Zebra eel help

[Hp1836]

I have 2 eels In one tank. A small Indian mud eel and a larger zebra eel. They get along great and often times hide in the same pvc tube together. 2x a week feeding of squid, shrimp, or fish chunks. My zebra eel stopped hiding a few days ago. Just laying upside down out in the open on the sand in the same place. she is breathing. This has been going on for 4-5 days now. Checked water. All good. The other eel is doing fine too. Any ideas?

 

[ieatbugman]

Ick maybe? Velvet? Better pictures would help, and ima call in the cavalry. @vetteguy53081

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have 2 eels In one tank. A small Indian mud eel and a larger zebra eel. They get along great and often times hide in the same pvc tube together. 2x a week feeding of squid, shrimp, or fish chunks. My zebra eel stopped hiding a few days ago. Just laying upside down out in the open on the sand in the same place. she is breathing. This has been going on for 4-5 days now. Checked water. All good. The other eel is doing fine too. Any ideas?

Pic is blurry but water also appears to be milky and suggests issue with filtration and water quality. Nitrates may have increased causing this sudden behavior and should be verified with a reliable test kit.
Is eel breathing labored?
Can use clearer pic and even video under bright light intensity

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have 2 eels In one tank. A small Indian mud eel and a larger zebra eel. They get along great and often times hide in the same pvc tube together. 2x a week feeding of squid, shrimp, or fish chunks. My zebra eel stopped hiding a few days ago. Just laying upside down out in the open on the sand in the same place. she is breathing. This has been going on for 4-5 days now. Checked water. All good. The other eel is doing fine too. Any ideas?

For sure post the full water quality parameters for this tank so we can rule out water issues.

How long have you had this eel? It isn't uncommon for this species to lay about in odd positions, even upside down, but if that is combined with it not eating, then there is more to worry about.

Jay

 

[HAAAAAAAA]

I have 2 eels In one tank. A small Indian mud eel and a larger zebra eel. They get along great and often times hide in the same pvc tube together. 2x a week feeding of squid, shrimp, or fish chunks. My zebra eel stopped hiding a few days ago. Just laying upside down out in the open on the sand in the same place. she is breathing. This has been going on for 4-5 days now. Checked water. All good. The other eel is doing fine too. Any ideas?

What's the size of the tank? The only time I've ever seen an eel like that was a horried ammonia spike, if the tank is small and you've been feeding it frozen food, a small chunk of food could've remained somewhere near a rock which the eels have not eaten hence the spike, this is fairly common in smaller tanks with less circulation

 

[littlefoxx]

Whats your oxygenation look like? My zebra eel is goofy but shes never done that. Also agree with the murky water observation from vetteguy. Thinking its water quality issue

 

[littlefoxx]

Also whats salinity at? I think that other eel isnt actually a saltwater eel but brackish? If so then thats also an issue since if its the eel I think you have a zebra cant live at that low of salinity

 

[HAAAAAAAA]

Also whats salinity at? I think that other eel isnt actually a saltwater eel but brackish? If so then thats also an issue since if its the eel I think you have a zebra cant live at that low of salinity

I've had that eel before, it does more better in full marine conditions than in brackish, I've never had it eat in brackish, only in full salt.

 

[littlefoxx]

I've had that eel before, it does more better in full marine conditions than in brackish, I've never had it eat in brackish, only in full salt.

Wondering if Op doesnt have ir full salt since the zebra is having issues but not the other eel

 

[HAAAAAAAA]

Wondering if Op doesnt have ir full salt since the zebra is having issues but not the other eel

You could be right, but they did say that they were feeding 2 times a week, i would be surprised if the zebra even ate a morsal in brackish, many people have had much issues with the zebra not eating, but op has it upside down? I've seen eels go on with stabs on them by fisherman and rarely ever die from a deadly bacterial infection from it, i hope the op does a large water change if that is indeed the issue since it's quite easy to get an ammonia spike from keeping eels in either a small tank or a rotting food