Help...My 17" fire eel

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
1

100GAL

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jan 31, 2007
375
0
16
46
RIGHT HERE
I always buy my night crawlers at a bait shop for my fire eel. (this is all he eats). I noticed yesterday he only ate 1 worm which is very weird. Normally he eats 6 big ones or so. Anyway I got home today to notice he has a white film on his face area. Kinda like when a lima shovelnose molts. I just feed him he ate a little which is better than I was thinking he would do. I tested my water nitrite 0 ammonia 0. My temperature is about 83-84f

I have had him for 3 years and I haven't changed anything in the tank lately except add a Florida Gar a couple of months ago. WHat could this be?
Should I be treating.
 
hmm sounds like bacteria if anything how much just little patchs or all over also that seems a little warm for the fire eel but thats just MPO
 
I would try salt at 1 tbsp per every 10 gallons and see what that does
 
killerfish;948732; said:
hmm sounds like bacteria if anything how much just little patchs or all over also that seems a little warm for the fire eel but thats just MPO
Click to expand...

Well it is not real bad....But it is just on his face area above the gills.

I let my tanks get about that warm in the summer. I have never had a problem from doing this. I hope this isn't the cause.

I am wondering if a worm could have had something.
 
fire eels like water about aroung 76-78 are you add salt you can add about 1 TBS of salt per 5 gallons they do like salt in there water not to much thow use that amount to get rid of the bacteria and keep the temp the same and if it doesn't get beter you may need to use a med but once its better you may want to try a lower the temp to about 80 or so and mantain about 2 teaspoons of salt per five gallons
 
i would deffo not try lower temp. fire eels dont like that. they like warmer water. i know a lot of informative sites say they need 25-27 degrees but me and buddies know from experience they like it better a bit warmer, around 29 degrees. Try that and some salt and he should be good. Dont forget the get lots of oxygen, they love that.
One of my fire eels had something similar too once. He was attacked by the other and his face was also covered in some white film. I seperated him in Q tank and treated with a little salt. All was good in 2 weeks.
 
For the fire eels, you should be keeping the temp around 78-79 degrees. Mid 80's is a bit high. I had 2 16" fire eels, til they found a way to get out of the tank, and found them dried up. Also, fire eels like salt. But don't do too much too fast. I would do a couple teaspoons per 10G for a couple days, then up it to 1tbsp per 10G. This way it won't shock the fish by putting in too much too fast. Then after a couple days, if you want to add a little more, then up it to 1.5tbsp per 10G.

Also, fire eels do prefer salt, and they can survive in low-end brackish water as well. So when adding salt, don't worry so much about the eels, but rather the other fish in the tank with the eel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom