The best aquarium fish nets are fine-mesh, soft nylon nets in a hoop size that matches your fish, on a handle long enough to reach the bottom of the tank without a wet sleeve. A net looks like the simplest tool in fishkeeping. A coarse or oversized one can snag fins and gills, though, and a wobbly handle can drop a fish on the floor.
Nets come in three main shapes: the classic flat hoop, the telescopic net that extends for deep tanks, and the 3D shrimp net whose pocket holds its shape underwater. The number that matters is mesh size. Gensou, an aquascaping shop and guide, puts fine mesh at under 1 mm, which keeps small fins from getting stuck, and coarse mesh at 5 mm or more, which suits only larger, fast fish.
This list covers six nets sold in Australia, priced from about $4 to $18. It leaves out pond nets, hatchery gear and fish traps. Shopping for the rest of your cleaning kit? Start with the best gravel vacuums and glass cleaners.
Start with a blue fine-mesh Marina Easy Catch in a hoop a little wider than your fish, since it had the finest mesh in the one independent test I found. Add a 3D net if you keep shrimp, because a flat net folds over them. Every pick here is researched, not tested in my own tank, and three of the six rest mainly on retailer specifications.
The Best Aquarium Fish Nets, Compared
| Net | Type | Best For | Key Spec |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marina Easy Catch Net Soft/Fine | Flat hoop, fine mesh | Everyday catching and delicate fish | 7.5 to 25 cm hoops, 20 to 30 cm handles |
| Seachem Fine Mesh Fish Net | Flat hoop, fine mesh | Larger tanks and a firmer handle | 8.5 to 30 cm hoops, 30 or 40 cm handles |
| Dymax Shrimp Net | Telescopic, round or square pocket | Shrimp and nano tanks | 24 to 62 cm stainless steel handle |
| ASA 3D Telescopic Shrimp Net | Telescopic 3D shrimp net | Budget shrimp catching | About 5 cm pocket, extends 18 to 45 cm |
| Aqua One Fish Net (Fine) | Flat hoop, fine mesh | A cheap spare or quarantine net | 10 to 25 cm hoops, plastic-coated handle |
| Bioscape Telescopic Fish Net | Telescopic rectangular net | Tall tanks and back corners | Pockets 7 x 7 to 15 x 12 cm, reach 21 to 59 cm |
How I Compared It
Every pick is labelled Researched, as promised on the How We Test page. The main independent evidence is FishLab’s test of more than 30 nets, which I read directly. Size, mesh and handle guidance comes from Gensou, and hygiene guidance comes from Aquarium Industries’ net sterilisation sheet. Specifications and prices come from Aquatic Supplies Australia, The Tech Den, Micro Aquatic Shop and Aquafy, checked on 29 September 2026. Reddit, FishLore and the Aquarium Co-Op forum block automated reading, so owner opinion came only from search summaries. ProductReview.com.au has no net reviews, and CHOICE does not test them.
1. Marina Easy Catch Net Soft/Fine – Best for everyday catching and delicate fish
Marina is the net FishLab picked as its best all-rounder after testing more than 30. The reviewer found its mesh the finest of the lot, fine enough for delicate fish, and Aquatic Supplies describes a tightly woven, anti-snag nylon with a plastic-coated handle. A 10 cm net is $3.95, cheap enough to keep one per tank.
There is one catch. FishLab says only the blue Marina is the fine one, and the black and green versions are coarser. The Australian listing is titled Soft/Fine, but I could not see which colour ships, so check before you buy. Handles stop at 30 cm, which is fine for a small tank and short for a deep one. Against the Seachem below, it is cheaper and finer, but it has the shorter reach.
Pros
- Finest mesh of the nets FishLab tested
- Six sizes from 7.5 to 25 cm
- Cheap at $3.95 to $7.95, so a net per tank is affordable
Cons
- Only the blue version is the fine mesh, per FishLab, and the listing does not say which colour ships
- Handles stop at 30 cm, short for tall tanks
2. Seachem Fine Mesh Fish Net – Best for larger tanks that need a firmer handle
Seachem is the net to reach for when the hoop needs to be big. It comes in six hoop sizes up to 30 cm, and Aquatic Supplies also stocks 40 cm long-handle versions at $18.95 for a 13 cm hoop and $26.95 for a 20 cm one. Seachem’s own range page lists the standard and fine meshes and both handle lengths. Search results describe a solid coated handle, and one buyer on a US retailer listing called it one of the best nets they had seen. That is a single voice, so treat it lightly.
