OMG! DID I JUST KILL MY EEL?

[bencansdale]

So I just got done cleaning and re-arranging my tank and I took some of the ornaments out but as you know some have that lip around the bottom and as far as I could see, no one was in there. After about (at least) 20 minutes or I just had that odd feeling I should check the decorations again sure enough, picking up a hollowed out sphinx it felt too heavy to be empty and with a slight shake out pops Earl! OH NO! MY EEL!

He was still kinda slithering around once he hit the towel so I quickly grabbed him (which by the way I now know why their called spiny eels thank god he's the size of my index finger) He was still moving and still had his coloration so I'm assuming he'll be okay due do a quick google saying eels are okay outside of water for short times as long as their wet and moist

IS THAT TRUE FOR EARL! Will he be okay?!?!?

I'm so nervous I can't sleep

Please help.

 

[knifegill]

Only time will tell. Best of luck to you and your "eel".

 

[fishmamma]

What he still shiny wet, or kinda dull and dryish...? I'm assuming that if still pretty wet that he'll be ok, or at least Im just hoping.. what kind of eel is he?

 

[bencansdale]

Do you happen to know if spiny eels can breath through their skin like other species? I couldn't find anything about that..

 

[Wiggles92]

It sounds like it wasn't out of the water for more than an hour if cleaning time is included, so I think that it should be just fine considering the fact that the lip of the decoration holds a tiny bit of water that would keep the eel moist.

 

[GhostShrimpMan]

I'd say he makes it. Have heard stories of dry fish making it after longer periods of time out of water.

 

[pshtex]

good luck to ur eel

 

[bencansdale]

What he still shiny wet, or kinda dull and dryish...? I'm assuming that if still pretty wet that he'll be ok, or at least Im just hoping.. what kind of eel is he?

He was still shiny and was still very dark, Earl is a tire track

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Note to self : Check hollow decoration before removing from tank.

 

[bencansdale]

Note to self : Check hollow decoration before removing from tank.

From every possible angle. This sphinx is from petsmart (you've more than likely seen one) the whole bottom is open and I flipped it over and looked and still didn't see him lying on the inside lip