Telescopic Fish Net
A handle that reaches the far corner.
Fine soft mesh matters more than the size. Coarse netting catches fin rays, and the long fins of a betta or a fancy guppy tear before you have lifted them clear of the aquarium.
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- Handle extends to reach a deep tank
- Fine mesh that will not catch fins
- Four head sizes from 4 to 6 inches
- Rustproof coated frame
- Hangs by the loop when not in use
Size: 4 inch (fry and small fish)
Why you'll love it
Made for happy, healthy pets
Reach beats strength every time
Chasing a fish round a tank stresses it far more than the catch itself. A handle long enough to corner them cuts the whole business to a few seconds.
Fine mesh protects long fins
A coarse net snags the trailing fins on a betta or a fancy goldfish, and torn fins are how fin rot gets started. The weave here is tight enough to lift fry without catching.
Two nets are better than one
Experienced keepers herd with a large net and catch with a small one. At this price it is worth buying both sizes rather than chasing round with a single net.
Good fit if
- Deep tanks where the back corner is out of comfortable reach
- Long-finned fish, which need the softest mesh available
- Moving fish to a quarantine or breeding tank
- Scooping debris and uneaten food off the surface
Look elsewhere if
- You can catch fish comfortably with what you already have
- You need something rigid for heavy fish
- You want a single net for wildly different fish sizes
Mesh before size
The specification that matters is how fine and how soft the netting is. Coarse mesh snags fin rays, and the long trailing fins of bettas, fancy guppies and veiltail goldfish tear on it readily. A torn fin is an entry point for infection, so the net can cause the problem you were moving the fish to avoid.
Fine soft nylon avoids that. It also holds smaller fish and fry that would swim straight through a coarser weave, which is the other reason to have one. A rustproof coated frame matters because a corroding frame stains and eventually roughens, and a rough frame edge does the same damage as coarse mesh.
Catching fish with least stress
Chasing a fish around a tank is far more stressful than whatever you were moving it for, and a pursued fish will injure itself against hardscape. The technique that works is to hold the net still in one place and guide the fish into it with your other hand or a second net, rather than swiping.
Keep time out of water to a few seconds, and where you can, catch the fish in a container of water instead so it never leaves the water at all. That is the gentlest method for anything delicate, and a net is then used to guide rather than to lift.
Choosing a head size
The head should be comfortably wider than the fish it is catching. A net that a fish barely fits into requires precision you will not have with a moving target, and a net far too large is unwieldy in a planted tank and knocks hardscape over.
Four inches suits fry and small schooling fish, five is the sensible general-purpose size, and six suits anything larger. If you keep a mixed community it is worth having two rather than compromising on one, since they cost very little.
In the box
Everything you need
- Telescopic fish net
How it works
Simple, from basket to doorstep
- 1
Browse
Shop by pet or category to find exactly what your cat or dog needs, no wading through thousands of listings.
- 2
Order
Check out securely with card, PayPal or one-tap Apple Pay & Google Pay. Free delivery over £45.
- 3
Delivered
Fast, tracked dispatch straight to your door, and a happier pet before you know it.
The details
Specifications
- Head sizes
- 4, 5 or 6 inch
- Handle
- Telescopic
- Mesh
- Fine soft nylon
- Colours
- Green, or blue in 5 inch
- Weight
- About 45 g
Size guide
| Head | Suits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 inch | Fry, neons, small rasboras | Fine enough to hold very small fish |
| 5 inch | General community fish | The sensible single-net choice |
| 6 inch | Goldfish, larger cichlids | Unwieldy in a heavily planted tank |
The head should be comfortably wider than the fish. A net a fish only just fits into needs precision you will not have with a moving target, and one far too large knocks hardscape over.
Rinsing and storage
Rinse it in clean water after every use and hang it to dry by the loop rather than folding it into a drawer. A net stored damp goes stale, and a stiff net is a harsher net, which is exactly what you were avoiding by buying fine mesh.
Check the mesh for holes and the frame for rough spots before each use. A small hole is where a fry escapes and a rough frame is where a fin tears. Nets are cheap enough that replacing one at the first sign of damage is the right call.
Good questions
Before you buy
Match it to the fish, not the tank. Four inch suits tetras, guppies and fry; six inch suits goldfish and larger community fish. If you keep both, buy both.
The mesh is fine enough not to snag, but the safest way to move a betta is to guide it into a cup rather than lift it out in a net at all.
Enough to work a standard home tank without wetting your sleeve. It is a light tool for catching, not for scrubbing, so do not lever gravel with it.
Four inch for fry and small schooling fish, five for general use, six for larger fish. The head should be comfortably wider than the fish, since precision is difficult with a moving target.
Fine soft mesh is the safest option, and this is that. For a betta specifically, catching it in a cup of water is gentler still, using the net only to guide it.
Enough to reach the back of a standard deep tank without putting your arm in. Extend it before you start rather than while a fish is already in the net.
Last reviewed 30 August 2026