Turtle's Fairy Tale

[SashimiTurtle]

How big of a tank does 1 need?

Ehh they don't really swim, so that's not going to be a factor on tank size. They will come out occasionally and make a lap or two, then go back into their cave.

I would say around a 20-30 gallon AIO with added filtration would be the bare minimum for them. A 30 gallon with sump (like my Deep Blue) is prefered. As long as they can stretch out completely and have a few different hidey holes they are comfortable.

Its filtration for a predator that is the problem. Instead of small frequent meals, like feeding normal fish once or twice a day, they eat large infrequent meals that puts a big load on the bio filter, then none at all for a few days up to a week or even more in a hunger strike. Really small tanks can't handle the bio load.

It's like tossing a dead nano fish in your tank every two to three days. A large tank will never notice, but a small tank will have a build up of nutrients and maybe ammonia because the bio filter will get overwhelmed. I'm pushing it with my tank choice, but I have a trick up my sleeve I hope is going to work out...

 

[Katrina71]

Ok now I'm curious...

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Ok now I'm curious...

You'll see when I set it up...

 

[Katrina71]

I have an idea

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Just got the scare of a lifetime... went to go check on the eel and saw nothing. Yep, nothing.

I added that large(r) rock last night as he was huddled up against the internal HOB yesterday and wanted something more natural. With some encouragement he coiled under the rock and looked to be pleased with the new spot. So when I went to check on him this morning I expected so see him in the same spot... nope. Pulled the rock out of the tank to see if it had found a crevasse to hide in.

No eel.

Pulled the skull out to see if maybe it could hide where I couldn't see inside there somehow.

No eel.

Unplugged the HOB and disassembled it to see if it had found a way inside it.

No eel.

At this point, panic ensued. I started tearing the room appart with a flashlight looking all over the place thinking it must have gotten thru a gap in the top and I just lost my eel and one of the dogs ate it for breakfast or a midnight snack....

Then I look up at the tank and see something. A little golden mouth sticking out of the tiniest hole in the rock I added yesterday. Yep, the same rock I pulled out of the tank looking for him. A whole eel, was completely inside the rock.

Look right there, just left of center and just barely visible...

Where is the whiskey? I don't care if its 9am...

 

[Brew12]

Just got the scare of a lifetime... went to go check on the eel and saw nothing. Yep, nothing.

I added that large(r) rock last night as he was huddled up against the internal HOB yesterday and wanted something more natural. With some encouragement he coiled under the rock and looked to be pleased with the new spot. So when I went to check on him this morning I expected so see him in the same spot... nope. Pulled the rock out of the tank to see if it had found a crevasse to hide in.

No eel.

Pulled the skull out to see if maybe it could hide where I couldn't see inside there somehow.

No eel.

Unplugged the HOB and disassembled it to see if it had found a way inside it.

No eel.

At this point, panic ensued. I started tearing the room appart with a flashlight looking all over the place thinking it must have gotten thru a gap in the top and I just lost my eel and one of the dogs ate it for breakfast or a midnight snack....

Then I look up at the tank and see something. A little golden mouth sticking out of the tiniest hole in the rock I added yesterday. Yep, the same rock I pulled out of the tank looking for him. A whole eel, was completely inside the rock.

Look right there, just left of center and just barely visible...

Where is the whiskey? I don't care if its 9am...

Wow. How did you even notice him in there?

 

[Scurvy]

Dude, that's NUTS! Glad the little guys ok. You'd think when you pulled the rock from the water he would've freaked out and slithered out.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Wow. How did you even notice him in there?

I was below the tank, you know on the floor looking for an eel that had slithered under something. I looked up at the tank (the entrance points down) and saw the rock move. Well not the rock but something in the rock moved. I thought, that rock has been wet for a year, but I KNOW there's nothing living in it but bacteria...

Wrong. There was an eel living in it.

Frickin pukani and all its holes and crevasses...

 

[NY_Caveman]

Just got the scare of a lifetime... went to go check on the eel and saw nothing. Yep, nothing.

I added that large(r) rock last night as he was huddled up against the internal HOB yesterday and wanted something more natural. With some encouragement he coiled under the rock and looked to be pleased with the new spot. So when I went to check on him this morning I expected so see him in the same spot... nope. Pulled the rock out of the tank to see if it had found a crevasse to hide in.

No eel.

Pulled the skull out to see if maybe it could hide where I couldn't see inside there somehow.

No eel.

Unplugged the HOB and disassembled it to see if it had found a way inside it.

No eel.

At this point, panic ensued. I started tearing the room appart with a flashlight looking all over the place thinking it must have gotten thru a gap in the top and I just lost my eel and one of the dogs ate it for breakfast or a midnight snack....

Then I look up at the tank and see something. A little golden mouth sticking out of the tiniest hole in the rock I added yesterday. Yep, the same rock I pulled out of the tank looking for him. A whole eel, was completely inside the rock.

Look right there, just left of center and just barely visible...

Where is the whiskey? I don't care if its 9am...

I was on the edge of my seat for that. Pretty awesome.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Crazy eel...

 

[Brew12]

Crazy eel...

When are you going to try and feed him again?

 

[SashimiTurtle]

When are you going to try and feed him again?

Maybe later today... he seems to have found a nice comfortable spot. Hopefully he'll be interested in food this time.

 

[Brew12]

Maybe later today... he seems to have found a nice comfortable spot. Hopefully he'll be interested in food this time.

I've heard a few drops of salted caramel whiskey added to the water will help stimulate feeding. Or maybe that it was ok to be drinking it while you were feeding :rolleyes:

 

[Fudsey]

You must have been in full panic mode.... Glad you found him safe and sound

 

[sfin52]

That's a mighty big scare.

 

[najer]

I've heard a few drops of salted caramel whiskey added to the water will help

Dude, we are all freaking out about the eel and you try talking about alternative carbon dosing?! ;)

 

[mta_morrow]

This was me reading that story......!!!

I’m glad you found the little guy!

 

[siggy]

Glad he found a home.......Got Mysis?....whats the cheapest tiny live shrimp available? throw a dozen in and see how long they last..that squid may be too big

You'll see when I set it up...

 

[SashimiTurtle]

He ate. Some squishy white thing in the LRS Chunky. I had to really convince him tho. Tried a small piece of squid tentacle, seemed interested but didn't bite. Then I think the was a chunk of krill in the LRS, still interested but no bite. Then the white squishy thing. I held it there for a while at the entrance to his hidey hole, then just stuck it in his face and idk if it was aggression towards something being close or I finally put the food where he wanted it... but he ate it. Just a tiny piece but it was food and it went in the eel. I call that a win.

 

[sfin52]

I bet the squishy white thing was squid. I believe lrs uses squid.