The trade-off is the mesh. Aquatic Supplies says Seachem uses a loosely woven nylon so the net moves with little water resistance, which helps with larger fish but is a worse match for fry or tiny tetras. For those, the Marina above has better evidence. I could not find an independent test of Seachem’s nets.
Pros
- Six hoop sizes from 8.5 to 30 cm
- Long 40 cm handle versions for deeper tanks
Cons
- The Australian seller calls the mesh loosely woven
- Costs about double the Marina at similar hoop sizes
- No independent test or owner review found
3. Dymax Shrimp Net – Best for shrimp and nano tanks
Dymax is the pricey shrimp net, and the reason to pay is the handle. The Tech Den says the telescopic handle is fully stainless steel, unlike other brands that use chrome-covered copper, which it says is harmful to shrimp. That is a seller claim. FishLab’s test gives it some weight, though: its Fluval telescopic shrimp net had thin wire that bent easily and a steel handle that showed rust.
- Round, square or triangle pocket
- Handle extends from 24 to 62 cm
- Soft nylon with zigzag stitching and a pocket that does not crumple, per Aquatic Supplies
Nothing here is independent, and the price is more than double the ASA 3D net below. Several Australian shops stock it, so it is easy to get. Keeping cherry shrimp or similar? It pairs well with the species in the best shrimp for aquariums.
Pros
- Fully stainless steel handle, per The Tech Den
- Reaches from 24 to 62 cm
- Sold by several Australian shops
Cons
- Costs $17.95 for the round, more than double the ASA 3D net
- No owner reviews or independent test found
- The square was out of stock at The Tech Den on 29 September
4. ASA 3D Telescopic Shrimp Net – Best for budget shrimp catching
A flat net folds around a shrimp like a wet sock. The 3D net fixes that, and ASA’s listing says the pocket will not close up on shrimp or small fish. It is about 5 cm across and extends from 18 to 45 cm. Aquafy sells what looks like the same design at the same price, with a rim you can mould round or square, and Micro Aquatic Shop lists a 3D net from $7.95. I have treated these as one entry, since I could not tell them apart from the listings.
The catch is wobble. Gensou advises against telescopic handles for that reason, and the mesh in the listing photo is white, which Gensou calls the most visible colour to fish. Handle colour is also random. Compared with the Dymax above, you save about $9 and give up the stainless steel claim.
Pros
- Pocket holds its shape underwater, per the seller
- Extends from 18 to 45 cm
- $8.95 at two Australian shops
Cons
- Telescopic handles can wobble, per Gensou
- White mesh is the most visible to fish, per Gensou
- Handle colour is assorted at random
5. Aqua One Fish Net (Fine) – Best for a cheap spare or quarantine net
The Aqua One net is the one you keep for the second tank. The Tech Den calls the construction strong and sturdy with a plastic-coated handle and grip, and the fine version starts at $4.00 for a 10 cm hoop. At that price you can follow Aquarium Industries’ advice to keep a dedicated net for each tank, so disease does not travel on wet mesh.
Two cautions. The Tech Den lists fine and coarse versions side by side on near-identical pages, so read the title before you buy, since coarse mesh can catch fins. And on the brand: ProductReview.com.au rates Aqua One 1.8 out of 5 from 72 reviews, mostly about tanks, canister filters and pumps. The page I read had no net reviews, so the rating says little about this product, but I found no net evidence either way.
Pros
- Cheap at $4.00 to $8.95
- Five fine sizes from 10 to 25 cm
Cons
- Fine and coarse versions sit side by side, so the wrong one is easy to buy
- No independent test or owner review found
- The brand is rated 1.8 out of 5 on ProductReview.com.au, though not for nets
6. Bioscape Telescopic Fish Net – Best for tall tanks and back corners
Bioscape gives you reach for the money. Aquatic Supplies sells three sizes, from a 7 x 7 cm pocket that extends 21 to 40 cm up to a 15 x 12 cm pocket that extends 33 to 59 cm. For a tank about 40 cm deep, Gensou recommends a 40 to 50 cm handle, which the middle and large sizes cover when extended.
The listing says nothing about the handle metal or the mesh. Telescopic handles wobble, per Gensou, and FishLab’s telescopic Fluval bent and rusted, so check the joints and dry it after every use. Against the ASA above, it suits a bigger fish better, but I would not pick it for shrimp, which the 3D nets handle better.
