Ghost Eel

[tbittner]

Ok, this actually happened last night but it's so amazing, I just had to write about it.

Last night I showed my wife how to feed silversides and krill to the puffer, snowflakes, and trigger. (Foxface eats pellets). Anyway, ghost would come out and nibble on the silversides so I just assumed he was getting his fill because he still looked healthy and actually seemed to be growing.

Anyway, we kept the 150 g as a barebottom so after I finished feeding the "pigs", I layed down on the floor so I could watch what was going on up through the bottom. Ghost came out and found a faily complete LARGE silverside laying there. HE SHOVED THE WHOLE THING DOWN HIS THROAT! I mean, the silverside was literally twice as round as he is. He was so blown up he couldn't get back into his hole in the rock.

This evening he was back in his hole and sticking his head out of his hole in the rock. I'm guessing he won't be out for at least a week.

And yes, I DO vacuum the bottom of ALL food about an hour after feeding, really helps keep the nitrates down. Ghost did this about 5 minutes after I was done feeding.

[AQTCJAK]

That is a great bonus. They are very hard to keep Damsels are a very easy way to help maintain there appetite. Silver sides work well however they do prefer live food. Also make sure you keep a screen or netting over the tank the tend to escpe rather frequently

[tbittner]

Speaking of eels, and triggerfish and puffers.

Anyone know where I can buy feeder crabs? I would hate to buy red and blue legged hermits given the price of them. I was told that these fish need to eat these occasionally to keep their teeth filed down.

[AQTCJAK]

Triggers & Puffers "file" their teeth with rocks not food

[tbittner]

We just fed the predator tank silversides and krill. Ghost actually came out tonight and was fighting with snowflake. They were both going at it pretty good. They must have reached some mutual agreement because they both turned and swam away from each other. Both eels ate a whole silverside before the fight commenced. Neither looks injured and both are swimming around looking for scraps.

Looks like I might need to move one of them, probably the ghost, back to the 55g once I'm done curing another 100 lbs of rock. But then again, most of the 100 lbs is for the predator tank which will give both of them more hiding room and bigger holes in the rock to claim as home.

It's been about a month since we've seen ghost. I feared the worst and assumed that one of the triggers ate him. He is actually looking great! He has gotten plump too. He is about as thick as a scripto pen, about twice as thick as a pencil. Snowflake has gotten huge too. I need to get another koralia for that tank because right now, I only have a 3 in there and it used to be close to the bottom. Snowflake would swim over to it, climb on it, wrap his tail around the back of it, then stick his front half out over the front of it. He looked like he was flapping in a strong wind. Surfing eel!

It's really funny to see.

[Dentoid]

I just saw the picture! That's a great eel Terry! Glad you are having fun with it and learning about its husbandry.

[tbittner]

Thanks Scott!

The Ghost is a very beautiful animal. I'm just thrilled that I got to see him again. I know that it can be a month in between eating in the wild but Ghost HAD been out at least once a week for a silverside. Then I didn't see him for about a month.

It's really nice to see him doing well.

[vdituri]

More pics Terry! Puhleeeze!?

Glad to hear your freebie is doing so well.
Carry on with what you are doing. lol

[jupiter]

I loved my ghost eel(s). They do REALLY well on squid and seem to go nuts for it (like most eels). My guy died after a powerhead ripped a hole in the side of his head. He slowly starved to death. They are very compatible with fishes and mine didn't even take live fishes when they were offered.

Good news about the eel and I hope he does well for you. I may have pictures of my guy somewhere around here.

You can probably see my entire "ghost eel story" on RAG (am I allowed to post that site here?) when I was a member.

[tbittner]

I would love to move him to my reef but I fear for the safety of my cleaner shrimp.

Can you find a link to your thread? You can send it in PM if you prefer.

Thanks!

Yeah Victor, I'm going to try to get some more pictures of him. He is a beautiful, graceful creature.

[xelnaga15]

Originally Posted by vdituri

BEST hitchhiker of the decade!

+1

[jupiter]

Originally Posted by tbittner

I would love to move him to my reef but I fear for the safety of my cleaner shrimp.

Can you find a link to your thread? You can send it in PM if you prefer.

I found these two threads but I can't access the second link. It's called My Ghost Eel - A Story, or something. That's the one with the whole story. For some reason I don't have permission to read the thread. I haven't been on RAG is years so I don't know if the rules have changed or if the threads are just too old.

I'm sad for my eel - ReefAquariumGuide
ReefAquariumGuide

I could repeat the story as best I remember if you'd like.

BTW, reading through the RAG threads brought back a lot of memories of what a friendly group of people we reef-keepers are.

[Cal Native]

I have to agree they call these Ribbon Eels at my LFS. Great score!

[PEMfish]

Great hitch hiker. Pseudechidna brummeri's such as yours will go for $60.
I'd like to see a video of your Ghost Ribbon Eel eat a Damsel.

[tbittner]

I don't think he is big enough to eat a damsel. The snowflake on the other hand though....

Of course, it would have to live past the triggers first and the picasso, in particular, doesn't waste time playing with live food.