Sneaky Snowflake Eel Escapee

[s1214215]

Hi Guys

I have a real problem in that my baby snowflake eel has escaped my refugium tank that joins to my main reef tank. I am not sure how it got out as I thought it was as secure as you could make it and all the pipes exiting to the main tank have mesh covers. The amazing thing is that it could jump the 2 inch gap to the reef tank.

Ok.. the delema is that I cant take the reef out, and it is well at home in the reef. The eel is 7 inches long and a finger thickness. It has not touched any fish (2 medium maroon clowns, 3 small chromis, 2 banggai cardinals, and one lamarks angel) or my two red cleaner shrimp. This is likely to change as it gets bigger right?

Can anyone suggest how I might get it out or is it just possible it may behave in the long run? I dont think I would bet in that though.

Brett

[scubadude]

Hey Brett

Check out this link

Simple solution to JUMPERS

Samper had a problem with one of his fish jumping out so this is his project he has been working on.

[s1214215]

Thanks for the good idea.. Actually I was looking for this mesh here. But being Thailand/SE Asia, finding the most simple things like this is sometimes not easy or impossible . So you end up doing what locals do and improvise. I had the 2 possible exit holes blocked with thick filter padding, but the eel pushed one out. So I need to find that mesh and some way of tying it down.

The big problem is though.. How to get the eel out of the reef tank it jumped into. I have a Ultra-life fish trap, but the eel seems too canny for it. It caught a Lamarks Angel within minutes - darned thing was chewing on a brain - very out of character . Sadly the eel wont go for it yet as it seems not to be hungry.
guess I will have to keep trying and hope my red cleaner shrimp dont get eaten. Thank god they are only USD$8 here and not as expensive as in Australia

[s1214215]

My friend the sneaky snowflake crawled into a hole in a reachable rock in the reef. So I was able to put my hand over the hole and pull it out, eel and all. Its now back in my refugium tank, and not so happy about the loss of its big reef playground.

[goldfishees]

Put a piece of cloth over the opening and duct tape it down good. My snail kept on going out of the tank and into the sink and he stoped when I tried the piece of cloth.