Violent head shaking/twitching from Snowflake Moray Eel?

[Loganfish]

Hello! I’m making another post about something else I’m curious about. On Black Friday this year I bought a Snowflake Moray Eel. From the day I got it til the present, it has been shaking/twitching its head violent on and off every now and then. Any ideas on why it is doing this?

 

[tlindsey]

Hello! I’m making another post about something else I’m curious about. On Black Friday this year I bought a Snowflake Moray Eel. From the day I got it til the present, it has been shaking/twitching its head violent on and off every now and then. Any ideas on why it is doing this?

If possible post a short video. Had a saltwater snowflake moray years ago that twithed its head every once and awhile.
Did you do a wc within the time of the twitching maybe irritation.

 

[kno4te]

I’d say check your water parameters. If ok then maybe an unseen injury. Just some thoughts.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Hate to raise an alarm but muscle fasciculation/twitching and seizing could be a symptom of cyanide poisoning.

But sometimes I've seen perfectly healthy morays sorta snap their jaws and shake head a bit like they're tasting the water. Idk why though.

I suppose it might make a difference if it's like a shaking of the head or more of a convulsion/seizure type of twitching???

 

[Loganfish]

If possible post a short video. Had a saltwater snowflake moray years ago that twithed its head every once and awhile.
Did you do a wc within the time of the twitching maybe irritation.

I can try sending a clip tomorrow if the twitching. It does the twitching regardless of water changes. Whether during, before, after, or not even around the time of a water change, it twitches

 

[Loganfish]

Hate to raise an alarm but muscle fasciculation/twitching and seizing could be a symptom of cyanide poisoning.

But sometimes I've seen perfectly healthy morays sorta snap their jaws and shake head a bit like they're tasting the water. Idk why though.

I suppose it might make a difference if it's like a shaking of the head or more of a convulsion/seizure type of twitching???

It almost like it is itching or something. All I ever add to the tank it is in is water conditioner, Fritz marine salt, food (frozen shrimp, API bottom feeder pellets, crustacean pellets, and the occasional brine shrimp/blood worms, mysis shrimp and silversides and once a frozen crab), and that’s about all.

 

[Loganfish]

I’d say check your water parameters. If ok then maybe an unseen injury. Just some thoughts.

He has been doing since I got him over a month ago so I’m not sure what it is. I’ll try to test parameters soon, but I don’t currently have test strips or test kits that work.

 

[Morti]

They are known to shake their head when tasting the water/they are hungry. They move their head to detect where food is. If the movement isn't that violent it could just be that but eels do take a while to acclimate to a new tank and sometimes shipping is rough on them. I would monitor, make sure the water parameters are good and offer a varied diet.

 

[Loganfish]

They are known to shake their head when tasting the water/they are hungry. They move their head to detect where food is. If the movement isn't that violent it could just be that but eels do take a while to acclimate to a new tank and sometimes shipping is rough on them. I would monitor, make sure the water parameters are good and offer a varied diet.

Ok thank you! He wasn’t shipped, he was purchased from a store about 5-10 minutes from my home. Maybe 15-20 at most but I think 5-10 minutes away from my house. He only really eats frozen shrimp, but I’ve thrown in pellets and other foods usually for some of the other inhabitants. I try to mainly feed shrimp to it, as they are natural shrimp and crab eaters in the wild. I’ll do more research but thank you for the info!

 

[Morti]

It will have been shipped to the shop was more my meaning. They can take a while to settle and if they were at a wholesaler before then it's extra stress.

If it is the normal, small, sized specimens you see for sale then they can be fond of krill. I wouldn't feed it to often with krill though but on rotation with other things it's good. You could also try soaking the food in vitamins if you have it or if it's taking good sized shrimp then you can stuff a few pellets in one before feeding.