Snowflake eel randomly died after 4 days

[Reef_Tanks]

So i bought a snowflake eel on Friday looking good exploring the tank and so on then woke up today and saw his tail tried to feed him for the first time by putting a tiny bit of prawn near him and i was wondering why it doesnt wanna eat next thing I touch the tail slightly no movement then pick up with my tongs and is dead.

The day i bought him all my water was testing fine only small issue was phos was 0.2 but was using phosphate remover but no way that had an impact on the eel. So I'm just curious to hear anybody's thoughts on how it may've died or did i just get really unlucky I literally have 0 idea. Just to add on it was fairly small.

 

[littlefoxx]

You test for copper at all? And whats your parameters just for us to see. Eels are very hardy in my experience especially snowflakes

 

[Reef_Tanks]

You test for copper at all? And whats your parameters just for us to see. Eels are very hardy in my experience especially snowflakes

Nah i did not test for copper but i can tell you what they roughly were because i didn't take a photo of the test we did down at the shop.

alk: 7.2
Ph: can't remember but was good they were telling us
Phos: 0.2
Calcium: 520 (was too high so switched it off on my auto doser)
Mag: 1400 about maybe a tad lower
Ammo: 0
Nitrite : 0
Nitrate: 0 ( I know you need a tiny bit of nitrate but im sure it tested wrong and should be about 8-10 id guess)

 

[Reef_Tanks]

This is how it looked after i got it out

 

[littlefoxx]

How new is the tank? I would test for copper

 

[Reef_Tanks]

How new is the tank? I would test for copper

Nah this is an old tank i did upgrade from a 215 litre to a 326 litre but its been months like maybe 6 since the upgrade I have a flame angel and an epaulette shark in there at the moment and both thriving

 

[littlefoxx]

Nah this is an old tank i did upgrade from a 215 litre to a 326 litre but its been months like maybe 6 since the upgrade I have a flame angel and an epaulette shark in there at the moment and both thriving

What test kit did the people who tested your water use?

 

[Reef_Tanks]

What test kit did the people who tested your water use?

I honestly don't know the name of it but you give your water over it spins in the small machine and gives very accurate readings.

 

[littlefoxx]

I honestly don't know the name of it but you give your water over it spins in the small machine and gives very accurate readings.

Huh. You said youve got a shark? Did maybe that shark and the eel tangle for any reason?

 

[Reef_Tanks]

Huh. You said youve got a shark? Did maybe that shark and the eel tangle for any reason?

Yeah i have a small epaulette shark and they were completely fine with each other no bad interactions even when they were next to each other at some points i asked multiple times are they safe together and everywhere i asked it was a yes so to answer your question no they had no issues with one another

 

[Outlaw Corals]

Did you use a phosphate remover like the phosphate e from Brightwell ?

 

[Slocke]

If there is an epaulette shark then it definitely is not copper. Could be it was crushed by the epualettes jaws but you’d see some damage I’d think.

@Jay Hemdal

 

[littlefoxx]

If there is an epaulette shark then it definitely is not copper. Could be it was crushed by the epualettes jaws but you’d see some damage I’d think.

@Jay Hemdal

Agree with that, the shark would be dead too if it was copper

 

[Reef_Tanks]

If there is an epaulette shark then it definitely is not copper. Could be it was crushed by the epualettes jaws but you’d see some damage I’d think.

@Jay Hemdal

Yeah no damage to it the eel was actually chilling on top of the shark once and the shark just was chill laying there so 100% was nothing to do with the shark

 

[Reef_Tanks]

Agree with that, the shark would be dead too if it was copper

Could it just be unlucky like i dont know at this point?

 

[Slocke]

Could still be the shark. They use their mouths to feel and explore (think an untrained puppy). However if you are confident it’s not that I would just see if Jay has any insights.

Though in future (if you didn’t with this one) I would suggest getting an eel of around equal size to the shark and making sure there is plenty of hiding spots for the eel.

 

[Reef_Tanks]

Could still be the shark. They use their mouths to feel and explore (think an untrained puppy). However if you are confident it’s not that I would just see if Jay has any insights.

Though in future (if you didn’t with this one) I would suggest getting an eel of around equal size to the shark and making sure there is plenty of hiding spots for the eel.

The thing is they are about the same size and there is plenty of rock work to hide in and thrive so im 1000% sure its nothing to do with the shark

 

[KrisReef]

What were you feeding the eel? Was it eating for you?

 

[Reef_Tanks]

What were you feeding the eel? Was it eating for you?

Only had it for 4 days i tried twice one 2 days after it settled in which it didn't, eat the other was today where it was unfortunately dead. So basically attempted twice since i got it and didnt really care for it

 

[littlefoxx]

Only had it for 4 days i tried twice one 2 days after it settled in which it didn't, eat the other was today where it was unfortunately dead. So basically attempted twice since i got it and didnt really care for it

Not unusual for them to not eat after being put in. What all is in the tank besides the shark?