eel was flipping out, no acclimation...will he be ok?

BlokX · 05/20/2007, 06:45 PM

was moving fish from one tank to another. I had a bag ready and I was going to net the eel and put him in the bag, then move the bag to the new tank and acclimate slowly....but the eel was going too crazy.

took me forever just to net him, he almost jumped out of the tank on multiple occasions. i finally got him in the net, where he kept flipping out. i tried to get him in the bag, but he wasn't having that whatsoever.

basically i ended up just moving him quickly into the new tank. the temps are very close to the same, salinity is the same, nitrates are substantially lower, everything is basically on point with each other. the new tank may be slightly warmer since it's smaller and has a better heater in it, the lighting in the tank is much better, but i'm keeping those off to help avoid stress right now.

anything else you guys can think i should do to make this transition on him easier? i really just wish he wouldn't have been going nuts so i could acclimate him properly.

need help and need it asap! thanks in advance!

bertoni · 05/20/2007, 06:51 PM

I would guess the animal will be fine. Since the salinity matched, I think the major issue will be the stress. I can't think of anything to do other than wait and watch.

BlokX · 05/20/2007, 07:01 PM

well...that's what i'm doing as i slowly acclimate the 2 fish into the tank

i'm going to keep the lights off completely for tonight until the normal time tomorrow...then i may just run the actinics if it seems like he's still stressed.

BlokX · 05/20/2007, 07:25 PM

well...the eel is wrapped around a rock and has his head down in a hole. he's breathing, so hopefully by tomorrow morning he'll be okay.

nick18tjetta · 05/21/2007, 12:04 AM

I found a ribbon eel behind a rack of tanks one time at a LFS. It was covered and dirt and looked like a power cord. We put it back in the tank and it was fine. The eel had been missing the day before!

jenajet · 05/21/2007, 05:16 AM

Should be fine, I move livestock between tanks all the time without acclimating. You'd freak out too if someone came into your home and made you leave. Give him some time and lights out are a good move. I hold feeding too, cause he probably would freak again if you have to feed yours with a rod.

BlokX · 05/21/2007, 10:16 AM

well...everything went well. I don't have to feed this eel with a rod because he's kinda crippled anyway...hehe. but yeah, left the lights off all last night, this morning just the actinics came on, then about 2 hours later i turned on the whites too.

the eel and both fish are just hanging out. probably hold off on feeding anyway just for today then tonight or tomorrow morning i'll go for the feed.

he was just sitting with his face in a hole for the most part, but this morning he was hanging out like he'd been in the tank for years.

fry_school101 · 05/21/2007, 11:43 AM

Good to hear it! I tend to move my fish faster than many. As I understand it QT and acclimating are very important for fish that have been mail-ordered or at a less than perfect LFS. If they come from another reefers tank they'll probably hold up fine with less/no acclimation and may be fine regardless.

05/20/2007, 06:45 PM	#1
BlokX Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 45	eel was flipping out, no acclimation...will he be ok? was moving fish from one tank to another. I had a bag ready and I was going to net the eel and put him in the bag, then move the bag to the new tank and acclimate slowly....but the eel was going too crazy. took me forever just to net him, he almost jumped out of the tank on multiple occasions. i finally got him in the net, where he kept flipping out. i tried to get him in the bag, but he wasn't having that whatsoever. basically i ended up just moving him quickly into the new tank. the temps are very close to the same, salinity is the same, nitrates are substantially lower, everything is basically on point with each other. the new tank may be slightly warmer since it's smaller and has a better heater in it, the lighting in the tank is much better, but i'm keeping those off to help avoid stress right now. anything else you guys can think i should do to make this transition on him easier? i really just wish he wouldn't have been going nuts so i could acclimate him properly. need help and need it asap! thanks in advance!

05/20/2007, 06:51 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I would guess the animal will be fine. Since the salinity matched, I think the major issue will be the stress. I can't think of anything to do other than wait and watch. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/21/2007, 05:16 AM	#6
jenajet Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ga Posts: 103	Should be fine, I move livestock between tanks all the time without acclimating. You'd freak out too if someone came into your home and made you leave. Give him some time and lights out are a good move. I hold feeding too, cause he probably would freak again if you have to feed yours with a rod. __________________ Jena Current Tank Info: 90 gallon mixed reef.

05/20/2007, 07:01 PM	#3
BlokX Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 45	well...that's what i'm doing as i slowly acclimate the 2 fish into the tank i'm going to keep the lights off completely for tonight until the normal time tomorrow...then i may just run the actinics if it seems like he's still stressed.

05/20/2007, 07:25 PM	#4
BlokX Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 45	well...the eel is wrapped around a rock and has his head down in a hole. he's breathing, so hopefully by tomorrow morning he'll be okay.

05/21/2007, 12:04 AM	#5
nick18tjetta Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 643	I found a ribbon eel behind a rack of tanks one time at a LFS. It was covered and dirt and looked like a power cord. We put it back in the tank and it was fine. The eel had been missing the day before!

05/21/2007, 10:16 AM	#7
BlokX Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 45	well...everything went well. I don't have to feed this eel with a rod because he's kinda crippled anyway...hehe. but yeah, left the lights off all last night, this morning just the actinics came on, then about 2 hours later i turned on the whites too. the eel and both fish are just hanging out. probably hold off on feeding anyway just for today then tonight or tomorrow morning i'll go for the feed. he was just sitting with his face in a hole for the most part, but this morning he was hanging out like he'd been in the tank for years.

05/21/2007, 11:43 AM	#8
fry_school101 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Washington DC / Arlington, VA Posts: 73	Good to hear it! I tend to move my fish faster than many. As I understand it QT and acclimating are very important for fish that have been mail-ordered or at a less than perfect LFS. If they come from another reefers tank they'll probably hold up fine with less/no acclimation and may be fine regardless.