What to do for a constipated eel??

SashimiTurtle · Feb 3, 2020

I'm thinking possibly internal parasites. One of the few things that can effect eels. Ich, flukes and velvet they are pretty resistant to.

motortrendz · Feb 3, 2020

Robin Haselden said:
I'm thinking possibly internal parasites. One of the few things that can effect eels. Ich, flukes and velvet they are pretty resistant to.

Man that stinks, been a rough patch the last few weeks with my tank, I moved my sump from under the tank to my basement and doubled my .water volume in my system and added a frag tank.. my nutrients dropped out and lost 13 acro "mini colonies" finally got the system stabilized. And now I loose the eel, he was so cool too. Always out and surprisingly social..

any idea what could have caused the parasites after being in the system for a year? All my other fish appear normal and eating normal. Havent added any fish in atleast 6mo

SashimiTurtle · Feb 3, 2020

motortrendz said:
Man that stinks, been a rough patch the last few weeks with my tank, I moved my sump from under the tank to my basement and doubled my .water volume in my system and added a frag tank.. my nutrients dropped out and lost 13 acro "mini colonies" finally got the system stabilized. And now I loose the eel, he was so cool too. Always out and surprisingly social..

any idea what could have caused the parasites after being in the system for a year? All my other fish appear normal and eating normal. Havent added any fish in atleast 6mo

No idea man, could have been anything honestly. Parasites, compacted food. I had one about 10" a few years ago... ate one of my wrasse. Well, the wrasse disappeared with no way for it to jump, few days later the eel died.

I know what you mean about how cool they are. I have a little tiny one about 5" long right now. Stays hidden most of the time but comes out every night for dinner time. Eats way more than you'd think.

Charles4400 · Feb 3, 2020

Sorry to hear about the eel, that really sux. At least you gave it a good try to help him though...

Are you thinking about getting another eel? Same type or different?

motortrendz · Feb 3, 2020

Robin Haselden said:
No idea man, could have been anything honestly. Parasites, compacted food. I had one about 10" a few years ago... ate one of my wrasse. Well, the wrasse disappeared with no way for it to jump, few days later the eel died.

I know what you mean about how cool they are. I have a little tiny one about 5" long right now. Stays hidden most of the time but comes out every night for dinner time. Eats way more than you'd think.

Yea I believe it. I got mine he was about 6inches long. He was definitly about a foot when I pulled him tonight. He was a good eater.

motortrendz · Feb 3, 2020

Charles4400 said:
Sorry to hear about the eel, that really sux. At least you gave it a good try to help him though...

Are you thinking about getting another eel? Same type or different?

I defnitly want another one. The snowflake was awesome. I've never had any other eels. I had a snowflake in a previous tank about 10 years ago(in a Fowlr). But this one was the first time I had one in a reef. Any suggestions on what type? Tank is about 85ish gallons. Not worried about filtration as I have about 175g twv in my system and currently struggling to keep nutrients off zero. Lol.

Charles4400 · Feb 4, 2020

Snowflake eels are definitely cool, I've only had one 20+ years ago in the days of big intentionally bleached corals as decoration lol! It scared the **** out of me when it jumped out of the tank while I was feeding it one day. Grew huge, forgot what it died of...

Get a Japanese Dragon Eel! Most beautiful eel ever! Though mega $$$$ and would need a bigger tank. I always wanted to dedicate a tank for one, with large predators...ahhh one day...