Strange Snowflake Eel Problem

[wshive]

I bought a 9-inch snowflake eel several days ago. He looks perfectly healthy and has already started feeding.

The problem is that he occasionally shakes his head, sometimes quite violently, for no apparent reason. I’ve seen him do it several times ranging from as short as a second to as long as 4 or 5 seconds. This is not during feeding, but when he’s just sitting there. Other than that his behavior seems pretty normal. Hangs out in a rock during the day and comes out to explore the tank at night.

Any thoughts on the problem or possible solutions?

Water parameters are 1.025sg, 78 to 79 temp, 8.0 to 8.2 pH, 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrite, 5ppm nitrate. 0.25ppm phosphate, 240ppm calcium, 7dkh alkalinity.

He’s in a 50 gallon FOWLR tank w/ 20 gallon fuge. His only other tankmate is a 3-inch blue-spotted grouper, which I got at the same time. They don’t ever fight and sometimes even hang out next to each other.

Both fish were acclimated over the course of about 90 min including a 4 min FW dip of RO/DI w/ matching pH and temp.

Does he have something caught in his throat? I have yet to feed him anything with the shell on (like shrimp) though I was planning on doing so. Should I not?

Thanks for any help you all can offer.

 

[Hattie B]

hi wshive,

Welcome to RC!

Its such a broad issue.

You can check to see if his mouth is injured or if there are any open sores. is there any discoloration, like he banged in on a rock?

I would feed him and see how he reacts.

It could be nothing and just what he does every once in awhile.

I would keep an eye on him and see if this behavior continues or it stops.

 

[D659600]

My Brazilan Moray does the same thing. I have had him for 2 years now and still he shakes his head. It is the little voices in his head telling him to eat the fish.^-^.

 

[Jerry W]

My SFE did the same thing. I don't believe it's a cause for concern.

 

[wshive]

Well I suppose an eel prone to seizures is better than a dying one. :eek1: Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Reefreek]

Common for a snowflake not to worry

 

[Scrumf]

hello all

My snowflake for the last 2 weeks or so he's just chillin on the rock's he never did that. He was alway's hiding i think something is wrong has not been eating. sometimes he looks like he's dead and i go to move to see if he is dead and he just swims away. could he be to big for the tank now he's about 15 inches long about 5 year's old and the tank size is 180 gallons with a nice amout of rock. Could the rock be a problem for him with no room ????