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Updates on my American Eel


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#61 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 23 June 2010 - 05:48 PM

good news, everyone!

Eli has been under my care for 6 months and is doing fine! I FINALLY found a 55 gallon tank to move him too. Assuming my friend's truck isn't fixed, I may have to pick it up in August though.

#62 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 08 September 2010 - 08:59 PM

I FINALLY GOT A LARGER TANK. I picked up the 55 gallon a few weeks ago. I just need a few more supplies before I set it up. It's going to look awesome!

#63 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 21 December 2010 - 08:44 PM

Figured I'd do an update in case anybody checks this out still.

Eli's doing well. I noticed the bigger tank I got for him has some chips in it, so I'm going to try and test it sometime tomorrow outside to make sure it holds water.

He's still incredibly shy. He burrows when the lights go on and he still feeds late when everyone's asleep. Just recently he had his first taste of tilapia. :smile2:

#64 Guest_Jan_*

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Posted 21 December 2010 - 08:58 PM

Figured I'd do an update in case anybody checks this out still.

Eli's doing well. I noticed the bigger tank I got for him has some chips in it, so I'm going to try and test it sometime tomorrow outside to make sure it holds water.

He's still incredibly shy. He burrows when the lights go on and he still feeds late when everyone's asleep. Just recently he had his first taste of tilapia. :smile2:

Glad to hear Eli is doing well - I'm a fan!
Maybe you can post some pics or video of him soon.

#65 Guest_v369_*

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Posted 22 December 2010 - 01:26 PM

cant wait to see pics once new tank is cycled and elis in !

#66 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 22 December 2010 - 03:52 PM

cant wait to see pics once new tank is cycled and elis in !


Well the tank is in a brief test phase right now. As I've said before there are some chips on the outside of the glass. I wanted to try testing it in a bathtub but mine is too small to put the tank in. It's outside right now with approximately 20-25 gallons of water. It's too cold outside to let sit overnight and I don't have the equipment to siphon out the water quickly if I did fill it all the way(stupid move on my part I guess). I'll see if I can get photos of the chips up if anyone's interested.

Edited by SunnyRollins, 22 December 2010 - 03:55 PM.


#67 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 22 December 2010 - 05:31 PM

Well the tank is in a brief test phase right now. As I've said before there are some chips on the outside of the glass. I wanted to try testing it in a bathtub but mine is too small to put the tank in. It's outside right now with approximately 20-25 gallons of water. It's too cold outside to let sit overnight and I don't have the equipment to siphon out the water quickly if I did fill it all the way(stupid move on my part I guess). I'll see if I can get photos of the chips up if anyone's interested.


Well since I am unable to test it properly in this cold weather and asking around, I think I'll just buy a brand new tank instead. I do not want to risk flooding my basement. I'll try and get one this evening.

#68 Guest_gzeiger_*

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Posted 23 December 2010 - 12:02 PM

Why can't you fill it all the way while it's outside?

#69 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 23 December 2010 - 07:03 PM

Why can't you fill it all the way while it's outside?


Well the brace is missing....and my parents weren't exactly thrilled helping move the tank around. More importantly, I would have wanted it to sit for at least a week with water, and with temperatures getting to below freezing, the tank would most certainly crack. I wanted to try it inside, but my spare bath tub wasn't big enough to fit it.

I just bought another tank so I didn't have to bother with anymore waiting. I'll start decking it out after Christmas.

#70 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 02 January 2011 - 03:57 PM

Well life's been busy with work and the holidays, and now I'm leaving for a vacation, so I haven't been able to get the tank set up. I have been buying supplies to set it up though.

He's still extremely shy about eating in front of me. Nowadays I have not seen him eat, but I drop food and and see it disappear by the next morning.

#71 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 18 January 2011 - 03:47 PM

And I've officially had Eli for one year today! I've been rinsing the sand for the tank, but because of the freezing temperatures we've been having, I have been unable to rinse it(I have to rinse it outside since it's so dusty to work with inside). I hope to have it start cycling before the end of the month. After that I will be posting pics.

#72 Guest_panfisherteen_*

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Posted 18 January 2011 - 05:58 PM

Nice. How large is Eli now?

#73 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 18 January 2011 - 07:05 PM

Nice. How large is Eli now?


Last I checked around 17 inches still....but he wasn't stretched out completely so I could be slightly off. He's been eating mostly nightcrawlers until I recently switched to tilapia filets.

#74 Guest_dmarkley_*

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Posted 20 January 2011 - 08:38 AM

Last I checked around 17 inches still....but he wasn't stretched out completely so I could be slightly off. He's been eating mostly nightcrawlers until I recently switched to tilapia filets.


Here's a challenge for you: Get Eli out and get an exact measurement of his length.... LOL!

#75 Guest_smbass_*

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Posted 20 January 2011 - 10:33 AM

I need a good photo of an American Eel... What is the best shot you have? Any with it sitting in the open across the bottom of the tank?

#76 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 21 January 2011 - 01:28 PM

I need a good photo of an American Eel... What is the best shot you have? Any with it sitting in the open across the bottom of the tank?


Unfortunately I have no full body shots. I have close ups of him that I remember posting in the Photo Gallery awhile ago. If you have trouble finding them, let me know.

Getting him out of the tank.....HA! That is a true challenge. I remember transferring him into the current tank, I simply sat over the container with my net dangling in the water, trying to figure out how to get him easily....and he simply swam into the net....talk about lucky! hahaha

#77 Guest_smbass_*

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Posted 21 January 2011 - 07:42 PM

If you can get a good shot in the next month or so let me know this would be used in a publication for the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

#78 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 26 January 2011 - 01:36 PM

If you can get a good shot in the next month or so let me know this would be used in a publication for the Ohio Division of Wildlife.



How are these:

http://forum.nanfa.o...h__1#entry72907

This weather is getting absolutely ridiculous. I haven't been able to rinse sand for weeks with this frigid weather. I'm just going to start filling the tank with water and add more sand later.

#79 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 02 February 2011 - 09:55 PM

Well the tank is filled and the filter is running. I have quikrete all purpose sand as substrate(rinsed it first) and a hydro sponge v filter powered by a tetra AP 300 pump. I have absolutely no luck finding pure ammonia with no surfactant, so I just tossed in some fish food to start the ammonia build up. Tests to be run tomorrow after work.

Wish me luck :)

#80 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 08 February 2011 - 12:24 PM

So I ran two tests on the tank and each time the ammonia showed up at zero. I did a little research and asking around and found out it would be ok to add Eli with the substrate and filter from his old tank with no problems while the new filter cycles. I bought two pvc pipes to use as temporary hides in the new tank. Once it warms up I plan on adding driftwood to replace them.

I got video of him on Christmas when I got a new video camera. I just uploaded it the other day to see how it looked. I'm pleased with the results. Check it out!






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