"Whats that over there?" It's the eel section!

[KCK]

Hey guys I'm new to the Spiney's and never spent too much time over here.

So far I've seen a TT God that made me even more anxious to turn my peacock's lights on tomorrow.

I've gathered a truckton of information so far and I'll be floating around from now on.


On a scale of 1-10 how worried should I be about suicide?
-5g tank, just growing him up until he can hold a candlestick to my GT and Bichir.
-1 female tiny gourami and several guppy fry, I don't think they'll put a scare in him.
-I'll be feeding him nice and good and eventually go to some fishmarket food (thanks for the info, you know who you are)
-The only hole in the tank is about 1.5"x2.5", I have it covered but it's going to be annoying to have to keep covering.
-Rock cave and back of the tank for seclusion.

Has anyone ever had fed, healthy, hidden eels faceplant for no reason?


I'm literally overjoyous about the whole situation and I still can't wait until he hand feeds. I've noticed they have incredible vision, or at least mine does.
Thanks

 

[jclyde13]

Hey guys I'm new to the Spiney's and never spent too much time over here.

So far I've seen a TT God that made me even more anxious to turn my peacock's lights on tomorrow.

I've gathered a truckton of information so far and I'll be floating around from now on.


On a scale of 1-10 how worried should I be about suicide? 0, as long as the tank is well covered
-5g tank, just growing him up until he can hold a candlestick to my GT and Bichir. How big is the eel? A 5 gallon will only be enough for an eel under 4", with a lot of biological filtration.
-1 female tiny gourami and several guppy fry, I don't think they'll put a scare in him. The guppy fry will soon dissappear, as will the gourami, depending on the size of the eel and the size of the gourami.
-I'll be feeding him nice and good and eventually go to some fishmarket food (thanks for the info, you know who you are)
-The only hole in the tank is about 1.5"x2.5", I have it covered but it's going to be annoying to have to keep covering.
-Rock cave and back of the tank for seclusion.

Has anyone ever had fed, healthy, hidden eels faceplant for no reason? You mean just diving into the substrate? If so, this is normal behavior, it is trying to burrow into the substrate.


I'm literally overjoyous about the whole situation and I still can't wait until he hand feeds. I've noticed they have incredible vision, or at least mine does. I think spiney eels rely mainly on their sense of smell, not sight.
Thanks

My comments are in yellow.

 

[KCK]

My comments are in yellow.

The tank is covered, I was just wondering if he'd be relentless to get out.
I just put two clear plastic tubes one on top of the other in the front of the tank with a wall of rocks behind them,
The eel is definately diggin' it I can tell.

By faceplant I meant skydive, by skydive I meant base jump, by base jump I meant fly, and by fly I mean fall.
haha.

I didn't understand the bioload of an eel until recently, but it's not going to be long.
It's a mini eclipse with a built in filter that's been running for a month or so,
No drastic changes in health so I'm sure it's fine for at least another inch of eel.

The guppies just float around the eel every now and then and don't get eaten, as far as I've seen. I wouldn't care anyways they're just fry.

The gourami isn't going anywhere, the eel's mouth is the size of the gourami's eyeball.

I'm sure he's a smellular fish (I'm making up words left and right lately)
but he definately knows how to keep an eye on me.


He's a character for sure. I've just been constantly supplying worms and letting him vacuum whenever he feels like it.
Worms actually live underwater pretty good, so I'm not worried about them rotting anytime soon.

Thanks for the info.

 

[aclockworkorange]

I think it really depends on the individual eel if he will try to make an escape attempt! But, you never know, one day he could decide it's a great idea. Better safe than sorry.

 

[KCK]

I think it really depends on the individual eel if he will try to make an escape attempt! But, you never know, one day he could decide it's a great idea. Better safe than sorry.

That's exactly how I'm rollin'
I just wanted to know how heavy the covers needed to be.
I guess I'll just upgrade it with his size.

I'm so in love with eels, every day I turn on his lights it's like "Hey man, what're you doing? Where's my worms?"

 

[jclyde13]

So again, how big is the eel? To keep it in a 5 gallon without the risk of stunting it, you'll probably need more than just the built in filter, or at least add some kind of biological media to it (like a bio-wheel, bio-max, etc.; whatever will work for your setup).

 

[akskirmish]

So again, how big is the eel? To keep it in a 5 gallon without the risk of stunting it, you'll probably need more than just the built in filter, or at least add some kind of biological media to it (like a bio-wheel, bio-max, etc.; whatever will work for your setup).

Listen to this man......
It is a mini eclipse so it should have minimal bio filter at least...


With a good diet and pristine water-That tank isn't going to last very long at all......

You should look close to 2 inch a month growth while young in proper conditions....

 

[KCK]

Listen to this man......
It is a mini eclipse so it should have minimal bio filter at least...


With a good diet and pristine water-That tank isn't going to last very long at all......

You should look close to 2 inch a month growth while young in proper conditions....

Well It's a risk, but the eel has a two week warrantee, so I'll move all his rocks and such into the 30(I took measurements and laughed to myself when I realized its literally 29.5) today and throw him in there.


Wish me luck, he'll have to fend off a 5" Bichir/Terror combo



FCK I just remembered,
The only reason he was in there was until he will handfeed, so he doesn't starve.

Should I keep him in the 5 until he eats from my hands?
Or will that happen in due time in the 30?

 

[akskirmish]

Well It's a risk, but the eel has a two week warrantee, so I'll move all his rocks and such into the 30(I took measurements and laughed to myself when I realized its literally 29.5) today and throw him in there.


Wish me luck, he'll have to fend off a 5" Bichir/Terror combo



FCK I just remembered,
The only reason he was in there was until he will handfeed, so he doesn't starve.

Should I keep him in the 5 until he eats from my hands?
Or will that happen in due time in the 30?

Combo shouldn't be a problem...Mine lived with many when young...And plenty of big fish...Just allow plenty of hiding spots....

He will feed in the 30.....Shouldn't starve himself...Note I did say "shouldn't" though......If on feeders-Get it off now while young....If he doesn't eat from hand...simply remove the food and try again tomarrow.....etc,etc...he will take it if persistant.....Just be sure to approach him slowly and make sure he is reacting to it and not shying away...if he does...simply remove food and try again later on that day....

Do not let the Eel train you though or you will be in for a long haul.....

 

[KCK]

He'll have tubes & caves and the like for sure,
I'm actually worried about him eating.
The bichir barely gets food unless its some strange meat that the terror won't eat.
The terror eats ANYTHING that falls from the surface, literally like he's deliberately trying to starve the bichir to death.

Ill hand food train him in the 5g for a couple more days,
and if that doesn't work I'll throw him in the 30 anyways.

I'm really steady when I handfeed, I had to get the bichir AND the terror to get used to me, and I had one RETARDEDLY shy terror.
I should be able to do it.
Thanks for the support, I'll believe anything you say skirmish.