Catching the Buggers

Question
Hi again Joe,

My 80 gallon tank is finally ready and able for some Cichlids. I have my Fluval 405 and Emperor 400 running (currently I am also still running my old Penguin 330 until the other two filters "age" a bit). I am waiting on my UV Sterilizer and my Power Compact 24hr hood (has daylight, actinic, and lunar LED's built in) to be delivered. Probably a bit of overkill but hey why not. My tank has been cycling for 2 months and my plan is to add the following...(all male cichlids)


Sciaenochromis ahli - Electric Blue Ahli (1)
Pseudotropheus crabro - (BB Ornatus)Bumblebee (2)
Melanochromis johanni - Electric Blue Johanni (1)
Metriaclima estherae (Red) - Red Zebra (2)
Pseudotropheus socolofi - Powder Blue Socolofi(2)
Labidochromis caeruleus - Electric Yellow Lab (2)
Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" (Msuli) -Yellow Tail Acei (2)

Botia macracantha - Clown Loach (1)
Botia morleti - Skunk Loach (1)
Botia rostrata - Banded Loach (1)
Botia kubotai - Burmese Border Loach (1)
Baryancistrus Sp. - Gold Nugget Plecostomus (1)

In truth I've already added all the non-cichlids :) I limited the Ahli and Johanni to one each since they are said to be a tad more aggressive than the others. Hope thats all well put together.

After saying all that my question is probably stupid and it has nothing to do with Cichlids lol.

Prior to adding my Botia's and Pleco to the tank I had been using 2 Banded Lepo's to help the cycling process along. My problem now is I cant get the %*#@ things out!!

Obviously trying to catch fish in a tank full of Lava Rock is not ideal.. so I removed all but the bottom 3 rocks (they were placed before adding substrate for stability so I dont want to remove them) and drained my tank 50%. I then invited a friend over to go "fishing". We spent well over an hour trying to catch these two Lepos (currently about 4 inches). Apparently they dont want to leave.. more than once they jumped over a foot in the air to avoid the net and twice they were netted only to jump out before I could get my hand over the top. I almost caught one in my hand (they hated the net but didnt care about my hand lol) but it wiggled like crazy and I lost it. I then attempted to use a "fish-corral" and I promise you the lepo's were dashing around laughing at me.... sigh.

So my question is, apart from removing everything and draining the water to like an inch high then starting all over.. apart from that, how can I remove these Banded Lepos? Supposedly they can get a foot long and thats too big to co-exist with the cichlids.

Answer
Hi Anthony!
Your setup sounds awesome! I love the idea of that lighting system!
OK, the Lepos?
This isn't easy but I have had "some" luck with two different ways of catching fish.
One is an over-sized net. I mean something that you might take fishing at the lake with you. If it is big enough to take up most of the depth of your tank, then they have less of a chance for escape.
The other way is move some of the rocks around and set aside an area where you can actually put a small 2 gallon tank set on the bottom of your big tank.
Buy some food clips and put some peices of sliced cucumber or squash in the clips(whatever they like to eat)and set the food at the bottom of the 2 gallon tank.
Don't feed your fish for a while until the Lepos go and investigate the small tank. I have had lots of success doing it that way but it will take some patience and expertise on your part. Figuring out the best food they like and being able to keep it in the small tank. Trust me, it works. My fish love peas. Frozen peas will stay on the bottom and you don't need food clips.
let me know what happens...Good Luck!