Removing A Common

[andyw823]

My mum has a large common plec that is way to big for the tank, i offered to take it and put it my 300 L tank, but removing it was very hard, tried using a plasic box to scoop it up but it just went very frantic and shot round the tank extremly fast, so fast that i had to give up in fear of it jumping out or hurting its self, whats the best way to move such a plec?

 

[mcdanielnc89]

I may not be any help but We had one that was huge one time and it was exactly liek that.(I was actualyl afraid of it. )... When i cought it with the net iI never could get it out, so unfortuneately I had to TOUCH it. LOL... So after that I jsut took a good sized bowl and put in the tank to cath him with.. LOL.. but then one day he died... And he was good. he kept the tank clean!

 

[andyw823]

I wont use a net a that will hurt the plec, he/she is lovely and i hope to be able to transfer asap.

 

[Tolak]

Don't use a net, they will get hung up in it, ending with an underwater battle freeing them at the least, with damage & death to the fish at worst, along with your fingers getting poked & bleeding.

I've moved large plecs several times, I have a 15", two 12" & a 9" common. This may sound stressful, but actually it is less stressful then netting, chasing & scooping, or any other method I've tried for large plecs. Get a sturdy pair of leather palmed gloves. Drain the tank down to the level that the top fin of the plec is almost showing. Put on the gloves, make sure they are good & wet. Grab the plec from the top, just behind the eyes, by the bony girdle just behind the eyes. Hang on tight, but try not to push down too hard, the fish will be kicking its tail back & forth. Lift the fish, and put it in a bucket for a longer transport, or just carry it if the tank is across the room. If you grab too far back you will be grabbing muscle, and will not be able to hang on.

I've done this several times over the years, with no damage to fish or myself, other than getting very wet. The 15" plec grunts like a pig when he's/she's out of the water, so don't be surprised at any unusual sounds.

 

[mcdanielnc89]

Don't use a net, they will get hung up in it, ending with an underwater battle freeing them at the least, with damage & death to the fish at worst, along with your fingers getting poked & bleeding.

I've moved large plecs several times, I have a 15", two 12" & a 9" common. This may sound stressful, but actually it is less stressful then netting, chasing & scooping, or any other method I've tried for large plecs. Get a sturdy pair of leather palmed gloves. Drain the tank down to the level that the top fin of the plec is almost showing. Put on the gloves, make sure they are good & wet. Grab the plec from the top, just behind the eyes, by the bony girdle just behind the eyes. Hang on tight, but try not to push down too hard, the fish will be kicking its tail back & forth. Lift the fish, and put it in a bucket for a longer transport, or just carry it if the tank is across the room. If you grab too far back you will be grabbing muscle, and will not be able to hang on.

I've done this several times over the years, with no damage to fish or myself, other than getting very wet. The 15" plec grunts like a pig when he's/she's out of the water, so don't be surprised at any unusual sounds.

Sounds like you were in for some wet ones.. LOL....

 

[PRW1988]

I agree with the method Tolak is recommending, I had to move my 16" common pleco from my house to a store, however I drained half the tank (as it had lots of other fish in it), put on a pair of gloves with gripped palms and went fishing... Got soaked for the first few times and never managed to catch the pleco, but I finally caught him and end up placing him into a BIG styrofoam box for the transport...

 

[mcdanielnc89]

I agree with the method Tolak is recommending, I had to move my 16" common pleco from my house to a store, however I drained half the tank (as it had lots of other fish in it), put on a pair of gloves with gripped palms and went fishing... Got soaked for the first few times and never managed to catch the pleco, but I finally caught him and end up placing him into a BIG styrofoam box for the transport...

Guess I will have to try that nect time.

 

[dane261]

way i have always done it is i put a t-shirt or towel on the bottom and when he manovres over it gentle lift him out plus he carnt struggle and hurt him self and you have no chance of him jumping out or and by the way make sure they are clean

cheers dane

 

[D4N]

i just moved my 13'' common from my 75gal to my new 150gal
i didnt find it that hard. I took half the water out of the tank put a box on its side in the tank so it is like a big cave to them. then slowly moved my net up to him and just tap him on the side and he/she moved stright in to the box. Only done it once, dont think it will be that easy again

 

[england]

ive just housed a new plec and took it from another site member who went stright into tank with hand help pec fins against body and took it out didnt even flinch.....did same when i got home and again not a flinch...1st time ever usually i end up with water evrywhere

 

[gta1628]

This info will come in handy, now all I need is a pair of gloves.

 

[Suicidal_AZN]

get a big net at your lfs!!
i used it to catch my giant pleco!!
now its happy in a big tank!!

 

[dylema]

I like Tolak's method. Especially the gloves. I was helping move a friends 12" common from one pond to another. When I tried to hold the plec back on the tail with bare hands the plec flicked so hard and very nearly took the skin off my hands . They are supprisingly spikey and scratchy and that wasn't even his retractable odontodes. My friend was more confident and got him on top of his head with his thumb and on the bottom of his head with his fingers and it was fine then. They are so strong at this size I would want two people for a full size gibby.

 

[kajones]

My hands were a bit shredded afterwards Neil! The secret is to get a good firm grip, hands are much kinder than a net, less stressful for the fish.