plants, was thinking of liberally placing a few of those in the tank and waiting (a bit cruel) or sucking 'em out with a python (a bit crueler). your method seems much more humane, I shall try it

 

[Spank]

Cut a piece of opaque pipe about twice as long as the loaches and wide enough for them to easily fit in, but not too generous. Put it on the gravel. Sooner or later one will "explore this new wonder" and feeling quite safe in there, will stay put when you put your fingers over the end and lift him out.

excellent *puts hands together like monty burns and cackles*

I was managed to find one caught in one of those terracota rings that come with potted plants, was thinking of liberally placing a few of those in the tank and waiting (a bit cruel) or sucking 'em out with a python (a bit crueler). your method seems much more humane, I shall try it

dammit, I left a piece of eheim green tubing with some granules as bait in the bottom of the tank. Came back an hour later to find the granules gone but not loach cheeky bugger. I think I'll try bunging one end of the tube so the loach can get in but not out.....

 

[TammyLiz]

I think I'll try bunging one end of the tube so the loach can get in but not out.....

They can back out.

 

[The-Wolf]

I have used a 14" net (smallest pond net I could get) to catch loaches and other fish in a large tank.

 

[Spank]

I have used a 14" net (smallest pond net I could get) to catch loaches and other fish in a large tank.

the problem is, the tank's quite heavily planted and has rocks + wood everywhere so the moment the net goes in, they hide

 

[QuotheRaven]

Word of caution in any case of possible contact with yoyo loaches be very careful to avoid their spikes located underneath their eye's THEY HURT.... Also if you are having alot of trouble catching your yoyo stop and try again another time if not urgent Yoyo's can become terrified of you and be skitish anytime your near the tank. (Happend when I spent 30 minutes catching a yoyo it was then terrified of me...problem was I HAD to move him out of the tank he was in)

 

[TammyLiz]

Have you tried just putting the net in the tank and leaving it there so they get used to it? It wouldn't help any fear they had of you but possibly would help them get over their fear of the net. Also, is there anything you could feed them that would bring them to the surface? My yoyos come to the surface every time they see me come up to the tank expecting food. I've put a cup in there to remove a little water for defrosting bloodworms, and actually had a yoyo swim in. He wasn't even concerned that he had been caught. When I dumped him back in, he didn't even swim away, he stayed right there looking for food. He knew I wasn't trying to catch him. They're smarties . It would take time, but you could possibly get them very comfortable with something that could catch them. Your best bet would be for it to have something to do with feeding time.

 

[pascados]

why not use two nets ? one to coner the loaches and the other to catch them (it works every time for me)

if all else fails put the net in the tank like TammyLiz said but put food in the net to attract the yo yo loaches

 

[krishanu]

i have had my share of troubles with catching fish. what i did was to cut the top off a plastic cola bottle which i placed on the bottom of the tank. i then chased the fish into the bottle and voila....he was mine !

 

[The-Lion]

When moving my loaches & plecs I took advantage of their tendency to seek shelter. Loaches especially will hide & stay hidden in a cave. So you need a cone shaped item with an open end + a small opening in the side so as to let the fish in, but not too much light.
Place the cone open end downwards onto the substrate, the fish goes in the opening on the side & will usually seek the top of the cone, you then upturn the cone to tip the fish into a net, bucket or it’s new home if close by.
For obvious reasons it’s best you remove other hidey-holes, as it is much easier if the cone is the only refuge.

 

[Lateral Line]

be very careful to avoid their spikes located underneath their eye's

They can also get tangled with nets, that's a good point I should of made earlier.

 

[Spank]

Thanks for the input everyone, I'll try the various techniques tonight. It's a large 140 gallon tank and they know I'm after them so it won't be easy but I couldn't live with myself if I was out-smarted by a fish

 

[shell4375]

Had to catch my yoyo a few days ago he sleeps inside a conch shell so when he went inside I scooped up the shell and placed it inside a bag. The little guy didn't even come out. Much better than chasing him around the tank for hours