What's wrong with my eel?

melypr1985 · May 11, 2016

I wonder if you can "pump his stomach". Eels - like snakes- will puke when stressed. If you catch him and put him in a QT or bucket, it could trigger a puke response and at least get whatever is in his tummy out. It's risky because he might not eat again for a bit after that, and if this isn't the problem then that wont help his situation. But if it is the problem, then it could help him quite a bit in the long run. It's just a thought.

shoelaceike · May 11, 2016

melypr1985 said:
I wonder if you can "pump his stomach". Eels - like snakes- will puke when stressed. If you catch him and put him in a QT or bucket, it could trigger a puke response and at least get whatever is in his tummy out. It's risky because he might not eat again for a bit after that, and if this isn't the problem then that wont help his situation. But if it is the problem, then it could help him quite a bit in the long run. It's just a thought.

Maybe I'll give that a shot. Thanks

Humblefish · May 12, 2016

melypr1985 said:
I wonder if you can "pump his stomach". Eels - like snakes- will puke when stressed. If you catch him and put him in a QT or bucket, it could trigger a puke response and at least get whatever is in his tummy out. It's risky because he might not eat again for a bit after that, and if this isn't the problem then that wont help his situation. But if it is the problem, then it could help him quite a bit in the long run. It's just a thought.

If this doesn't work, another strategy would be to push it out of the "other hole" sooner rather than later by inducing diarrhea:

Epsom salt (1 tablespoon per 5 gals) can serve as a natural laxative.
Kanamycin sulfate (i.e. Kanaplex) lists diarrhea as a possible side effect. It might also help with the cloudy eye.

Tehreefer · May 12, 2016

Mine did the same thing, didn't eat for a week which is common for eels from time to time, but than became very sluggish and barely moved, head on the sand and was dead in about 24 hours.

Once they are at that point it's pretty much a goner, sorry to say.

Duke4Life · May 12, 2016

Tehreefer said:
Mine did the same thing, didn't eat for a week which is common for eels from time to time, but than became very sluggish and barely moved, head on the sand and was dead in about 24 hours.

Once they are at that point it's pretty much a goner, sorry to say.

Was yours right after feeding shrimp? Seems that shrimp aren't the best food for these guys.

Tehreefer · May 12, 2016

I fed shrimp and silversides, and sometimes krill or scallops . It is good to try and mix up its diet a bit. Mine did that after a tank move. Do not really sure if it was stress, food, illness, old age or just a combo.

shoelaceike · May 12, 2016

Humblefish said:
If this doesn't work, another strategy would be to push it out of the "other hole" sooner rather than later by inducing diarrhea:

Epsom salt (1 tablespoon per 5 gals) can serve as a natural laxative.

Kanamycin sulfate (i.e. Kanaplex) lists diarrhea as a possible side effect. It might also help with the cloudy eye.

Thanks.... I think I will move him to QT to better address the situation. On another note, if a fish is infected with velvet how quickly will symptoms show? I ask as I have a few fish in QT that I would need to remove before putting the eel in but they've only been in there a few days....my main concern would be velvet but the fish look healthy and if it would have showed by now, I'll just put them in the DT.

Humblefish · May 12, 2016

shoelaceike said:
On another note, if a fish is infected with velvet how quickly will symptoms show? I ask as I have a few fish in QT that I would need to remove before putting the eel in but they've only been in there a few days....my main concern would be velvet but the fish look healthy and if it would have showed by now, I'll just put them in the DT.

Typically, within a week or two - although visible physical symptoms will not always be present. Sometimes the dinospores jam up the gills and the fish dies due to asphyxiation before the dust on the skin ever shows up. However, behavioral symptoms of velvet - heavy breathing, swimming into the flow of a powerhead, staying out of the light - will almost always show.

Now if a fish has been exposed to a subtherapeutic level of copper (at the LFS or wholesaler), that can mask symptoms whilst in that environment and then delay further symptoms from showing up for up to 1 month after removal from the low copper system. This is why running low copper is so dangerous, and why it is imperative to maintain therapeutic levels at all times while treating.

shoelaceike · May 12, 2016

Thanks. The store I got them from doesn't run copper. They run all the fish tanks at low salinity

FeliciaLynn · May 12, 2016

Have you tested your water parameters? Eels are pretty hardy, but if his eyes are cloudy that could indicate poor water quality. I'd make sure to test the water too.

shoelaceike · May 12, 2016

All my fish and corals are fine

FeliciaLynn · May 12, 2016

shoelaceike said:
All my fish and corals are fine

Ok. Yeah definitely sounds like it's food related to me then. Just wanted to make sure you'd considered water quality. I hope the eel pulls through!

shoelaceike · May 12, 2016

I do seem to have high nitrates but everything seems good.....like 20-30 ppm...shouldn't effect the eel

Duke4Life · May 12, 2016

shoelaceike said:
I do seem to have high nitrates but everything seems good.....like 20-30 ppm...shouldn't effect the eel

I agree with you on the nitrates reading like that not being a factor.

Tehreefer · May 13, 2016

Any update?

shoelaceike · May 13, 2016

So far he's not good at all....have him in my QT. Just did a fresh water dip as a last resort....there was a crab munching on his tail and he didn't respond.