Lion Fish Keeper like the ZooKeeper Lionfish Containment Unit

Lion Fish Keeper like the ZooKeeper Lionfish Containment Unit

I needed a lion fish containment device for a tournament and I didn't want to spend the $115 to $150 to purchase one (especially since I wouldn't use it very often). This model uses probably less than $15 in filament, a $4 piece of plexiglass and some zip ties and screws.

Printing:

Print the parts as you see fit. Use PETG or ASA. No supports required. I used a pretty sparse infill and more walls. The most important print is the bottom. Print with no top and bottom layers, and an infill that will allow water through, but not the spines of the lionfish. I included a 3MF file of how I did it.

Extra Parts Reqired:

Small zip ties for assembly (you could try to use rivets or screws if you wanted)

A 6-7 inch funnel (150-175mm)

2x M6x20 screws (stainless if you can as this will be in salt water)

2x M6 nuts

Assembly:

Once all the parts are printed, make sure that the lid can screw on to the top piece and massage if necessary with sand paper until it does.

Gently heat the plexiglass with a heat gun or hair dryer and roll it up on itself about the same diameter as the top and bottom. It doesn't have to fully stay that way, but the closer it is, the easier assembly is.

Slot the plexiglass into the groove in the top and bottom pieces. It will overlap, and needs to for strength.

The best option here is to use a soldering iron to poke the holes through the plexiglass so it doesn't crack, but if you're careful, you can use a drill bit. Using zip ties (or rivets or screws) attach the plexiglass to the top and bottom. It was designed with the holes in pairs to use zip ties, but if you are careful you can use stainless screws with nuts or rivets (with a washer on the inside) to attach the pieces.

Place the handle somewhere on the overlap of the plexiglass and mark where the holes will go. Use the soldering iron or a drill to make the holes.

Insert the two M6 nuts into the handle, and the M6 screws through the handle mount. Attach the handle mount on the inside to the handle on the outside.

Flip the funnel upside down and place the lid over top of it. Use a punch to mark where the holes for attaching it are on the funnel.

Drill the mounting holes in the funnel as well as 6-8 other holes around the funnel about halfway up. Cut the thin part of the funnel off and use a razor blade to cut slits from the 6-8 holes down to the small part of the funnel (see picture). This allows you to stick the lion fish in and pull the spear back out.

Use zip ties or other preferred method to attach the cut funnel to the lid. 

Screw the lid on to the top and your lion fish keeper is complete! Go out there and Get Em!