Pros
- Reach of 21 to 59 cm across the range
- Three pocket sizes
- Cheap at $5.95 to $8.95
Cons
- The listing does not state the handle material or mesh
- Telescopic handles can wobble, per Gensou
- No owner reviews or independent test found
How to Choose
Start with mesh. Fine mesh is the safe default for anything under about 3 cm, and coarse mesh only makes sense for large, robust fish such as goldfish. Then size the hoop. FishLab suggests roughly 2.5 cm of clearance around the fish, and Gensou matches a medium 10 to 13 cm net to a 60 cm tank of 50 to 80 litres. That covers a standard 2ft tank in a Melbourne unit, while a 4ft (120 cm) tank in a Perth lounge room wants a much bigger hoop.
Match the handle to the water depth. Gensou suggests a 20 to 25 cm handle for 20 to 25 cm of depth, 30 to 35 cm for 30 to 36 cm, and 40 to 50 cm for 40 to 45 cm. Colour is disputed. Gensou prefers black because it is less visible, while FishLab tested a red mesh sold as invisible against blue nets on five groups of fish and could not tell the difference. I would not pay extra for colour.
Nets are not always the best tool. FishLab likes a small square colander for delicate or expensive fish, since nothing can tangle in it. Small tanks often need only a 7.5 cm net, as covered in the best small fish tanks and the best betta fish tanks.
Then look after it. Aquarium Industries says nets can carry white spot and bacterial, fungal and parasitic diseases from tank to tank, and lists three fixes: hot water at 75 to 90 C for at least 30 seconds (dangerous, so take care), potassium permanganate at 5 g per litre, or Net San at 1 mL per litre with the solution changed every few days. Its simplest advice is one colour-coded net per tank, and replacing any net that tears or rusts.
Net San contains benzalkonium chloride, so rinse a disinfected net thoroughly in dechlorinated water and never add it to a tank with fish in it. Some Australian water supplies use chloramine, so straight tap water is not a safe rinse either. Never tip fish, plants or net rinse water into a creek, stormwater drain or dam. Escaped aquarium fish are a real biosecurity problem here, and state fisheries agencies set the rules on release and collection. I did not check every state’s rules.
Aquarium Cleaning and Care Guides
Keep going with the best gravel vacuums and glass cleaners for water changes, the best shrimp for aquariums if a shrimp tank is next, and the best fish for small tanks for stocking a compact setup. The Cleaning hub collects every maintenance guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size fish net do I need for my aquarium?
Match the hoop to the fish first, then the tank. FishLab suggests about 2.5 cm of clearance around the fish, and Gensou pairs a 10 to 13 cm net with a 60 cm tank holding 50 to 80 litres. Nano tanks and shrimp suit 5 to 8 cm hoops, while big cichlids and goldfish need 25 cm or more.
Are fine or coarse mesh nets better for aquarium fish?
Fine mesh is the safer default. Gensou defines fine mesh as under 1 mm and coarse as 5 mm or more, and says coarse mesh is a poor match for fish under 3 cm because gills and fins can snag in the holes. Keep coarse nets for large, robust fish such as goldfish, and use fine mesh for everything else.
What is the best net for catching shrimp?
A 3D net whose pocket holds its shape, because a flat net folds over shrimp and can trap them. ASA sells a 3D telescopic square net for $8.95 and Dymax sells a stainless steel one from $14.95. Pick a small size, move slowly and net one shrimp at a time. Tip out the net gently over the water.
How do I clean and disinfect an aquarium net?
Aquarium Industries says to sterilise nets between every use, since they can carry white spot and bacterial, fungal and parasitic diseases. Hot water at 75 to 90 C for at least 30 seconds works, but is dangerous, so take care. Net San at 1 mL per litre is the other option. Never add it to a tank containing fish.
Do fish nets stress fish, and is there a gentler way to catch them?
Any chase stresses fish. FishLab could not tell any difference in catch difficulty between net colours, so slow, calm movement matters more than colour. The Aquarium Expert suggests catching fish at feeding time or in low light and holding them in a small clean container. FishLab also likes a small square colander for delicate fish.
For most Australian tanks, buy a blue fine-mesh Marina Easy Catch about 2.5 cm wider than your fish. Add the ASA 3D net if you keep shrimp, and step up to the Bioscape telescopic net only when your tank is deep enough that a 30 cm handle cannot reach the bottom.
