Moray eel acting strange.

[SALTY 75]

I remember responding to you months ago with concerns over this eel. I also remember you having other tank issues, like temp. I don't remember getting an answer to his exposure to copper, either by you or an lfs that runs copper in their system. A twisting body has also been associated with a nutrient defiency, what is his diet, what are you feeding and how often?

the temp issue has been fixed with a new heater. As far as i know he hasnt had any contact with copper and i bought him from kp Aquatics so i am not sure if they run copper. i feed him alot of things like scallops, shrimp, frozen cubes of a pre made carnivore diet, and some small sardine fish for saltwater carnivores i feed him 3 times a week. and he has never refused food or even been shy about it.

 

[SALTY 75]

Well... as I understand eels in general, they tend to be natural predators of life on the ocean bottom. Things such as crabs are fair game.

I would suggest researching what clean up crew members are compatible with Moray eels.

yeah i thought it would be ok. i guess i thought that fang tooth eel stuck more closely to a fish heavy diet and pebble tooth morays stuck to an invert heavy diet which made me think the crabs would be ok with him. I wish the crabs would have lived but i am ok with them being an enriching food source as long as they dont hurt the eel when he is digesting them.

 

[lion king]

His diet sounds good other than you may be feeding too often. With fish like eels that practice a gourge/fast eating cycle in the wild, sometimes feeding too often can cause problems. I've been guilty of feeding my eels too often as well, because it's so much fun to feed them, but once a week, at most, is probably more like it.

 

[SALTY 75]

His diet sounds good other than you may be feeding too often. With fish like eels that practice a gourge/fast eating cycle in the wild, sometimes feeding too often can cause problems. I've been guilty of feeding my eels too often as well, because it's so much fun to feed them, but once a week, at most, is probably more like it.

oh wow ok i didnt know that, i had heard that babies need to eat more. As far as the crabs go ,will he be okay digesting the crabs shells? I assume he wouldnt eat something that was too hard to eat but maybe eels are not that smart lol.

 

[Daddy-o]

We feed our 4 foot Tess. every 3rd day.

 

[SALTY 75]

And is it normal for full eels to act kinda weird in their caves? I also think he could be acting this way due to stress because i have noticed his cave is the only place he hangs out anymore because he is too large to fit in any of his other usual hide outs. do you think this could be a factor? i plan on adding some pvc pipe for him but i am worried about it adding something bad to the water.

 

[lion king]

oh wow ok i didnt know that, i had heard that babies need to eat more. As far as the crabs go ,will he be okay digesting the crabs shells? I assume he wouldnt eat something that was too hard to eat but maybe eels are not that smart lol.

Juvis may be served better to eat more often but it i something to be aware of. Overfeeding, or feeding too often is the 2nd cause of death in eels. 2nd to carpet surfing. He will be able to digest crabs, whether it be crab shells or bones of a fish, that's what these guys eat.

 

[SALTY 75]

Juvis may be served better to eat more often but it i something to be aware of. Overfeeding, or feeding too often is the 2nd cause of death in eels. 2nd to carpet surfing. He will be able to digest crabs, whether it be crab shells or bones of a fish, that's what these guys eat.

ok good to know i will cut back on feeding for sure. Thank you for your help with this i will keep you posted on how he is doing in the next week or so.

 

[Daddy-o]

We moved our rockwork and added a 4 inch diameter ABS pipe across the back and put the rocks back on top of it. He does look kinda twisted when he forces a new path through the rocks and is a bit sideways to accomodate himself.

 

[lefkonj]

I would be careful putting in crabs like that in the future. Hermits fine because it wouldn't eat the shell but might try and eat the crab itself, which would be fine. The lump is most likely digestion of the crab or other things you have fed it.

 

[Webslinger]

mine is always lumpy after he eats.

 

[SALTY 75]

We moved our rockwork and added a 4 inch diameter ABS pipe across the back and put the rocks back on top of it. He does look kinda twisted when he forces a new path through the rocks and is a bit sideways to accomodate himself.

is abs the best type of pvc to use? Also what size do you think would be best for a full grow eel?

 

[SALTY 75]

Juvis may be served better to eat more often but it i something to be aware of. Overfeeding, or feeding too often is the 2nd cause of death in eels. 2nd to carpet surfing. He will be able to digest crabs, whether it be crab shells or bones of a fish, that's what these guys eat.

Update: I saw him poop today and it was big but something that worries me is that is was also a white poop. does this mean he has intestinal parasites? it was not a stringy white poop it was kinda the shape of a pencil eraser and white.

 

[Webslinger]

sorry I have never seen my eel poop.

 

[SALTY 75]

sorry I have never seen my eel poop.

i had not either until today. But i have heard white poop is a bad sign :/

 

[Daddy-o]

is abs the best type of pvc to use? Also what size do you think would be best for a full grow eel?

We used 4 inch diameter with a 45 degree fitting on each end

 

[SALTY 75]

Ok just an update i have gone to feeding my eel like this. Monday morning i feed him and then thursday night i feed again and i wont feed until monday morning again, does this seem like a better schedule? Also i just caught the eel sideways in his cave laying with his head on the ground i opened the top of the tank and he perked right up but i think he might be stressed.

 

[lefkonj]

Feeding him twice a week should be fine. Don't worry about it relaxing in its cave, that is what it should do. I would be concerned if he didn't perk up once it seemed like you were about to feed.

 

[SALTY 75]

Feeding him twice a week should be fine. Don't worry about it relaxing in its cave, that is what it should do. I would be concerned if he didn't perk up once it seemed like you were about to feed.

Ok thanks, that makes sense i guess if he acts normal when i stimulate him then maybe he is sleeping? i dont know if the sleep lol.

 

[Webslinger]

Feed every 5 days. Unless you want him growing fast