snowflake moray eel keeps spitting out his food...

[damreefer]

I noticed about a month ago that my snowflake eel lost some of his appetite and is a little more shy, even during feeding times (when he usually swims all over the tank looking for every last morsel of food). I couldn't figure out why. All tank conditions are the same and water parameters are fine and the other tank inhabitants are healthy. I just fed him some small frozen prawns and he tried to eat one and couldn't seem to swalllow it. He never had a problem swallowing food before. He must have spit it out at least 30 to 40 times, each time trying to grab it and swallow it again and again. He really looked to be struggling with swallowing this tiny prawn. Is it possible that something could be lodged in his throat? I have a crab that was a stowaway on LR that I have not seen for awhile, but I'm not sure if he's good at hiding or if the eel got him. Could a crab's shell block the eel's throat? He finally did get it down, but really gulped a lot afterwards. Not the same type of gulp like when he is "sniffing" the water for food, but real head-jerking and gulping , again, like a struggle. With some twitching involved, kind of like he had the hiccups or something. He would usually devour all the food pretty quickly, but after eating this one tiny prawn, he went back to his "cave" and didn't care about the rest of the prawns in there. Does anyone have any advice or knowledge on this type of behavior in a snowflake moray eel?

Thanks,
Damien

[M.Dandaneau]

What you're describing DOES sound like a blockage in the throat.
I've got an eel that was caught on a hook and line and whose throat was blocked for nearly six months before I removed him and cut the hook out.
Let's just say that the operation was a complete success and you don't even want to get your fingers near that animal at feeding time.
While it COULD be the crab or part of the crab, I suspect that it's more likely the vicious unicorn-like spear found projecting from the front of the carapace on a shrimp or prawn that's causing the problem.
My suggestion, for now, is to get some raw table shrimp from the seafood isle of your local supermarket and cut it into thin strips AFTER you've shelled/peeled it, or, even better, if possible, tentacles from a squid or octopus.....these should be eagerly accepted and soft enough to be swallowed until the "spear" dissolves or becomes dislodged.

Mike

[damreefer]

Mike,

Thanks a lot for the advice. I'll try some softer foods like you described and hopefully it will dislodge or dissolve. I guess it's been about a month now...would you by chance happen to have an idea about how long it might take to dissolve? Or is there something I can do to help dislodge it (besides putting my hands or fingers anywhere near his mouth)? And since it's been almost a month, will his health deteriorate significantly due to his unfortunate condition?

Sorry for the barrage of questions, but I kind of take pride in how active and exciting he was and now I feel kind of bad that he can't eat and just kind of mopes around his cave.

Thanks again,

Damien

[M.Dandaneau]

It's never a "barrage" of questions Damien, and I congratulate you on your concern.......I tend to get a little impatient with people who say, "it's only a fish...what's the big deal? You can always buy another one."
While it's NOT a common occurrence, that forward projecting spine on the shrimp and prawns IS a defensive weapon, and I've seen fish with bloody mouths commonly from sucking one in head-first (usually heals without incident) and rarely, a truly tough predator, such as a P. volitans Lionfish die with the spine projecting through the abdominal wall.

IF that's what it is (and I suspect it is) give it a week or two and it should either dislodge or dissolve.
As I said, I've had eels go 6 MONTHS from the problem and survive.....I knew the fish hook was in there, but thought it would dissolve....who knew it was a surgical stainless hook?

The decision to actually operate was a last ditch, life and death type and I gave a LOT of thought to his teeth!

The only other possibility that seems likely would be an infection in the throat, or, again rarely, a parasitic isopod in the throat, which is REALLY ugly.

I'd suggest soft foods and the "wait and watch" approach.

They're tougher than you think.


Mike