Dead Eel... what's next?

[JohnnyReef13]

Hey everyone. Hope your all doing well. So, a couple days ago I posted a thread "Eel hasn't been eating, or has been eating less..."
I got a couple replies saying that it was likely just a hunger streak. This morning, I found my eel lying dead. After several attempts of picking him out, he was bleeding from the nose. He fell back in, and then with the help of my father we successfully got him out. I am worried about my fish, because there were no filters in the tank as we were treating it for a highly recommended to treat bacteria. As of now, the others seem fine... Foxface (temporarily), Maroon Clownfish and Blue Velvet Damsel. Here are my questions
1. What do you believe killed him? He was dripping blood out the nose but was all in contact. He also hadn't been eating prior to this.
2. I am going to do a water change. What else should I do? I put in ammonia remover, and filters back in the tank.
3. We are thinking about getting a new fish when the water is ready. I'm not sure when, since my eel just passed. I do not know when the water will be ready. I don't believe my tank is right yet. It's 45 gal, with coral and a young foxface, marron clownfish and blue velvet damsel. Thanks.

 

[JohnnyReef13]

@vetteguy53081 what are your thoughts?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey everyone. Hope your all doing well. So, a couple days ago I posted a thread "Eel hasn't been eating, or has been eating less..."
I got a couple replies saying that it was likely just a hunger streak. This morning, I found my eel lying dead. After several attempts of picking him out, he was bleeding from the nose. He fell back in, and then with the help of my father we successfully got him out. I am worried about my fish, because there were no filters in the tank as we were treating it for a highly recommended to treat bacteria. As of now, the others seem fine... Foxface (temporarily), Maroon Clownfish and Blue Velvet Damsel. Here are my questions
1. What do you believe killed him? He was dripping blood out the nose but was all in contact. He also hadn't been eating prior to this.
2. I am going to do a water change. What else should I do? I put in ammonia remover, and filters back in the tank.
3. We are thinking about getting a new fish when the water is ready. I'm not sure when, since my eel just passed. I do not know when the water will be ready. I don't believe my tank is right yet. It's 45 gal, with coral and a young foxface, marron clownfish and blue velvet damsel. Thanks.

No filters running was likely a contributor as high nitrates will take the eel down and cause bacterial issues, elevated breathing and slime separation from skin. Water change yes which will reduce ammonia- forget bottle stuff that claim to remove ammonia. You CAN run filters with medication but in many cases remove carbon

 

[littlefoxx]

Like said in other threads of yours, you have an extremely small tank for the fish youre trying to keep. No filtration is a huge issue. Likely a combo of bad water quality, aggression and stress. Eels are very resilient. One of mine has an injury now but she had good water, space and shes healing very nicely. Not trying to be mean just pointing out that you having a proper tank and habitat for these fish is very important.

 

[eliaslikesfish]

wait you’re saying you completely stopped your filter? or you removed the media from the filter but left it on?

 

[Should I]

what eel did you have how long did you have it what have you been feeding it before it stopped eating

 

[JohnnyReef13]

No filters running was likely a contributor as high nitrates will take the eel down and cause bacterial issues, elevated breathing and slime separation from skin. Water change yes which will reduce ammonia- forget bottle stuff that claim to remove ammonia. You CAN run filters with medication but in many cases remove carbon

what eel did you have how long did you have it what have you been feeding it before it stopped eating

Like said in other threads of yours, you have an extremely small tank for the fish youre trying to keep. No filtration is a huge issue. Likely a combo of bad water quality, aggression and stress. Eels are very resilient. One of mine has an injury now but she had good water, space and shes healing very nicely. Not trying to be mean just pointing out that you having a proper tank and habitat for these fish is very important.

wait you’re saying you completely stopped your filter? or you removed the media from the filter but left it on?

Hey everyone! Thnaks for the respones. I need to clarify that the filters were left running just without the cartridges.

 

[littlefoxx]

What else is in the tank

 

[Rjukan]

How about a couple pics of the tank?

 

[Should I]

How about a couple pics of the tank?

agree we need a tank pic

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey everyone! Thnaks for the respones. I need to clarify that the filters were left running just without the cartridges.

Filters- what filtration are you running and is this a reef-ready system? Can you post pics of tank?

 

[JohnnyReef13]

 

[JohnnyReef13]

What else is in the tank

Coral, Chocolate Chip Starfish, Turbos, Purple Sea Urchins.

 

[JohnnyReef13]

Hello! @eliaslikesfish so I kept the filters running but took out the cartridges!
@littlefoxx I have a couple of turbo snails, chocolate chip starfish, green polyp coral, and purple sea urchins.
@Should I Snowflake Moray Eel, probably over 7 months, under a year. I fed it clams until recently it stopped.
@vetteguy53081 I have live rock and I had previously an anemone and a coral that passed a couple months back. I currently have a coral that SEEMS healthy. I performed a 1/5 water change out of my tank. (Actually 10).

 

[littlefoxx]

Hello! @eliaslikesfish so I kept the filters running but took out the cartridges!
@littlefoxx I have a couple of turbo snails, chocolate chip starfish, green polyp coral, and purple sea urchins.
@Should I Snowflake Moray Eel, probably over 7 months, under a year. I fed it clams until recently it stopped.
@vetteguy53081 I have live rock and I had previously an anemone and a coral that passed a couple months back. I currently have a coral that SEEMS healthy. I performed a 1/5 water change out of my tank. (Actually 10).

So when I had issues with ich and other stuff in my 300 gallon I pulled everyone into QT and restarted my tank completely. Might be a good choice here and when its set up getting appropriate fish for a 45g

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello! @eliaslikesfish so I kept the filters running but took out the cartridges!
@littlefoxx I have a couple of turbo snails, chocolate chip starfish, green polyp coral, and purple sea urchins.
@Should I Snowflake Moray Eel, probably over 7 months, under a year. I fed it clams until recently it stopped.
@vetteguy53081 I have live rock and I had previously an anemone and a coral that passed a couple months back. I currently have a coral that SEEMS healthy. I performed a 1/5 water change out of my tank. (Actually 10).

I would NOT reset tank and have to cycle all over again especially with other fish doing well and inverts fine which almost rules out water issue.

 

[KQuillan]

I'm sorry you lost your eel. I think you are really trying to do the right thing; I just think you need to do a bit more research. The tank seems small for an eel.

 

[JohnnyReef13]

So when I had issues with ich and other stuff in my 300 gallon I pulled everyone into QT and restarted my tank completely. Might be a good choice here and when its set up getting appropriate fish for a 45g

Hey! I am not looking to restart my tank at this time since I don't have a backup tank and don't have a quarintine tank. However, as the Foxface gets bigger I am going to buy it a larger tank if it stays alive. Hoping to get a larger tank in a year!

 

[JohnnyReef13]

I would NOT reset tank and have to cycle all over again especially with other fish doing well and inverts fine which almost rules out water issue.

Hey! Yeah, I think they are all doing well. With Foxface soon to be placed into a larger tank, if it lasts till then I wouldn't want to restart because this was my first tank and my father would like to take over this tank keeping the maroon and damselfish if they make it as well. I think the others are doing fine. Also, do you have anything on Blackfoot Lionfish? Thanks again @vetteguy53081!

 

[JohnnyReef13]

I'm sorry you lost your eel. I think you are really trying to do the right thing; I just think you need to do a bit more research. The tank seems small for an eel.

Hey! Thank you for your support. I appreciate this! I read a book saying eels are ok in a 30 gal. Snowflakes, of course. Not green morays!