I've had my Snowflake eel for almost a month now. I got him on Aug. 10 from a pet shop about 45 minutes away from my hometown. He is approx. 16 inches long (if not a little longer than that!) He has been doing fine in his tank for the past month. He lives in a 55 gallon aquarium with a Pleco. and two large Oscars (one albino and one tiger). The eel spends the majority of his time in a large log in the bottom of the tank and doesn't seem to have any problems co-existing with his tankmates. I've been feeding him ghost shrimp from a local pet store, popcorn shrimp from the deli at Wal-Mart, and some earthworms. I don't know for sure that he's even eating any of these things because neither I nor my husband have witnessed him eating. He usually spends his time in the log and comes out and swims around on occasion, but this morning when I left for work, he was laying kind of on his side. He was still breathing, and moving, but he wasn't his normal self. I'd appreciate any advice!
2006-09-01 07:27:06 · 6 answers · asked by jEnNiE c 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Yeah, I'm sure he's a freshwater eel. I made sure of that before I purchased him. I've also Googled freshwater eels and saw one that looks like mine. The tank has Freshwater salt added also.
The following website is my eel:
http://www.petco.com/caresheets/fish/Eels.pdf#search=%22Freshwater%20eel%22
2006-09-01 09:07:37 · update #1
Bring your water to the pet store and have it tested. Change almost half of the water with bottled spring water that has been well-aerated and warmed to the temperature of the tank. You could also try increasing the water movement with a wave maker or another filter.
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2006-09-05 10:10:50 · answer #1 · answered by iceni 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, my boyfriend has a saltwater eel. I've never heard of a freshwater eel. But check to make sure you aren't over feeding him. Make sure the temperature is good. Check the nitrate levels and all the pH stuff. Are your other fish acting dfferent or is it just him? He could be stressed because of the tank size. Our snowflake eel is about 8 inches long and he is ok in the 55 gallon, but 16 inches, he might feel a little stressed.
2006-09-01 14:44:19 · answer #2 · answered by Jenna J 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are given some half truths and partial answers here. Most is inaccurate.
First of all lets take a look at your current crisis. Eels are what is considered scaless fish, meaning they don't have scales, hence they are more sucpetable to infections than most other types of scaled fish. Oscars and plecos have a higher tollerance to certain chemicals that build up in a tank than a fish such as your eel. Nitrate levels if your tank does not recieve adequate water changes will build up and harm your eel way before it would harm your other two fish. (an analogy is some humans get sick easier than others same as your fish) Because you and your husband never saw your eel eat i am sure you dropped extra food just to make sure that your eel gets adequate food. That is the number one cause of raised nitrate levels. Nitrate levels above 60ppm will start hampering an eel's ability to disolve oxygen. Hence you saw the behavior your eel is exhibiting. Other levels such as amonia, or nitrite can also cause the exact same effect that you are seeing but not as likely as a high nitrate level. If either one of these 3 levels are above a safe range i would recommend partial water changes to eleviate the current situation. Afterwards just monitor your feeding and water changes to make surethe levels don't get toxic again.
Now feeding your eel, at his size what you can do is get a round glass beta bowl and sink some tubifex worms in it for him to feed on at his leasure. Eels are nocturnal animals so only feed them before you turn off the lights to go to bed at night. If you feed him grass shrimps or small fish use a pair of long tweezers or tongs to get the food to where the eel is at so the other fishs won't eat them.
2006-09-07 20:46:30 · answer #3 · answered by wtfazzhole 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a moray eel common sold for freshwater labeled as freshwater moray or golden flake moray or snowflake moray but it is NOT freshwater, it is BRACKISH, it needs marine salt in the water.
There is also a saltwater moray called the snowflake moray that is totally 100 percent saltwater.
The ammonia excreted by the oscars IS GOING TO KILL HIM. Oscars themselves need 70 gallons PER fish. Your tank is way overstocked.
2006-09-01 14:55:56 · answer #4 · answered by lady_crotalus 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They eat food like fiddler crabs, and shrimp, and other meaty things, so you got that right. He will need a larger tank before long because they grow to be 3 feet long. I would ask a pet store, or better yet, a vet! Are the other fish picking on him?
2006-09-01 14:49:20 · answer #5 · answered by bettachick6721 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
OH MY GOD!!! I have never heard of a Freshwater snowflake eel.... Only a salwtater snowflake eel...
you sure it is a freshwater??????
check this site below and find out!! the two dont mix.
2006-09-01 14:34:04 · answer #6 · answered by enyates2002 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