What to do for a constipated eel??

[motortrendz]

So I have a snowflake eel, it's been in my system for about 8 months. has been doing great, eats every 2-3 days, but for the last week he hasn't eaten at all. today was the first day I saw the whole length of its body and was a large mass about 2-3 down his body length. He acts completely normal, I am thinking hes a little backed up... any ideas what i can do to help it. Or you think itll pass in time.

His normal diet is frozen thawed krill, chunks of LRS chunky and enriched mysis. All on a rotating schedule.
I've never fed him silversides as I've always worried hed learn that fish are food not friends lol.

 

[Dragon52]

Never heard about this.
Are you missing anything from the tank that he might have eaten.

 

[fishguy242]

hi ex lax

 

[motortrendz]

Never heard about this.
Are you missing anything from the tank that he might have eaten.

Nope. my tail spot blenny is basically the only thing he could eat, and hes doing just fine. That was the first thing I thought of.

 

[fishguy242]

just kidding,maybe try a strip of squid

 

[Dragon52]

Nope. my tail spot blenny is basically the only thing he could eat, and hes doing just fine. That was the first thing I thought of.

Maybe the others here can help.
#reefsquad

 

[Charles4400]

My emperor angel was constipated and adding epson salt directly to tank worked. Add 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons. Sprinkle a little bit on his food if you can as well. Use the 100% usp one with no extra fragrance or other additives.

He was lethargic looking and seemed a little off balance when in his cave. After the epson salt (a day or so) he started pooping again, then eating and swimming around like normal. No danger of overdose at that amount.

Heres a great writeup by Humblefish, covers fish constipation at #6.

Internal Issues

Internal Issues For simplicity’s sake, there are 6 basic problems a marine fish may experience on the inside: 1. Intestinal worms Symptoms: White stringy feces, pinched stomach, loss of color, fish eats voraciously but still seems to be losing weight. Treatment of choice: Praziquantel...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Big G]

You can dose the display tank with epsom salts. Plain USP unscented at 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of tank water. Can re dose once.

 

[motortrendz]

Awesome. Thanks. I'll give that a shot.

 

[fishguy242]

a hair slow on the trigger there big g ,happens to me all the time lol

 

[motortrendz]

Just ordered it from amazon. Will have it on monday. So hopfully it helps. No concern with any coral?

 

[SashimiTurtle]

I'd like to see a picture if possible. How large is the eel? Could it have possibly eaten a snail or hermit? Snowflakes are pebble toothed moray and crabs and other crustaceans are regularly on the menu. Hunger strikes are also common with eels, particularly larger full grown ones. The younger eels tend to have a higher metabolism, but the older eels tend to go days or even weeks with no interest in food. The lump in the eel has me concerned tho, that this isnt just a hunger strike.

 

[fishguy242]

+1 on the pic

 

[Charles4400]

I should clarify abouy the dosing. Don't just dump the epson salt into the dt, but mix it in a container of tank water (or rodi water) first to dissolve it then dump in.

When sprinkling it in on food direct is fine but just a sprinkle.

Its good to have on hand in case you ever need to medicate fish for internal worms as it will help them poop out the dead worms.

Epson salt is just magnesium sulfate so at these amounts it is very safe and no negative effect on corals.

You can get it at any drugstore or mayuh ne grocery store, just make sure its the 100% usp one so no additives and ingredients should just be magnesium sulfate.

Of course this is if it really is constipation, I am no eel expert so maybe post some pics and let the eel peeps take a look.

 

[motortrendz]

I'd like to see a picture if possible. How large is the eel? Could it have possibly eaten a snail or hermit? Snowflakes are pebble toothed moray and crabs and other crustaceans are regularly on the menu. Hunger strikes are also common with eels, particularly larger full grown ones. The younger eels tend to have a higher metabolism, but the older eels tend to go days or even weeks with no interest in food. The lump in the eel has me concerned tho, that this isnt just a hunger strike.

Hes definitely a juvenile. Maybe 15in long and about as thick as your index finger. His mouth is not very big at all. And the lump isnt huge its just a fatter section of its abdomen. Which is why I assumed constipated. I have no hermits, bc I have a bird wrasse lol so the only snails I have left are waaaaay too big for the eel. I'll do my best to get a pic. But it was 4 days before I actually got a glimpse of him snaking around some rocks to where I noticed it. normally hes just hanging out with his head exposed only..

 

[fishguy242]

we will be here when you do

 

[P-Dub]

I'd like to see a picture if possible. How large is the eel? Could it have possibly eaten a snail or hermit? Snowflakes are pebble toothed moray and crabs and other crustaceans are regularly on the menu. Hunger strikes are also common with eels, particularly larger full grown ones. The younger eels tend to have a higher metabolism, but the older eels tend to go days or even weeks with no interest in food. The lump in the eel has me concerned tho, that this isnt just a hunger strike.

It should be clarified that the snowflake has both, conical and pebble-like teeth. Far more painful than say a Zebra morey with primarily pebble teeth.

 

[motortrendz]

It should be clarified that the snowflake has both, conical and pebble-like teeth. Far more painful than say a Zebra morey with primarily pebble teeth.

I have no intentions of being bit by him. Lol. He only take food from long forceps. Hoping this Epsom salt will help. Hopfully I'll get a picture for you guys tomorrow. He doesnt fully come out often.

 

[fishguy242]

sounds good, it does not hurt that bad lol

 

[motortrendz]

Well i got the epsom salt today, and dosed, man it worked pretty quickly on the fish. They made it snow poop on my reef, at virtually the same time. Gross but pretty funny.... sadly I havent seen the eel since the other day when I posed this and about 5 min ago I found him curled up and dead behind my rocks but out in the open sand. He hasn't been touched by CUC so I'd assume he passed within the day his upper torso was very bloated, but that large bulge in its belly was gone. Sad. He was a really cool eel, had him about a year. Wonder what did him in...