What is "strange behavior" for an eel?

kkgaskin90 · Jul 25, 2014

We have a small Snowflake Eel. It's been a model citizen and has been fed every 2-3 days since we had him. After his last feeding (5-6 days ago now) he has been acting strange, if that's possible. He's much more reclusive, doesn't come out when I feed the fish, and goes between breathing fast and apparently not moving much at all. He's not interested in food, even if I put it directly in front of his face. I noticed early early this morning he was swimming around the tank pretty rapidly so thought he might actually eat today, but still no luck. Color looks fine, all fish and inverts look and are acting completely normal... what gives? Any ideas?

kkgaskin90 · Jul 25, 2014

Now he's swimming around but looks like he is dying. Not doing well at staying upright nor does it look like he has a lot of control.

tyler1503 · Jul 25, 2014

Eels can become reclusive for no obvious reason. They can be out and about for months, then have dormant periods for a few days/weeks, then go back to their "normal" selves.
How long has she been in the tank?
When you say it doesn't look like she's has a lot of control, do you mean her head is shaking from side to side almost violently for a few seconds at a time? Or is her entire body acting strange?
Also check the body for cuts and scrapes. Eels are pretty tough and can pull through a lot more than we'd expect but if a cut becomes infected it can be trouble.

Daniel@R2R · Jul 26, 2014

BUMP! For a good question.

reif119 · Jul 26, 2014

Just make sure all your parameters are ok. I have a moray and he was gulping at the surface and stuff and I changed the water afew times and he's fine now. Good luck. Also it could be if you have new livestock or have changed anything about the lights (morays are nocturnal)

kkgaskin90 · Jul 28, 2014

Hard to describe, but I've had the eel for several months and it's just not right. I should say wasn't... The eel was dead the following morning. After talking to several people we think it got backed up. No injuries, color never faded, it was all pretty quick and strange. Water parameters are perfect and there's no new additions or lighting changes. And by lost control, I mean he was like a drunk...toppling over, darting around wildly, then still again. Very strange.
This is the first "event" we've had since running fallow and treating occupants for Ich and internal parasites. It's unfortunate :/

reif119 · Jul 29, 2014

Ah well that's fishkeeping for ya :/ I hope your not turned off eels there actually like the coolest pet

kkgaskin90 · Jul 29, 2014

Yeah, they are neat, but I feel my 75g is just too small for an adult

tyler1503 · Jul 29, 2014

Sorry to hear that. Too bad you couldn't save him.

kkgaskin90 said:
Yeah, they are neat, but I feel my 75g is just too small for an adult

One should be ok in a 75. Most sources recommend at least a 55

They don't need a lot of swimming space, just enough to feel safe in more than one place in the tank.

Tx Medic · Jul 29, 2014

If your eel was constipated then it definitely would be acting strange just before it died as it would be septic and basically have a massive internal infection.

kkgaskin90 · Jul 29, 2014

Well that's terribly sad

tyler1503 · Jul 30, 2014

Come to think of it, my zebra acted that same way before he died. He climbed into a pump while the power went out and when it came back on he got jammed in the impeller. It was like he was having a fit and thrashing around uncontrollably. Mine was external damage as opposed to yours being constipated. It's interesting that two completely different causes of death caused the same behaviour.

Eienna · Jul 31, 2014

Any chance you used copper recently?

kkgaskin90 · Jul 31, 2014

Not recently-it's been months and I used Cupramine. I wrote the company who suggested a lower concentration for longer period of time so that it wouldn't be so hard on the eel, and we went with their suggested protocol. I can't remember the exact numbers. Like I said though, it's been months and it was eating fine and certainly not skinny.

Eienna · Jul 31, 2014

Unfortunately, it may have leached out of the rocks and finally reached a toxic level (or time of exposure) for the eel. Never use copper in the display.