AboutPaul Expertise technical and non technical questions about marine tank set up, with a few radical hardware ideas. the compatibility of livestock. i am not much of a coral buff but i know about the more common types.
if you are asking a question please add in your tank spec, including type of filtration, amount of live rock, type of skimmer etc. it helps in the acurate answering of questions.
thanks
Experience i have kept fish for over 8 years
Education/Credentials none in the marine world, only experiance.
Expert: Paul Date: 1/17/2008 Subject: saltwater eel's
Question QUESTION: Our saltwater eel isn't eating.I have'nt seen it eat in a couple of weeks. It lays on it's side alot, It's breathing seems too be labored. There are no visible signs of illness.Color is normal.I do not know the species, hav'nt been able too identify.Moray,spotted(looks similar too chainlink)24 in long.It's housed in a FOWLR tank.Has a zebra and snowflake too. All fish and other eels look and eat great.Parameters are o.k.-salinity/1.021-22,ammonia/.25-.50,nitrate&nitrite/o.k. levels. Can you help? Or direct me too some one who can?
Renee
ANSWER: firstly i would creep your salinity up, needs to be around 1.024-1.026. you should have no ammonia what so ever, i'm guessing that as they are messy eaters its just due to their waste.
what are you trying to feed it? the trouble with some of these predators is they are wild caught and will only eat live food, i know its expensive but try getting a whole load of the smallest cheapest marine fish you can, acclimatise them and they let the havoc begin.
what size is the tank your keeping him in? does he get bothered by the zebra and snowflake?
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QUESTION: The size tank is a 300.The eel has been in captivity for several years.We've had it since May. It has eaten great till lately. We pole feed them every 3-4 days with vitamin enriched raw shrimp.It has been eating 3-4 large shrimp up until now.It's sleeping buddy is the Zebra.The zebra is larger,the snowflake is smaller(it hides up in the rocks)Everyone is cohesive. The parameters are MUCH better now then where it was housed before!I'm confused on the salinity? Fowlrs are usually around 1.021-1.023.Reefs around 1.022-1.025,depending on your corals?
Answer hi, sorry if i answered as if you were a newbie. you wouldn't beleive how many questions i get from people who have no idea!
have you fed him anything different lately? seen any ich or similar on him? is he pooing ok? can be a clue as to internal parasites.
could be worth signing up to a couple of forums too, www.ultimatereef.com is a good 1 for fish specialists.
