got bitten during rescue

[44santababy]

I just wake now to check my skeletor eel (2 feet long) and see whats he up to. He likes to act like an eel at night. He's nowhere in the tank and of course i start to sweat and know something is wrong. Sure enough he is in one of my overflows. Ever try to CATCH an eel in an overflow???? Long story short, i was only able to use ONE bare hand and just go for it. I was SCARED, he was scared, and i just reached down and started grabbing and he was just sliding thru my fingers while BITING me over, over, over again. He is out and i might be visiting an ER soon....

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

ER trip is a good idea.

 

[44santababy]

no need for ER...not bad at all, just hope i don't have to do it again. Barely broke skin on ring finger. Wonder what people do with dragons in overflows...

 

[rookie07]

no need for ER...not bad at all, just hope i don't have to do it again. Barely broke skin on ring finger. Wonder what people do with dragons in overflows...

They properly cover their tanks so the eel does not get into the overflow. They have lots of bacteria in their mouths, so if it broke the skin, you could have an infection! (or so i have always been told)

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

Yea if you aren't going to the hospital at least clean it with some peroxide

 

[44santababy]

my tank is sealed with a net, that's why it was in my overflow and not out of water dead. I will tonight figure out how to also cover the cover over the two over-flows...lol Don't want to go thru that again. Fingers look fine.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Cover the over with acrylic and go to a doctor and get the hand checked out

 

[JimmyR1rider]

I agree with Chief about the doctors visit. I've seen it too many times, infections fester, if you can catch it if there is anything to catch before you HAVE to go to a hospital you'll be better off. And if there is no infection or parasites from its mouth then you will know you're definately good to go.

Good luck.

 

[44santababy]

Hey all, I just got some more mesh and what i'm going to do tonight is cut it to completely cover each individual overflow and then use small binder clips (3/4 inch) to secure it. It will now be impossible for this event to ever happen again. My fingers are fine...lol. Catching an eel in an overflow is a wild experience that i never want to happen again.

 

[Euroreefer]

unrelated, is that your cat in your avatar?:meow:

 

[Imbarrie]

I found my ribbon eel in my filter sock one time.
Whenever I cant find him now that is the first place I check.

I cut a piece of rigid black plastic to cover my overflow. It works and looks great and never had the problem ever again.

 

[44santababy]

yes it is, solid black male sphynx named Onyx. Kitten in picture and now just another FAT cat in new york.

 

[bigcapct]

I used a shop vac once for my eel

 

[44santababy]

lol...please elaborate! You sucked him out without injuring?

 

[bigcapct]

Yea!! Was stuk in overflow and I was NOT putting my hands in there! Lol. So grabed my shop vac and got it. Wasn't harmed at all!

 

[44santababy]

yea, i understand not wanting to put hands in there, i couldnt even use a glove because feel was critical to grabbing his meaty area. I must of dropped him 5 times back into the overflow because he was so slippery...lol Wet Vac? If you say so Ill just cover the overflows tonight where this will never happen again.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

you are out of your mind :lol2: i would of never touched that thing or even have owned it in the 1st place. (they scare the crap out of me ) but next time just incase get some tongs that wont hurt em if you had to use em. ive seen em around

 

[44santababy]

man, what i'll do for my friends in the glass box

 

[Tonyscoots84]

i would of looked like ace ventura when he grabbed the white bat :theyareon

 

[44santababy]

let me make this clear, i was scared sh1tless when i just thrusted my hand in the overflow and not seeing anything down there. Then feeling him slithering in the very tight space and the occassional NIP. Then attempting to bring him up was the hardest part, kept on squeezing out of my hand. If this was on video...it would be viral by now.