Golden Dwarf Moray Eel Missing

[DarthSimon]

Guys,
Have had him for about three months... He was eating a silverside once or twice a week. I haven't seen him in a good 10 days.... I have a canopy and have open holes on the back, that are plugged up with EggCrating... I know they can snake their way through that... He hasn't jumped, nor is he behind my tank on the floor...

Is it possible he is still alive... I have 200 pounds of live rock in the tank, so lots of hiding potential....

Here is a pic..

Do I have chance??

 

[cwoods8]

More than likely he is just hiding w/in your rockwork...IME they do such things, and go on hunger strikes from time to time. Eventually he will stick his head out.......good luck!
cam

 

[LukFox]

I thought mine was dead when I hadn't seen her for a month, but she eventually reappeared. Don't lose hope yet... Remember they can slither, though, so check several feet around the tank, too. Also if you have an indoor cat or dog, you may never find the evidence. I hope it's still in the tank.

 

[Grouperhead]

It's probably still in the tank. I've had two eels jump (both survived after being out of the tank 4+ hrs) and neither of them made it a foot from the tank. Their mucous coat begins to dry pretty quickly, and once that happens they're kinda stuck to the floor.

Hopefully it is just hiding in your liverock and not hungry. Eels are strange. They are starving one day and then won't eat for two weeks. Try looking through the tank at night with a red flashlight (or normal if that's all you have.) Let us know if you find it.

 

[sufunk]

Mine disappeared on July 4th for about 10 days. I showed him to my father in law on the 4th and then didnt see him at all for like 10 days. I even fed the tank with bloodworms like 5 times and he didnt show up and he ALWAYS popped right out when i fed bloodworms.

Eventually, he showed up again, healthy as ever I'd say wait at least another week or 2 before you really get concerned.

 

[DarthSimon]

I do try and search with a flashlight. Haven't seen him.... Though when I did used to see him he didn't like the light, and retreated.

 

[DarthSimon]

Some great news!! He is alive. Spotted him with a flashlight tonight... Put a silverside on a stick, and he wouldn't come for it.... In the past, he would travel from anywhere in the tank to get it... Anyways... The silver side kinda floated away to the general area of where I saw him, and rested on the sand... I came back 15 minutes later and it was gone... Hoping he ate..

 

[LukFox]

Great news !

 

[Grouperhead]

Glad to hear he is still with you

 

[cwoods8]

nice.......give him some time......he will eat again....

 

[WetPetsHawaii]

try to change his diet every now and then beleive it or not he may be getting tired of silversides...perhaps try some squid or a small piece of canned salmon or tuna fish.....mine goes nuts for cannd tunafish....aloha....Les

 

[DarthSimon]

Hey Les...
How would you deliver the canned tuna to him??? Also cooked fish is ok??

 

[WetPetsHawaii]

I put a small pinch of tuna in the water and mush it up to (chum)the water so the eel gets a wiff of it and comes out...then I put a small chunk of it on a feeding prong and stick it down in the tank...and the eel actually chases the feeding prong for the tuna...i also sometimes use salmon...aloha Les

 

[StripestheEel]

dont force it, just offer a prawn or mussell every 3-4 days. You'll soon find out when he is hungry. No point shoving food in its face every day.