RIP Mr Magoo zebra moray

[LisaD]

I got up this morning to see my 3+ foot zebra moray, lifeless, at the front of my tank. Not a mark on him. The angelfish and Brazilian dragon moray seem fine. I got this eel at ~18-20" over a decade ago, from the now-defunct Flying Fish Express. I'll miss him, he is older than my younger daughter.

Any ideas why he may have died? Nothing different except I fed larger than average shrimp two days ago. Just old age?

 

[predator 1]

That is bad news Lisa! You must be upset losing your eel after keeping it for so long. My guess is it must have died due to old age, as you said.
Large morays seem to be bullet proof against anything else mother nature throws at them. The green moray I have now, is at least 27 years old, and by all accounts has survived some terrible conditions with the previous owner. So it would seem that only the advance of age can bring them down.

 

[Lorenz725]

+1 on old age. Sorry for your loss.

 

[JuliusJames]

Ten years is a long time, I'm sure they were 10 happy years. Terribly sorry for the loss.

 

[D5HP]

Sorry to hear that. 10 years is quite a long time and that's my favorite species of eel. Doesn't sound like anything on your side.

 

[anbosu]

I would guess old age if there weren't any other signs and your other fish are still doing well.

 

[LukFox]

Sounds like old age to me as well since everything else sounds fine. Very sad to hear, Lisa! You did an excellent job caring for him, though.

 

[LisaD]

Thanks everyone! That eel was the sole survivor of an outbreak of oodinium in my 120 gallon tank back in fall of 2005. I'd had it quite a few years by then. I think I've actually had the eel closer to 12 or 13 years, but can't remember exactly when I got it. I know I bought him a few years before Flying Fish Express was sold. I expected him to live at least 20 years! Sad he is gone.

 

[mfish1]

Sorry for your loss

 

[flameangel88]

Lisa, sorry for your loss. It's never easy to lose a fish especially one that's been with you for this long. Hope you'll find one with as much enjoyment. Kevin

 

[anbosu]

Thanks everyone! That eel was the sole survivor of an outbreak of oodinium in my 120 gallon tank back in fall of 2005. I'd had it quite a few years by then. I think I've actually had the eel closer to 12 or 13 years, but can't remember exactly when I got it. I know I bought him a few years before Flying Fish Express was sold. I expected him to live at least 20 years! Sad he is gone.

If you legitimately can't remember how long you've had a fish, you did right by it.