I'm fully re-scaping my tank and temporarily put my fish into a big laundry tub and covered it in a net so they don't jump out. I heard some splashing and noticed my boy was stuck in the net by his gill spikes. I couldn't simply slide the net off him so cue me holding him in one hand and caaaarefully cutting the net around his spikes with scissors until I was able to get it all off. He stayed surprisingly still.
Poor guy is now recovering in a net free 20 litre tank.
Posted by sarahmagoo
5 Comments
Is yours not able to just wriggle himself free on his own?I’ve been catching my bristlenose with a net for over a year. Ig I should stop and use a cup once he gets bigger/older.
Glad your fish is ok!
Not helpful in your situation because your fish kinda self netted but when catching and moving plecos, I often use resealable plastic tubs or my bare hands. As you discovered, when grabbed plecos tend to freeze, often with all their various spiky bits fully extended. Grasping them by the top of the head and bottom of the thoracic girdle using thumb and forefinger is one of the best ways to handle these guys. It’s why you see so many pics with someone holding a pleco by its head.
The ol net busters, even the little BN lol. I use mason jars or plastic tubs to catch plecos for this reason, learned the hard way. Glad he’s okay.
When I was collecting my 200 I had to pull some albino plec off the net and damage his Gill spikes because he decided to freak out amd get himself stuck as I was about too release him
He’s such a lil cutie 🥹 his lil face