Well it looks like i am probably going to loose my big fire eel. I am not sure what has happened. I have had him for 10 years, and he is about 36". A few days ago i noticed that he was shaking his head and i thought he may have been choking. he kept curling his body up like a snake. he would even go upside down and stay there for a period of time. Which anybody who has owned a big fire eel knows, sometimes they sleep in weird positions even hanging upside down, but usually only at night.... atleast mine has always done that.
I noticed he may be swollen around his head area, and he seems to keep his head turned one direction more than the other, almost like it is stuck. But he is so fat and large, he kinda has a weird shape anyway from such a fat/big body and little face, in comparison. maybe i am reaching.
I started wondering if he maybe swallowed a stinger, or a bone or something. i fed the tank tilapia like normal and even though he was upside down he ate.i was amazed! I have always said a fish that eats is fine. He is not fine, i have had him long enough to know he is fighting for his life.
Anyway, my thought is maybe he has broken his neck/spine, or maybe even suffered a brain injury possibly from a ray?? Keep in mind a 3' eel that eats whole filets of tilipia is as big as a man's forearm and extremely tough. It is hard to think of a ray damaging that. But i wonder if he was trying to get down a piece of tilipa and a ray bit his head/face. i have studied his body and do not see any stinger wounds, and not really any bite marks. the rays are always biting him, but it does not phase him. any ideas?? i honestly dont think there is anything i can do at this point.
for those who havent seen him here is a couple videos before this problem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWhVZ96_pWo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20SiF46Tq2Q&feature=youtu.be
I noticed he may be swollen around his head area, and he seems to keep his head turned one direction more than the other, almost like it is stuck. But he is so fat and large, he kinda has a weird shape anyway from such a fat/big body and little face, in comparison. maybe i am reaching.
I started wondering if he maybe swallowed a stinger, or a bone or something. i fed the tank tilapia like normal and even though he was upside down he ate.i was amazed! I have always said a fish that eats is fine. He is not fine, i have had him long enough to know he is fighting for his life.
Anyway, my thought is maybe he has broken his neck/spine, or maybe even suffered a brain injury possibly from a ray?? Keep in mind a 3' eel that eats whole filets of tilipia is as big as a man's forearm and extremely tough. It is hard to think of a ray damaging that. But i wonder if he was trying to get down a piece of tilipa and a ray bit his head/face. i have studied his body and do not see any stinger wounds, and not really any bite marks. the rays are always biting him, but it does not phase him. any ideas?? i honestly dont think there is anything i can do at this point.
for those who havent seen him here is a couple videos before this problem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWhVZ96_pWo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20SiF46Tq2Q&feature=youtu.be
