Snowflake eel missing

NewbieReefer11 · Jan 14, 2019

Hi everyone.
I bought a 5 or 6 inch long snowflake eel two days ago and haven't seen it since. I've tried to feed it some small pieces of prawn and squid to get it to come out but no hope. Is this normal and is there a way to coax him out?
I believe he is in the left rock structure.

Forgive the state of the tank I only recovered two months ago for really bad nitrates and the coral is just starting to grow back. The tank is also way overstocked W coral ATM because my new frag system is almost complete.

kichimark · Jan 14, 2019

Why would you say he is in the left rock structure? Are you feeding him with prongs? If not I would probably go that route instead of releasing it into the tank causing more nitrates to build and the food just going inside the caves and him eating it without you seeing him.

He is still new so he may be adjusting to everything going on. You have a top on the tank? When I first started in SW I had a snowflake and he would once in a blue moon rise up and see what life was like outside the tank haha.

NewbieReefer11 · Jan 14, 2019

kichimark said:
Why would you say he is in the left rock structure? Are you feeding him with prongs? If not I would probably go that route instead of releasing it into the tank causing more nitrates to build and the food just going inside the caves and him eating it without you seeing him.

He is still new so he may be adjusting to everything going on. You have a top on the tank? When I first started in SW I had a snowflake and he would once in a blue moon rise up and see what life was like outside the tank haha.

Hi the reason I believe he is in the left rock structure is because that is where he first went when I released him and there is no where near as many hiding places in the right side. I have been using tongs however one or two pieces fell off into to ks but we're eaten by cucumber.

Jacked Reefer · Jan 14, 2019

Do you have a lid? Snowflake eels love to jump

Fishnut · Jan 14, 2019

They are also known to somehow get into overflows. You may want to check it out and cover it up if it is open. When feeding try to squeeze the fresh “bait” at the surface and let the juices spread around the tank for a minute or two. You may find him sticking his head out of his new cave in the rocks trying to locate the food. If he doesn’t come out I would wait until he is hungry enough to come out before leaving uneaten food in the tank. New eels can easily go a week without eating. Good luck.

ccbobafett · Jan 15, 2019

When I first got mine he hid in a rock for about 4 days before sticking his head out. I would try to keep feeding him because eventually he will get hungry and come out but could take a week before he does.

shred5 · Jan 15, 2019

Fishnut said:
They are also known to somehow get into overflows. You may want to check it out and cover it up if it is open. When feeding try to squeeze the fresh “bait” at the surface and let the juices spread around the tank for a minute or two. You may find him sticking his head out of his new cave in the rocks trying to locate the food. If he doesn’t come out I would wait until he is hungry enough to come out before leaving uneaten food in the tank. New eels can easily go a week without eating. Good luck.

Kayden Hutchings said:
Do you have a lid? Snowflake eels love to jump

I agree with both these posts.

A lid is important, eels jump and especially when they are newly introduced especially at night.

Also look at night you may see him. A red light can help since they cant see red.

NewbieReefer11 · Jan 16, 2019

Fishnut said:
They are also known to somehow get into overflows. You may want to check it out and cover it up if it is open. When feeding try to squeeze the fresh “bait” at the surface and let the juices spread around the tank for a minute or two. You may find him sticking his head out of his new cave in the rocks trying to locate the food. If he doesn’t come out I would wait until he is hungry enough to come out before leaving uneaten food in the tank. New eels can easily go a week without eating. Good luck.

I will definitely check the overflow tomorrow and another issue I have encountered is my fairly large Tompson tang and small Niger triggerfish love chomping into a piece of prawn and swimming off with it is there any way to help minimise this?

Jacked Reefer · Jan 16, 2019

NewbieReefer11 said:
I will definitely check the overflow tomorrow and another issue I have encountered is my fairly large Tompson tang and small Niger triggerfish love chomping into a piece of prawn and swimming off with it is there any way to help minimise this?

It’s just their way of eating. You don’t have to worry about anything.

Blue_line_reefer · Feb 3, 2019

Did you ever find your eel? I have one and love mine. He or she is 10".

Mine are from day 1, I thaw a frozen fish (can't remember name of it) about 2" long in tank water, add a little reef roids and add a little lrs all in 1 bowl.

I feed my fish 1st and corals and when I am done I cut the thawed fish in half and feed my "snu snu" (wife named him/her.

Mine eats every day and at the least eats 1" to 1 1/2" of a thawed fish.

I also have a rimless tank and snu snu has never tried to jump out. I find that if snu snu is well fed, all he/she does is hangout in the caves (granted I have a lot of caves and is all accessible without having to go into the opening, but I can still see snu snu).

Even at night, snu snu will poke itself out half way and look around, but never venture fully out and swim. That's fine with me.