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Updates on my American Eel


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#21 Guest_gzeiger_*

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Posted 23 January 2010 - 10:11 PM

Some small rocks aren't the of the world. Creek sand is what he would be burrowing in had he not been caught by a Chinese food vendor. The first one I had, at about 4 inches, burrowed into coarse arragonite gravel just fine, and that has sharp edges. He did end up with a few scratches after a while which prompted me to switch to sand, but rounded river rock shouldn't pose that problem. I can't really disagree with it taking a long time to collect though.

#22 Guest_smilingfrog_*

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Posted 23 January 2010 - 10:29 PM

I think creek sand would take forever to collect though...especially 2-3 inches for a 20 gallon long. I think it'd be more beneficial since it'd have beneficial bacteria living in it.


If you wind up going the playsand route, you could still grab a scoop or 2 of creek sand to jumpstart the colonization of the bacteria in your aquarium.

#23 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 23 January 2010 - 11:00 PM

If you wind up going the playsand route, you could still grab a scoop or 2 of creek sand to jumpstart the colonization of the bacteria in your aquarium.



Hmmm I didn't even think of that! Thanks!

And thank you gzeiger, for your helpful information. I'm about to soak some dry leaves in dechlorinated water so they'll sink when I add them.

#24 Guest_schambers_*

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Posted 24 January 2010 - 12:09 AM

I agree with smilingfrog, put in the playsand and then top it off with some creek sand and gravel to add bacteria and make it look more natural. Personally, I would drain the tank and remove the eel, then add the sand and replace the water and eel. I can understand if you don't want to handle it any more, though.

#25 Guest_jase_*

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Posted 24 January 2010 - 12:17 AM

I've used play sand from Home Depot before. If I recall correctly, there was a *lot* of dust in it. I don't think dumping a bag directly into the tank would be a good idea. Even if it was okay for the eel to have all that particulate matter suspended in the water, it would still settle out on top of the sand eventually as a layer of fine silt. Then it would get kicked up pretty much constantly. I'm not sure if I'm remembering the sand or bags of gravel I bought from Home Depot, but I had to rinse quite a lot to get it to clear (as a side, gravel from Home Depot is equally as cheap as sand, and the stuff I have is pretty attractive).

#26 Guest_lozgod_*

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Posted 24 January 2010 - 03:48 AM

When I used playsand it rinsed very easily in a 5 gallon bucket. Dumped it in, filled with water, swirled it around thoroughly, and poured the dusty water off. That simple.

#27 Guest_gzeiger_*

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Posted 24 January 2010 - 10:03 AM

The gravel is a lot dustier than the sand but I would still rinse the sand. Just run a garden hose through a 12 inch layer in a 5 gallon bucket. Stick the hose down to the bottom and let the water bubble up. It will carry the dust out as it spills over the top of the bucket.

Handling an eel that size for substrate replacement is not to be undertaken lightly as I'm sure you know by now. In your situation I would probably leave him in there and just add sand to half the tank. Give him half an hour and he'll be burrowed in it so you can finish the other half without disturbing him.

#28 Guest_jase_*

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Posted 24 January 2010 - 10:11 AM

When I used playsand it rinsed very easily in a 5 gallon bucket. Dumped it in, filled with water, swirled it around thoroughly, and poured the dusty water off. That simple.

I think I was trying to get the sand clean to the point that I could stir it up however much I wanted and would get no further dust/silt coming off it. As I recall, that took quite a bit of rinsing. I'm sure it doesn't need to be perfect for the eel, but I think just dumping the bag of sand directly into the filled aquarium without at least one rinse first would not be a good idea.

#29 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 24 January 2010 - 01:06 PM

Well thanks for all the rinsing advice! Sadly, I'm in a dorm and cant just get a hose to rinse it. However, I do have a shower with a head connected to a hose(I'm convinced it's there for people to use as a mic while they sing) and that empty rubbermaid I can pour the sand in.

I assume I should add dechlorinator once it's put in the tank?

