#Borneo Python Eel

[crazyfishmaiden]

So these strange noodles are now eating full grown night-crawlers. I have to cut the worms in half so they stop pulling a lady and the tramp. Also they never seem to figure out they don’t need more food, ever.

EDIT: I always forget to point this out, but they are special needs eels who shipped into the pet-store with a really bad infestation of Anchor Worm. They were cured quite but the worms (crustaceans actually) anchored into really bad areas that caused long lasting damage to their swim bladders. One of them is actually pretty okay but the other two not so much. Anchor worms suck! If ever find yourself up against them a solid UV sterilizer is a long term solution as medications rarely do much against them.

[eelpatrickharris]

firmly grasp it. grasp your boy

[anabantoid]

I have depressing and very upsetting news, Gregolas, my Borneo python eel, passed away the today because of a bacterial infection that was brought on by my L264 biting his tail and seemed to be resistant to broad spectrum antibiotics. I moved him into another tank, kept him in warm 84° water, did daily water changes and doses meds and stress guard and he merely deteriorated.

I'm devastated and don't know what to do. I loved him in the year I had him, he was my sweet baby boy and probably one of the best pets I've ever had. I'll miss him a lot.

[crazyfishmaiden]

Three flat noodles loafing around

Don’t let them fool you with those cute eyes and grabby snouts

As they innocently chill out on the ground

Their stomachs are full, they are content, even if they have their doubts

[eelpatrickharris]

totally fearsome monster fish right here

[eelpatrickharris]

my finger isn't a worm, craigory

(this is a gif! you might have to tap the picture on mobile)

[eelpatrickharris]

boys. i'm just grabbing a plant. let me grasp my plant

[eelpatrickharris]

i can now tap at the surface of the eel tub for a few for a few moments and summon a herd of 18" eels that want to snuffle at my hands and bite my fingers, so that's pretty sweet

[eelpatrickharris]

local waterlogged linguini smells worms, but cannot locate aforementioned worms

[crazyfishmaiden]

When you are trying to get a good long shot of your tank, and one of the eels comes out, and starts a wiggling and dancing on the bottom like the worlds silliest snake with elephant nose...the focus of the shot kind of shatters.

[crazyfishmaiden]

So got a feeding video of the 80 gallon, they got black worms when I got home.

It’s at this point I want to go into further detail on what was going on in here. Keep in mind I used to have a 40, and 2 125′s. When I went down to just two tanks, one 125 had to go.

I upgraded the 40 to a 80 that has a shallow foot print but lots of floor space. I put the animals together that I thought would do best, and as time goes on I have had to remove what didn’t work.

Now these eels in this tank, I spent months trying to cure them of an awful parasite they shipped in with. They have been well for a long time and like the rope-fish bring me great joy. Unfortunately, just as there was fallout in compatibility in the 125, there was the signs in my 80.

The eels began showing up random marks on their faces. It would happen, heal, life goes on. Eventually I began trying to watch more, especially at night. I would hear strange noises, and finally narrowed it down. It’s quite simple. The wiggly trunk noses that the eels have must seem like worms to the ropes. They keep mistaking them as food at night. Hence the odd scratches and odd noises.

I tried previously feeding the fish in different areas thinking the marks were being scored during food time. I didn’t expect it to be happening at night. Either way a solution had to be made.

We made room at work and my rope-fish went in, along side the spotted bushfish. We are pushing to sell the ropes as a colony. If that is not possible we are not selling them individually, and the price is up on them. It’s not fair to send them out alone, they are social animals that grew up together. 

It’s at this point I think the tank just needs to go more community. My cat-fish also began acting strange. They got used to so many others around, and seemed scared now that the tank was so empty.

I upped their school, but they are still scared. So I brought home odessa barbs. I have always had a soft spot for them. They look like an artist was given line-art, and this was the result of coloring in! It became clear I needed more of them, so I brought them in two lots. The next choice was the Red Salmon Rainbowfish.

I actually had a female once. Lot of people think the females are ugly but I don’t. Unfortunately what usually happens with rainbows is that all the male sell, and the females stick around for ever. So I took the males, and the females. I like them better than many other species with the exception of threadfins. I just feel like the threadfins won’t work well in the tank.

Lastly I have the two SAE. I really need something to help groom some of my plants and hands down my favorite “Algae eater” has always been these silly things. They are great when they are small, and have lovely personalities as adults. I’m not doing more because I know how territorial they can get as adults and feel that the tank is fine with just two.

My final additions would ideally be the honeycomb catfish at work. I won’t see them much but it will always be a treat when food goes in to see their adorable spinny behaviors. I’m also really curious as to if they will change behavior in response to how happy and easy-going the port-hole catfish are. I really think they might be more willing to move about in the day in the presence of other friendly cats. I don’t know for sure, and I’d love to try it.

I’ve also considered a few small peru flounder, but I’m not fully committed yet.

So that’s the jist of what is going on. I hope to get a plant light on this tank soon that has built in timer so that the entire tank can fall into a schedule. Same goes for the other tank but I want it on this one first. Anyway enjoy!

Oh and sorry about the eel being a little stinker and getting in the way. One of the always has to come in and try to hog the attention while begging for food.

[crazyfishmaiden]

In case anyone was still wondering, yes my three adorable little Borneo Python Eels (Sans, Undyne, and Papyrus) are still guarding the underwater doorway to Narnia.

[eelpatrickharris]

in case anyone was wondering "gee did sid die or something" no sid has simply grown more powerful

[crazyfishmaiden]

So it’s really difficult to get good pictures of video to show what these gorgeous silly animals look like. Got a circulation pump in yesterday, put in a water sprite plant in today. Had these three doofus’s checking out my hands for food the entire time. Had to snag some video and share!

It’s a damn shame they are so difficult to come by. They are so beautiful, and mild mannered. Yet, they are just as trainable as the fire eels (if not much smaller full size).

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine (looking at them now) how sickly they were when they came in infested with anchor worm. How long it took, and how many different things before I cured all three. Yet, look at how well they are now. It’s rewarding. :3

[crazyfishmaiden]

This is why I call my three eels “my Idiots”

I have three borneo python eels. Those familiar with their story know they were a pity purchase as I attempted to cure them of a very difficult parasite infection years ago. They are still doing extremely well but they struggle with swimming a bit. They had been living in an 80 gallon shallow, but it’s time to break that tank down and get rid of it. So they were moved into the 125.

When it came time to scoop them I got them all in one area as they begged for food (they are just like food obsessed dogs), and scooped them in one deft grab of the net. Bam right into the other tank, and for the next 30 minutes they still pushed their faces up against the glass going “Food? FOOD? FOOOOOOD?!?!?” until a clown loach approached them and they realized something changed.

That is why I call them my three idiots. Also for those wondering the PH values were extremely close, and the temperature of the tanks were exactly the same, so moving them didn’t require an acclimation period. What pet names do you have for your silliest fish? I want to read them!

[eelpatrickharris]

pros of craigory and gregolas getting really friendly and active: this tank finally looks like it has fish in it after a year

cons of craigory and gregolas getting really friendly and active: they've also started biting my hands and chasing them around the tank