How to trap SAE?

[eastside]

Dear all,

I have 3 x SAEs kept together with my fire reds in a planted tank. One of the SAE is about 5cm and is constantly rummaging the soil for shrimp food. As a result, my hair grass has to be replanted often as it is being uprooted. Also, it is snatching shrimp food away from my FRS.

I like to transfer the SAE to another tank, but was unsuccessful netting it.

Is there a trap available or any good suggestion to net the SAE?

Thank you all for any suggestion.

[lekial]

I had similar problems with you but mine was with 2 golden algae eater.

I DIY-ed a trap out of a 500ml mineral water bottle. Basically, cut 1/3 off the top of the bottle so you have something that is shaped like a funnel. Invert it and slip it into the remaining of the bottle with the cap off and your trap is complete!
You need to weigh them down though, so you could place a rock or something heavy inside the bottle. I attached mine to a fishing string too so that i can retrieve it easily.

I just drop mine into the tank without any bait. The GAE was always rummaging around and I found both of mine inside the trap the next morning.

Alternatively, you can try http://www.aquamoss.net/Articles/Catching-SAE.htm

[Navanod]

The bottle trap is the best way to catch SAEs but please do not leave it overnight in the tank.
The large SAE and all the shrimps that will wonder in will quickly deplete all the oxygen and die from asphyxiation.
One way is to poke some holes in the bottle, but don't poke too close to the base or the water in the bottle will empty when removed from the tank.

I'm not sure if this thread belongs here or in other subforums.
It's about a fish, in a shrimp tank and a trap. Let's keep this here for now.

[Shadow]

You can try catch them middle of the night, said 2pm use torch light and catch them. They are blur when sleep

[felix_fx2]

use 2 nets, scare it into the larger net.

[stormhawk]

Shadow's method works. Just be quick because even when they are asleep they can sense movement in the water. Slow movements with the net until it is in range, then scoop. Bottle trap probably the easiest way to remove an SAE.

[Shadow]

Thant is why I don't like SAE, they only useful when young. They no longer eat algae once they are big and catching them is a pain

[eastside]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I had tried to catch it in the night, but the SAE is quick to sense the net coming. As if it had went to school.

I will DIY a trap tomorrow. Using nets are quite impossible, as the tank is heavy planted in the mid and background. Too many hiding spaces.

[felix_fx2]

use coke bottle make hole and put bait in? crab trap

[deone]

My otos are also constantly snatching food from my shrimps, they dont really clear the algaes on the walls. Is this normal?

[felix_fx2]

do you mean trying to and scaring them off? mine does that but it don't last very long, stops when the algae wafers break to smaller bits.
Anyway, this is not really along the topic eh. btw, why is this in Invertebrates ??

[Shadow]

Normal, but otos only eat brown algae anyway.

[deone]

Normal, but otos only eat brown algae anyway.

Oh so the green hair algaes they dont eat? Will my shrimps eat up those algaes?

[felix_fx2]

Oh so the green hair algaes they dont eat? Will my shrimps eat up those algaes?

confirm oto don't eat hair algae or Cladophor.
reference from : http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_...ater_algae.php

if cannot, time to open a new thread for SOS :P

[davidw]

I had similar problems with you but mine was with 2 golden algae eater.

I DIY-ed a trap out of a 500ml mineral water bottle. Basically, cut 1/3 off the top of the bottle so you have something that is shaped like a funnel. Invert it and slip it into the remaining of the bottle with the cap off and your trap is complete!
You need to weigh them down though, so you could place a rock or something heavy inside the bottle. I attached mine to a fishing string too so that i can retrieve it easily.

I just drop mine into the tank without any bait. The GAE was always rummaging around and I found both of mine inside the trap the next morning.

Alternatively, you can try http://www.aquamoss.net/Articles/Catching-SAE.htm

this is a good idea, I will diy one too...thanks for sharing