#30 Guest_lozgod_*

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Posted 24 January 2010 - 04:04 PM

I assume I should add dechlorinator once it's put in the tank?

Yes

#31 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 24 January 2010 - 10:06 PM

Well here's an update. I wound up collecting creek sand since the sand at the home depot said on the package "do not use for aquariums." I added some of the sand to the half of the tank. It's pretty cloudy right now, so I'm going to let the sand settle before I add anymore, just to see how it's coming out.

#32 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 25 January 2010 - 09:12 AM

Well here's an update. I wound up collecting creek sand since the sand at the home depot said on the package "do not use for aquariums." I added some of the sand to the half of the tank. It's pretty cloudy right now, so I'm going to let the sand settle before I add anymore, just to see how it's coming out.


Well woke up this morning and he was still swimming around. Now it looks like he's burrowed because i don't see him anywhere and the lid is still locked in place.

The best thing ever happened last night....FEEDING RESPONSE! I dropped in a nightcrawler and some pieces to see which he preferred. At first he was picking them up, looking like he was swallowing, but then spit it out, but I'm sure he'll be eating in no time now! In fact, I currently don't see any worms in the tank besides some freshwater oligochaete that got in with the creek sand.

#33 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 31 January 2010 - 10:11 PM

Well here's a photo of him from yesterday:

Posted Image

I think he's looking better, don't you? Sorry for the quality...I only have my cell phone right now.

He's burying under the sand with just his head sticking out. It's pretty funny looking I think.

#34 Guest_gzeiger_*

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Posted 01 February 2010 - 05:36 AM

If you want to see something really funny looking keep the sand thin and put the tank on a stand that lets you look up through the bottom.

#35 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 01 February 2010 - 11:20 AM

If you want to see something really funny looking keep the sand thin and put the tank on a stand that lets you look up through the bottom.


oh man i'm having quite the mental image now lol.

still concerned about him feeding. I offered two pieces of nightcrawler two days ago and both are gone. I'll have to investigate if he just kicked them up while swimming.

I offered two more pieces last night, and right now I only see one piece remaining today. At this size, how long do you think it will take for him to adjust and coming out come feeding time(around 11PM ET)? And do you think I should not offer some food in a bottle he can fit in? He hasn't touched the stuff in there.

Here's what I've offered so far:
live goldfish
decapitated goldfish
nightcrawlers(seemingly the only thing he's eaten)
blood worms(in previously mentioned bottle)
clam(in previously mentioned bottle)
I also offered bloodworms out of the bottle, and I think he kicked them around at first but I haven't seen any on the ground since.

#36 Guest_gerald_*

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Posted 01 February 2010 - 11:29 AM

Waterlogged brown leaves are excellent cover for any fish or aquatic herps that like to hide. They will leach a lot of brown organic stuff at first, so you might want to soak them in a bucket for a couple days.

#37 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 01 February 2010 - 11:56 AM

Waterlogged brown leaves are excellent cover for any fish or aquatic herps that like to hide. They will leach a lot of brown organic stuff at first, so you might want to soak them in a bucket for a couple days.


Yup I did that. He was hiding in the leaves last I saw him. The only thing that gave him away was a little piece that was moving back and forth(from his breathing).

#38 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 02 February 2010 - 02:59 PM

I got a much clearer photograph of him

Posted Image

And here's his tank with the light on

Posted Image

#39 Guest_gzeiger_*

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Posted 02 February 2010 - 04:49 PM

Good call keeping the water level low. Hopefully that prevents escapes. Has he started eating yet? You might try ghost shrimp.

#40 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 02 February 2010 - 09:04 PM

Good call keeping the water level low. Hopefully that prevents escapes. Has he started eating yet? You might try ghost shrimp.


Like I said before, I've noticed nightcrawler pieces disappear...I'm debating dropping a crayfish in there...although I fear the crayfish eating the eel!

Edited by SunnyRollins, 02 February 2010 - 09:05 PM.





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