GHsaltie
Valuable Member
I'm not meaning to make a duplicate thread, I'm just trying to get the right eyes to see it and I don't know how to tag members.
Emergency eel help
- Thread starter GHsaltie
- Start date
- Tagged users None
revhtree
Owner Administrator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Reef Squad
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
RGB
Photo of the Month
Article Contributor
R2R TV Featured
Hospitality Award
Article Administrator
Black Friday Sponsor
Industry Professional
My Tank Thread
My Aquarium Showcase
- Joined
- May 8, 2006
- Messages
- 49,234
- Reaction score
- 98,071
revhtree
Owner Administrator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Reef Squad
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
RGB
Photo of the Month
Article Contributor
R2R TV Featured
Hospitality Award
Article Administrator
Black Friday Sponsor
Industry Professional
My Tank Thread
My Aquarium Showcase
- Joined
- May 8, 2006
- Messages
- 49,234
- Reaction score
- 98,071
Honestly, I don't think there's much you can do (at the moment) except keep him isolated in a large acclimation box. A critter carrier (pic below) would be great to put him in, so he doesn't get picked on or blown around in his weakened state. You can put this right inside the aquarium.
If he doesn't look too traumatized, you can try a Methylene Blue bath on him. Both Kordon & Fritz sell products containing MB. @Duke4Life [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG] for more advice.
Malachite Green/Methylene Blue: Treats ammonia burn, cuts, injuries.
How To Treat - Comes in both liquid and powder form, sometimes mixed in with another medication(s). So, follow the directions on the label. Best used as a 30 minute bath solution, but you also can treat with it in a quarantine tank. Aerate heavily. If you are using it in a bath solution, then it is also a good idea to treat the fish with nitrofurazone (active ingredient found in Furan-2 and Nitrofuracin Green Powder) once he is returned to the quarantine tank. Nitrofurazone is great for treating open wounds or sores.
Pros - Highly effective.
Cons/Side Effects - Depletes oxygen from the water. Malachite Green is considered “harsher” on fish than Methylene Blue.
Malachite Green/Methylene Blue: Treats ammonia burn, cuts, injuries.
How To Treat - Comes in both liquid and powder form, sometimes mixed in with another medication(s). So, follow the directions on the label. Best used as a 30 minute bath solution, but you also can treat with it in a quarantine tank. Aerate heavily. If you are using it in a bath solution, then it is also a good idea to treat the fish with nitrofurazone (active ingredient found in Furan-2 and Nitrofuracin Green Powder) once he is returned to the quarantine tank. Nitrofurazone is great for treating open wounds or sores.
Pros - Highly effective.
Cons/Side Effects - Depletes oxygen from the water. Malachite Green is considered “harsher” on fish than Methylene Blue.
Duke4Life
Just a crazy eel guy, LMAS
As mentioned I'd isolate and use what Humblefish recommended. Depending on severity it may heel. Eels are fairly hardy, mine survived after going in a vent and being covered in who knows what. If you can get some clams to feed I would as they are highly nutritious.
OP
OP
GHsaltie
Valuable Member
I'm on my lunch break right now and I just checked on him, he's still the same. I can't tell if he has any external trauma as he wont come out of the decor, I haven't tried to feed him yet but I probably will before I leave. The dilemma I'm facing right now is that I can't use any meds on him since he's in the store. I'm willing to treat him myself but I don't know eel behavior well so I don't know if it's severe enough to warrant me taking him home. I may just have to keep a close eye on him over the next couple days and see if he can recover on his own.
OP
OP
GHsaltie
Valuable Member
I'm hoping that I was just overreacting and he's not as injured as I thought. All I know is that I can still feel the sensation of him under my shoe and that was the worst thing ever. It makes me feel sick all over again just thinking about it.
Duke4Life
Just a crazy eel guy, LMAS
The hiding doesn't concern me, it would be more the unseen damage done. A few days wouldn't hurt but I'd still be preparing to treat just in case since you know there's a possibility of needing 2. Also don't be surprised if it rejects food for a few days.
OP
OP
GHsaltie
Valuable Member
Thank you. So you think that it's a good chance he will be alright? I don't understand how I could step directly on him and yet I don't see any damage. At least not outward damage.
Duke4Life
Just a crazy eel guy, LMAS
Yes, it all depends internally/mouth area at this point. Morays in general are hardy, just think of what they go through in the wild.
Lionfish Lair
Renee
As far as being able to get over the stress, ya, they can do it. However, being hardy isn't going to help him if there's irreversible internal damage. We have no way of telling at this point, if such damage has been done. I would keep him protected and as comfy as you can and leave him be for now.
Duke4Life
Just a crazy eel guy, LMAS
Exactly. Plus two sets of jaws/teeth, that second set plays a big role.
OP
OP
GHsaltie
Valuable Member
I checked on him again before I left work, his breathing seemed to be a bit more relaxed. I also offered him a very small piece of krill and he did eventually take it after multiple attempts to try and bite it. I didn't offer him a second piece because he seemed to be painful trying to eat the first, and it took him a little bit before he actually swallowed it. He's in a tank by himself right now aside from a juvenile bluejaw trigger and a rather annoying spotted hawkfish, so it's decently quiet in his tank. The trigger is super calm and gentle so I'm not worried about him but I may move the hawkfish tomorrow, he's kind of a jerk and steals all the food. On a brighter note I'm starting to discover through this whole fiasco that I'm rather intrigued by the predatory animals. I think I might want to make a predator tank at some point down the road. Maybe if I'm able to upgrade my reef tank in a year or two then I can convert my 40 into a small pred tank. Hmmm, I'll have to do some research and see what is suitable for a 40g.....
Oh and thank you everyone for your help and advice, I'll give an update over the next couple days as to his condition.
Oh and thank you everyone for your help and advice, I'll give an update over the next couple days as to his condition.
Last edited:
FeliciaLynn
Active Member
Sorry for not responding sooner. It sounds like you're doing all you can. Unfortunately, if there's physical crushing damage, there's no medicine for that, so I wouldn't stress the eel out more by taking him home or trying to treat with anything. I'd just leave him in his tank with lots of hiding places. Is he alone? Its best not to have any other fish or eels or inverts that could pick on him or stress him while he's injured. I'd just keep offering him food on his normal schedule, because its a good sign if he will eat. Just keep him comfortable and keep his water quality good and then its just a waiting game. I'm sure you feel bad, but it was an accident and unfortunately there's not much you can do. Hopefully he pulls through for you.
OP
OP
GHsaltie
Valuable Member
Thank you @FeliciaLynn, he is by himself now, the two fish that were with him have been removed and fortunately he seems to have come out of the incident relatively unharmed as far as I'm aware. I have been off from work the past two days but Saturday I offered him a couple small pieces of food and he took them with much gusto. Not quite the same amount of enthusiasm he normally has for eating but it was enough to make me feel much better about the situation. He did also come out of his hiding spot and I couldn't see any outward trauma, granted I know that doesn't say anything about inside but he seems to be doing fine. I'm going to check on him again first thing in the morning and, unless he took a drastic turn for the worse, I expect he will be closer to his normal eely self and happy to see me.
Thank you again everyone for the advice and support!
Thank you again everyone for the advice and support!
FeliciaLynn
Active Member
Glad to hear he seems to be doing well! Hopefully he continues to recover and is just fine 
