Worried about my Ghost ribbon eel

[raven8433]

Hopefully someone can help ease my worries or give me advise on my ghost ribbon eel. He in a well established tank with other fish. He doesn’t bother anyone and I have no problems getting him to eat. Here recently one of his tank mates that were friends with each other, a starry bleeny, passed away (I accidentally trap him under a decoration while cleaning the tank). Since then he developed a bulge in his belly and stopped moving around. For awhile he was in the shape of a “J” with his head down but the bulge up. The bulge has since gone down almost away but he is still very inactive (alive however) but now it seems like his skin is peeling away. Do they molt when they grow? Is this normal behavior before they molt/shed if they do? Or is he dying and I should consider easing his suffering?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hopefully someone can help ease my worries or give me advise on my ghost ribbon eel. He in a well established tank with other fish. He doesn’t bother anyone and I have no problems getting him to eat. Here recently one of his tank mates that were friends with each other, a starry bleeny, passed away (I accidentally trap him under a decoration while cleaning the tank). Since then he developed a bulge in his belly and stopped moving around. For awhile he was in the shape of a “J” with his head down but the bulge up. The bulge has since gone down almost away but he is still very inactive (alive however) but now it seems like his skin is peeling away. Do they molt when they grow? Is this normal behavior before they molt/shed if they do? Or is he dying and I should consider easing his suffering?

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Can you post pics taken under white light? A video can help as well.

I can't see the skin issue that you mentioned, but that doesn't sound normal, they don't shed their skin.

Jay