Attempted fire eel suicide

[Richie_ELP]

My fire eel bailed on me last night while I was doing a water change. I was filling up the tank and he went up and out the other end.
He messed up his nose on the tile. it looks broken and skinned.
I'm not happy about the cosmetic damage.
It would be nice if fish were smart enough to not try leaving the water. At least I was right there to scoop him up.

 

[Planetnicolas]

jumping eel is an idicator of incorrect water parameters or temperature. maybe it just wants to fly who knows

 

[Richie_ELP]

The water is fine, it was a little warmer by a couple degrees. He does it every time I try to open the canopy, not just right now.
At feeding time, water changes, or even if I get close to it. I think it is because I conditioned him until he would hand feed. He always flies out of the sand when I stand at the tank.

 

[aclockworkorange]

It would be nice if fish were smart enough to not try leaving the water.

I would guess his perception is that all environments are made of water because that is all he knows... so when he jumps out of the tank he is actually looking for a larger source of water.

We are taking millions of years of evolutionary traits that have kept the species alive, shipping them thousands of miles from their natural habitat, stuffing them in glass boxes, and then getting upset when they don't behave as we think they should.

 

[chloe]

I would guess his perception is that all environments are made of water because that is all he knows... so when he jumps out of the tank he is actually looking for a larger source of water.

u know, i never thought about that. wow, now i feel sorry for animals.
cant believe iv never thought of it though lol i mean it makes sense.

 

[Planetnicolas]

yeah agreed we should have really tall canopies so they can jump. my eel never tried to jump and it was hand conditioned too try cooling the water a bit hope that helps

 

[KCK]

I would guess his perception is that all environments are made of water because that is all he knows... so when he jumps out of the tank he is actually looking for a larger source of water.

We are taking millions of years of evolutionary traits that have kept the species alive, shipping them thousands of miles from their natural habitat, stuffing them in glass boxes, and then getting upset when they don't behave as we think they should.

I'll admit I never took this rule for general fish actions,
but as far as suicide specifically I've always had this theory personally.
I actually was surprised to see you write out my thoughts xD

I have a bichir in a tank that has plenty enough slots in the lid for him to bail whenever, but I've never had a problem.
And my neighbor's new fish tank has no lid at all.

I always believe (no bad experiences yet) that if their water is good, they are fed, and they have little to no stress in their environment they won't bail.

I know this rule doesn't always work, but it's a good start.

My friend told me about how his a-hole terrors killed a severum that I had known for 8+ years, and then one terror chased the other one literally out of the fishtank.

Just try to add to the caves and such for your eel