Need a quick answer! moving Oscar out of tank to new home.

[DUCKLE-BUM]

Hi guys,

Could do with a swift answer as have very little time left on line.
I am moving my O tomorrow morning and have read before the best way to get him out of the tank without hurting him, but can't remember!

Can any one advise as I really don't want to hurt my aquatic chum!

Many thanks
Ducklebum

[kc5gvn]

The easiest way that I have found to move large fish is to use a black trash can liner. TURN OFF the aquarium lights. Remove all decorations from the tank. Submerge the liner in the tank until it is full of water. Spread the opening completely and gently chase the fish with your hand into the bag. Once he is in the bag close the opening. Leave just a small hole in the opening so that you can drain the water in the bag down to a level where you can lift it out. You can now place the bag into a clean trash can and add as much water as you need to transport him. Be sure to turn off the aquarium lights to keep the fish from stressing while you do this.

[t_chelle16]

I tried that once and they wouldn't go anywhere near the bag.

My dad perfers the towel method. Basically, you remove the decorations and drain out at least 1/2 of the water. Lay a clean, detergent free, towel on the bottom of the tank but hold onto the corners. When the fish swims over, pull up the towel and you have a fish in a sling. My biggest problem with that method is one oscar saw me do it to the other and he wouldn't go anywhere near the towel.

Personally, I just prefer a really large, soft fishing net, but I guess the possibility of injury is a little higher.

-Chelle

[Trickster]

When trying to get him in the bag try trapping him in a cornor so he has no where to swim but into the bag

[t_chelle16]

Also, if you use the bag method, be aware that oscars have very sharp fins that can rip holes in plastic bags. Even my 5" con cut a hole in the bag when I got him from the LFS.

-Chelle

[kc5gvn]

The sling method didn't work for me. I spent about 5 minutes chasing an 18 inch Arrawana around the room when he flipped out of the sling. If I hadn't been so worried about the Arrawana a video would have been hilarious.

[t_chelle16]

LOL. I can imagine. I was aspirating the fluid from an adf that had dropsy and she started hopping across the desk (it's funny seeing them hop like "normal" frogs when you generally only see them swim). I had a heck of a time catching her w/o squishing her.

-Chelle

[ceveretts]

I had an african dwarf frog escape once too! I was moving and at the new place I was putting the fish back in the tank, and "Toader" jumped out of the bag as I opened it, and made a run for it! They sure can hop fast! They are sooo slippery and hard to catch! but I managed. Thank goodness! Sorry to get off topic a little , but it was too funny!