Fire eel ate my petricola!

[jstehman]

So my eel decided he has had enough of the petricola cat, and his tail is sticking out if the eels mouth. So at least he's headfirst.

The eel is still breathing.. but I'm worried that the spines are going to rip up the eel.

Eel is 20 something inches. Catfish 3.5""

Am I going to lose my fire eel?

 

[tlindsey]

So my eel decided he has had enough of the petricola cat, and his tail is sticking out if the eels mouth. So at least he's headfirst.

The eel is still breathing.. but I'm worried that the spines are going to rip up the eel.

Eel is 20 something inches. Catfish 3.5""

Am I going to lose my fire eel?

If catfish extends spiny pectoral fins the eel may have difficulty swallowing it.

 

[jstehman]

He's splashed around pretty good so Guessing he's been poked. For the most part he's been calm. Chilling in his tube with his head poking out. With a tail fin sticking out.

So he should be ok?

I'm guessing he's waiting for the catfish to die so he can swallow it? There's no way he's spitting it out.

 

[tlindsey]

He's splashed around pretty good so Guessing he's been poked. For the most part he's been calm. Chilling in his tube with his head poking out. With a tail fin sticking out.

So he should be ok?

I'm guessing he's waiting for the catfish to die so he can swallow it? There's no way he's spitting it out.

Let's just hope the pectoral fins aren't extended because the Fire Eel may have difficulty swallowing or spitting it out.

 

[jstehman]

Well, it's been a few hours now and no sign of anything changing.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

It's good that it went in head first, but there's not really anything you can do now but wait. If you try to pull it out it will only do more damage.

I can tell you that my largest fire eel, about 18", regularly stuffs itself so much that it actually leaves food hanging out of its mouth because it's stomach is so full. It still breaths just fine and ends up swallowing the rest of the food at some point over night.

 

[jstehman]

Thank you for that. I'm really worried.. I've never seen him take a fish let alone a spiney *** catfish.

It's still in his mouth as of now. Seems normal. Can see the eel peeking out ever so often.

Will he be able to digest and pass a bony fish like that?

 

[jstehman]

He's thrashing around pretty good right now.

I hope he'll be ok

 

[Just Toby]

I think a lot of catfish spines lock even when the fish dies. I hope the fire eel will be ok. Keep us posted.

The fire eel will shake its head a lot to try and get it out.

Good Luck

 

[jstehman]

Yes he was thrashing around last night. Water all over the place.

He's still moving around. My wife says his tail is moving and he's been hiding in his tube.

He's facing the other way from last night so he's still active