Snake eel treatment

[M. Victor]

Hey guys! I'm about to buy a Myrichthys ocellatus, and I would like to know what treatment can be carried out to make it safe for ich/oodinium. Are hyposalinity/cupramine safe?

I thank.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey guys! I'm about to buy a Myrichthys ocellatus, and I would like to know what treatment can be carried out to make it safe for ich/oodinium. Are hyposalinity/cupramine safe?

I thank.

Cupramine which is ionic copper out of the question and hypo no. General cure would be safe as would be Chloroquine Phosphate which must be applied precisely

 

[Slocke]

Hey guys! I'm about to buy a Myrichthys ocellatus, and I would like to know what treatment can be carried out to make it safe for ich/oodinium. Are hyposalinity/cupramine safe?

I thank.

The biggest issue with eels and copper is just that they often won’t eat. They have a very thick mucous membrane which makes them very resistant (not immune) to skin parasites like ich.

I have an article on snake eel care if you want?

 

[M. Victor]

I understood! Thank you both very much.
@Slocke, I do want the article. I thank

 

[Slocke]

Snake Eels: The Safe Moray Alternative?

Snake Eels: The Safe Moray Alternative? by @Slocke Myrichthys colubrinus - The Banded Snake Eel Snake eels are a more rarely seen but available eel in the aquarium hobby, but are they a viable option for someone looking for a more unusual eel...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Yeah, I'll defer to Slocke on care for these - with regards to treating them though, I know morays (different but similar to snake eels) at least tend to go off feed with both copper and hypo treatments; since hypo isn't effective against velvet and eels are highly resistant to ich, though, copper would probably by the treatment of choice if treatment is needed.

As mentioned, cupramine would be pretty harsh, so Copper Power or Coppersafe (chelated copper meds) are recommended instead.

The below is written with regards to morays, but it may be useful here:

my personal thoughts currently (subject to change upon receiving more information) would be to treat the eel for internal parasites with Prazipro and Metroplex (or General Cure), then run the eel in a 45-60 day observational QT to feed train it, fatten it up, and observe for signs of velvet (or other issues) - the main reason for the lengthy observational period being to ensure that any ich tomonts the eel brought it have died off and that the eel seems healthy before adding it to the display tank. If velvet pops up (hopefully in the QT, not the DT), then I'd probably try treating with copper and hope for the best though.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hey guys! I'm about to buy a Myrichthys ocellatus, and I would like to know what treatment can be carried out to make it safe for ich/oodinium. Are hyposalinity/cupramine safe?

I thank.

Sometimes, snake eels have a tough time adapting to captivity, and a quaratine tank, if not done just right, can add to that issue. knowing that the eel is feeding before you buy it is a key step. I would avoid Cupramine. Hypo won’t help with velvet. It will help with ich and flukes though. You could use coppersafe or chloroquine.