How to handle an EEL

[NewbyReefer]

I plan on getting a Zebra or SF eel in the near future and I'm wondering how do you guys move them. Should I get a monster net? Should I try and course it into a bucket? The reason I ask is because I'm going to QT it for 3 weeks just incase and I don't want to get bit in the process of putting it in the QT or when I move it to the DT. Thanks for the help. :spin3:

 

[NewbyReefer]

Oh yeah, and I'm not getting a baby. Probably a 2-3 footer.

 

[rssjsb]

How big is your QT? I've had great luck using a length of pvc pipe in a qt tank. The eel will use it as a burrow, which makes it easier to catch it.

 

[NewbyReefer]

How big is your QT? I've had great luck using a length of pvc pipe in a qt tank. The eel will use it as a burrow, which makes it easier to catch it.

40 gal. So I should wait till its mostly in the tube and just block off both ends and transport It that way?

 

[NewbyReefer]

One more Question. My LFS has a SFE for $45. Is that a good price. Its about 2 1/2 ft or more.

 

[insomniac2k2]

I would use your hands for that blocking

So I ran into this issue. My EEL was freaking impossible to pin down. So i emptied out the tank, and the little bugger snapped and hopped out of the tank and into the overflow. I tried to get him "persuaded" back into the main tank all day. Finally i raised the water level in the overflow (so he would be able to get back to the main tank), put my 9" open top on the tank and went to sleep.

The little bugger hopped out of the overflow, and over my 9" shroud onto the ground. I wake up and find him on the floor gasping for air. I threw on my heavy gloves and after dropping him 3 times, was able to wrestle him over to my new tank...

GL on your transfer....

 

[NewbyReefer]

I would use your hands for that blocking

So I ran into this issue. My EEL was freaking impossible to pin down. So i emptied out the tank, and the little bugger snapped and hopped out of the tank and into the overflow. I tried to get him "persuaded" back into the main tank all day. Finally i raised the water level in the overflow (so he would be able to get back to the main tank), put my 9" open top on the tank and went to sleep.

The little bugger hopped out of the overflow, and over my 9" shroud onto the ground. I wake up and find him on the floor gasping for air. I threw on my heavy gloves and after dropping him 3 times, was able to wrestle him over to my new tank...

GL on your transfer....

Your experiance is real encoraging (LOL). Hope I don't drop it when the time comes. Did it pull through?

 

[BlueTrig]

45 is a good price for that size snowflake. Here in jersey there was one for 65 that size. I got a 27 inch zebra from nyaquatics for 100 and love this guy to death... I used a bucket but I don't think you have you qt an eel... They have a thick slime coat that doesn't allow them to get parasites but its not always such a bad idea to so it anyway

 

[insomniac2k2]

Surprisingly it pulled through and is still a very timid and friendly eel. Go figure...

The cool but odd and unexpected thing was that it had turned a very interesting tranparent purple color (its a snowflake). I have no idea what color they are supposed to be out of saltwater. Just did not expect that!

It was a pretty intimidating process..I kept expecting to lose a finger tip

Your experiance is real encoraging (LOL). Hope I don't drop it when the time comes. Did it pull through?

 

[AlexS95]

When I poured mine in out of the bag into a bucket and acclimated, I then poured that bucket into another bucket through a net and just lifted him that way.

 

[billdogg]

I use a 5g bucket with holes drilled in the bottom. Chase it into the bucket, slide the lid on and lift out of the tank - that way it cannot escape on the way to the new place!

 

[NewbyReefer]

45 is a good price for that size snowflake. Here in jersey there was one for 65 that size. I got a 27 inch zebra from nyaquatics for 100 and love this guy to death... I used a bucket but I don't think you have you qt an eel... They have a thick slime coat that doesn't allow them to get parasites but its not always such a bad idea to so it anyway

So they wont get ich? I had ich about 5 weeks ago in my DT tank when I pulled the fish. So it would be good to just acclimate and put in?

 

[SkullV]

So they wont get ich? I had ich about 5 weeks ago in my DT tank when I pulled the fish. So it would be good to just acclimate and put in?

Yes they will get Crypto (marine "ich"). It is unbelievable how many people falsely believe that fish like eels and mandarins can not get this parasite because of their slime coat. Crypto generally attacks the gills which is never blocked by any sort of slime coat. ANY bony structure fish can get Crypto and should be QT with prophylactic treatment for Crypto prior to being introduced into the display tank.

 

[NewbyReefer]

Yes they will get Crypto (marine "ich"). It is unbelievable how many people falsely believe that fish like eels and mandarins can not get this parasite because of their slime coat. Crypto generally attacks the gills which is never blocked by any sort of slime coat. ANY bony structure fish can get Crypto and should be QT with prophylactic treatment for Crypto prior to being introduced into the display tank.

I'm not worried about the eel having ich. Its been at the LFS for well over a month and is healthy and agressively feeding. I'm worried about my DT. I think it needs another 3 weeks before the ich is completly starved out. Also going to QT it for GP anyway at a 1.015 salinity for about 2-3 weeks to see how it does and to switch it over to frozen food.

 

[Scream311]

Get a FISHING NET !!!

ive got 2 LARGE ZEBRAS (my twins) and the ONLY way to catch em SAFELY is with a LARGE NET

 

[SkullV]

I'm not worried about the eel having ich. Its been at the LFS for well over a month and is healthy and agressively feeding. I'm worried about my DT. I think it needs another 3 weeks before the ich is completly starved out. Also going to QT it for GP anyway at a 1.015 salinity for about 2-3 weeks to see how it does and to switch it over to frozen food.

Just because it is eating doesn't mean it is not carrying Crypto. It seems like you are running a fallow period in your DT. If you aren't going to do prophylactic treatments (full hypo 1.009 or Copper) then that is pointless.

 

[NewbyReefer]

Just because it is eating doesn't mean it is not carrying Crypto. It seems like you are running a fallow period in your DT. If you aren't going to do prophylactic treatments (full hypo 1.009 or Copper) then that is pointless.

I run my QT at 1.008-.010 I just have to start from scratch again because I don't think I can just aclimate it to that in a hour or two. Either way I know to QT fish(learned my leason once apon atime). And I don't think its recommended to use copper on eels so I'm going with hyposalinity. :ape:

 

[Jasanden]

I used a pillow case to catch my eelsvwhen I had them.

 

[rayn]

Large net works well. If you can coerce it into a bucket it stays in the water, but better cover the top.

 

[NewbyReefer]

I don't know how big of a net I can fit in my QT. I think I like the large pipe idea. I'll just use a net on both ends just to get it into a bucket then just pour it into the DT.