Blunt and to the point: How do you catch a fish that doesn't want to be caught?
I'm after a "wild type" common in our pond. It's about 5 to 7 inches, dark brown, and is starting to resemble a catfish more than a goldfish. After I move, this one will be residing in a cushy 20 gallon while my two fancies will be split between two 10 gallons (I know, I know, they've been together this whole time in a 10 gallon and they're best buds, but this is the best route for them)
I have a spare 10 gallon that isn't filled right now (I have 3, two are occupied, one by the aforementioned goldies, and the other by guppies) so I can put him in there and get him acclimated to fresh water that isn't from a canal, and lower the water halfway for The Move
OR
I can hope that he lives another 2 months in the pond, survive a 2 hour trip in a plastic baggie of his pond water, then get him into a 20 gallon of fresh water and hope he survives.
Unless someone has any other ideas?
Full Version: How Do You Do It?
TetraLover, are you catching him from your own pond, or a natural pond/lake?
I have to tell you, a pond fish that has never seen a tank in his life, will be very stressed in a glass tank, no matter how "cushy" it is. Remember, he is used to so much gallonage and water, a 20 gl tank will be major stress to him. Not to mention of adding even more stress if he suddenly can see everything and anything, compared to his pond where all he saw was dark water. I would seriously think this over - I have seen many pond fish do very poorly in a tank.
You hear it often that fish that live in ponds are so much bigger, healthier and have a better immune system. Thats why we put our tank fish out into the pond to give them that advantage. Be prepared for some health issues and stress if you decide to take him out of the pond.
I have to tell you, a pond fish that has never seen a tank in his life, will be very stressed in a glass tank, no matter how "cushy" it is. Remember, he is used to so much gallonage and water, a 20 gl tank will be major stress to him. Not to mention of adding even more stress if he suddenly can see everything and anything, compared to his pond where all he saw was dark water. I would seriously think this over - I have seen many pond fish do very poorly in a tank.
You hear it often that fish that live in ponds are so much bigger, healthier and have a better immune system. Thats why we put our tank fish out into the pond to give them that advantage. Be prepared for some health issues and stress if you decide to take him out of the pond.
you can use a syrofoam cooler to take your fish to the new house 
or maybe you can wrap the 20 gallon tank your going to put your pond fish in with some dark material to not stress your fish as much even though the tank will be way smaller than what he/she is used to
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