SFE - eating difficulty

[laf-reef]

I have a 12"+/- snowflake eel that I've had for 1 year. Over the past month or so the SFE appears to be having trouble eating. Over the first 2-3 months that I had the eel it had 3 separate "out of tank experiences". I thought the tank cover was tight - I was mistaken. I now have a tight glass cover and the carpet surface has ceased. I think that the eel may have broken it's jaw from one of the falls to the carpet. The eel's jaw closes off to it's left (right as you look at the photo). It has full range of motion and it grabs food (krill, shrimp & mysis) however it takes the food into the rock pile and appears to lose interest. The eel appears hungry but I haven't seen it swallow food in at least 3 weeks. The tank is a 55 and the tankmates are a 5" porcupine puffer, 4" longnose hawkfish and a 3" algae blenny. Water parameters are good (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite & phosphate --> 0, pH 8.3, salinity 1.024, temp 78.8°F).

Any ideas?

 

[reefman8471]

Snowflake Moray

Snowflake Moray

Well you might try increasing the temperature a couple of degrees. Maybe to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Fish metabolism increases with temperature. Secondly you might want to try a different type of food like fresh fish flesh. I know that Snowflakes mainly eat crustaceans in the wild but will eat fish on occasion. If you can get them try live small marine crabs such as Blue crabs, fiddler crabs, etc.. I'm assuming that the eel hasn't been harassed by the other fish (that isn't really likely).
Also, I read in Scott Michael's Reef Fishes Vol. 1 that there has been reports that Snowflakes may change their diets as they get larger. They develop serrations on their teeth. This indicates that larger specimens eat more fish than younger ones. The size limit for that study however was just over 17 inches.

James

 

[EdKruzel]

Is the lack of appetite or actually eating since the jaw injury? If so then I would say you have to patient and wait for it to heal; the deformity will most likely be permanent.

As to the dietary needs of a mature species, I don't believe the serrated teeth are for capturing fish. The larger eels need more oils and most fish cannot deliver; an eel would have to hunt and fish continuously to maintain its bulk. I would believe this to better help catch octopus and small squid which are the perfect specimens for their nutritional needs.