Eel in Overflow...

AlexS95 · 07/22/2011, 01:09 AM

I posted this in the FO Section, but I am reposting it here because I am hoping I get more ideas:
I finally got my "dream fish" of a "small" Zebra Eel... And I thought I had everything secured, but the eel was smaller than I thought it would be and now seems to be content living in the overflow for now.

What would be the best way to get him out?

You can click to enlarge them.

Any help would be appreciated.

papagimp · 07/22/2011, 01:28 AM

I feel your pain. I had afull grown specimen jump out of my tank once and instinctively I ran over picked it up and then it occured to me what I was doing. Luckily my toss to the tank was good. another 10,000 dollar "america's funniest video" moment lost because I didn't have a camera going.

I'm really at a loss to a suggestion for you, gunna have to get creative :P Maybe secure a nice yummy piece of shrimp to a feeding tool and when he latches on, lift him out gently? I know it's kinda mean, but I used to play a little tug o' war with mine, he never got hurt and i wasn't too rough. But when he latched on to the shrimp or whatever I happened to be feeding him, he sure didn't like to let go.

RiffRaff · 07/22/2011, 01:29 AM

I had an eel that "lived" in the rear chamber of a biocube. But he would come to the display side to feed. But never right away. I'd drop a silverside over there an always trying to see how he was doing it. But he had a spidey sense and would never come over. I just had to let him go a few days with out food. Then I chinned the water with some rods food. And then when he started movin around I had a bag ready and once I saw the spot of the wall he was going over I just held the bag there and he swam right in. I'd imagine you could do the same thing but then secure where ever he was slipping through

papagimp · 07/22/2011, 01:31 AM

I like his idea better than mine ^^

RiffRaff · 07/22/2011, 01:31 AM

Chummed. Not chimmed

OregonReefer · 07/22/2011, 01:41 AM

Amazing how smart eels are though... be sure to seal off his route back in there

AlexS95 · 07/22/2011, 11:56 AM

Any more ideas? Would it stress him out to much if I just got a pair of gloves or something and tried to pick him up?

snorvich · 07/22/2011, 12:09 PM

Ever been bitten by an eel? When they bite, be sure to let them release as their teeth are pointed inward.

AlexS95 · 07/22/2011, 05:00 PM

Hence the gloves? lol
Well, anyway, I got him out today.

papagimp · 07/22/2011, 05:14 PM

How did you do it?

AlexS95 · 07/22/2011, 06:04 PM

I had to remove the jet (I don't know the right word for it, but I'm talking about this) so he had a place to swim through to go back up, then I managed to get a net at the bottom and sort of 'corralled' him up to the top. I wasn't expecting to work, but I'm glad it did.

greech · 07/22/2011, 08:06 PM

Glad you got him out. Very cool eel!

ErinCahir · 07/23/2011, 01:39 AM

I'm glad you got him out! Are you going to mod so he can't get back in?

AlexS95 · 07/23/2011, 05:26 PM

Yeah, I put some eggcrate in top of the overflows so waste, food, etc. can still get through and he can't; I'm hoping it'll work.

07/22/2011, 01:09 AM	#1
AlexS95 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Brandon, FL Posts: 1,065	Eel in Overflow... I posted this in the FO Section, but I am reposting it here because I am hoping I get more ideas: I finally got my "dream fish" of a "small" Zebra Eel... And I thought I had everything secured, but the eel was smaller than I thought it would be and now seems to be content living in the overflow for now. What would be the best way to get him out? You can click to enlarge them. Any help would be appreciated.

07/22/2011, 01:28 AM	#2
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	I feel your pain. I had afull grown specimen jump out of my tank once and instinctively I ran over picked it up and then it occured to me what I was doing. Luckily my toss to the tank was good. another 10,000 dollar "america's funniest video" moment lost because I didn't have a camera going. I'm really at a loss to a suggestion for you, gunna have to get creative :P Maybe secure a nice yummy piece of shrimp to a feeding tool and when he latches on, lift him out gently? I know it's kinda mean, but I used to play a little tug o' war with mine, he never got hurt and i wasn't too rough. But when he latched on to the shrimp or whatever I happened to be feeding him, he sure didn't like to let go. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

07/22/2011, 01:29 AM	#3
RiffRaff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St. Louis Posts: 1,120	I had an eel that "lived" in the rear chamber of a biocube. But he would come to the display side to feed. But never right away. I'd drop a silverside over there an always trying to see how he was doing it. But he had a spidey sense and would never come over. I just had to let him go a few days with out food. Then I chinned the water with some rods food. And then when he started movin around I had a bag ready and once I saw the spot of the wall he was going over I just held the bag there and he swam right in. I'd imagine you could do the same thing but then secure where ever he was slipping through __________________ reefin ain't cheatin Current Tank Info: 72 gal bowfront

07/22/2011, 01:31 AM	#4
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	I like his idea better than mine ^^ __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

07/22/2011, 01:31 AM	#5
RiffRaff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St. Louis Posts: 1,120	Chummed. Not chimmed __________________ reefin ain't cheatin Current Tank Info: 72 gal bowfront

07/22/2011, 01:41 AM	#6
OregonReefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 629	Amazing how smart eels are though... be sure to seal off his route back in there __________________ 120g drilled, 30G sump, 20g Fuge, RO NWB200 Skimmer, Glass Holes Overflow, mag 12.0 return, Reeflo Dart closed loop, 6-bulb Sunlight Tek

07/22/2011, 11:56 AM	#7
AlexS95 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Brandon, FL Posts: 1,065	Any more ideas? Would it stress him out to much if I just got a pair of gloves or something and tried to pick him up?

07/22/2011, 12:09 PM	#8
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Ever been bitten by an eel? When they bite, be sure to let them release as their teeth are pointed inward. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/22/2011, 05:00 PM	#9
AlexS95 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Brandon, FL Posts: 1,065	Hence the gloves? lol Well, anyway, I got him out today.

07/22/2011, 05:14 PM	#10
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	How did you do it? __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

07/22/2011, 06:04 PM	#11
AlexS95 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Brandon, FL Posts: 1,065	I had to remove the jet (I don't know the right word for it, but I'm talking about this) so he had a place to swim through to go back up, then I managed to get a net at the bottom and sort of 'corralled' him up to the top. I wasn't expecting to work, but I'm glad it did.

07/22/2011, 08:06 PM	#12
greech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,133	Glad you got him out. Very cool eel! __________________ ~Graham Current Tank Info: Tank: 40 breeder; 20H sump w/SWC 120; Sicce 3.0 return; Vortech MP-10; Sundial T5, DIY Actinic LED (3W Cree). Livestock: Pair of Black & Whites; Midas Blenny; Firefish; Yasha/pistol; Black Leopard Wrasse; LPS and SPS

07/23/2011, 01:39 AM	#13
ErinCahir Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 63	I'm glad you got him out! Are you going to mod so he can't get back in?

07/23/2011, 05:26 PM	#14
AlexS95 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Brandon, FL Posts: 1,065	Yeah, I put some eggcrate in top of the overflows so waste, food, etc. can still get through and he can't; I'm hoping it'll work.

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