An eel escaped in my tank

[Paul B]

I was on my boat today in the Long Island Sound and a member on here was there with me collecting grass shrimp next to my boat. He also collected this, which I studied when I got him home and I think he in an elver or baby eel.
They grow to about 4' long. I was studying him in a small tank that was suspended and I think he escaped.
Oh well, if I start seeing my fish disappear, I know he lived.

 

[TanksNStuff]

Hope you find him Paul! He looks hungry. :nervous

 

[Mike S]

Yep looks like a baby american eel or glass eel, cool.

 

[Paul B]

Yeah, he's a real killer. :nervous

The little sneak got sucked up in one of these as I was taking a little water out of his container, then he wouldn't come out, but I think he came out later when I used that in my reef.
He thinks he is smarter than me. OK, so I guess he is. But they spawn in freshwater so in 5 or 6 years, I may find him in my bath tub

 

[Mike S]

The adults are even better escape artists and not much fun to handle. They are actually catadromous meaning they spawn in the ocean and the migrate back to rivers/estuaries to mature. I got to do a few stream studies early on in my career with an electro shocker and you'd be shocked at the size of some of them that come popping out from underneath rocks!

 

[Paul B]

I actually have encountered them (and ate them) many times. My Dad used to sell them live in our sea food fish market. They are very common here in New York especially in very shallow water. They are scavengers and will eat anything.
Very slimy creature.