Tremmor (our eel) came out today and ate! It has been several weeks since he last ate so we were all getting a bit worried. He is a lot more active and moving around more. Perhaps he just went on a diet!

View of Skip Burson diving into the aquarium. The 2nd Wednesday of each month Skip does an aquarium program for us. Most often he is in the tank answering everyone's questions.

Here is the view of the aquarium from the Children's Library side.

TREMOR TIMES ~ APRIL 2006 EDITION

Update on the Green moray eel

Many people have commented on the eel’s condition. They have noticed that he is not as active as he has been in the past. We have a nick-name for our eel – Tremor. When he first got put into the tank he swam around “tremoring”. So staff nick-named him Tremor. He is one of our oldest residents in the aquarium and is about 5 feet long and about 12 inches around. He has more than doubled in length since he was originally put in the aquarium, and has lived in aquariums since he was about 15” long.

Skip Burson, of California Aquarium Consultants, is in charge of the aquarium. He or one of his assistants come to the library daily to feed the fish and maintain the aquarium. He also does a monthly library program the 2nd Wednesday of every month in the Children's Library side of the aquarium. You can view more library events here.

Some facts about eels:

Many eels do not eat for weeks at a time. Eels have a very large liver that stores liver oils. They can live of this oil for a long time. Now Tremor has usually had a very big appetite and eaten regularly but there have been times in the past when he has not eaten for quite a few weeks. Right now it has been about 5-6 weeks since he last been seen eating.

Eels do not have a swim bladder so when not in motion have to rest in place. Sometimes they may just lay part of their body on a rock or along the bottom. Some of their positions may appear uncomfortable but remember that they do not have same body dynamics that we do. So sometimes they may just seem stuck or squished but to them it may be comfortable.

Eyes may appear clouded or opaque. As eels tend to be in darker locations and do not like the light their eyes reflect light so it may appear that their eyes are clouded over.

Labored breathing. Eels taste and smell the water to sense their prey. So while to us it looks like their breathing is labored, as this is how they move the water through their gills.

How old is our eel? Skip estimates that Tremor is about 15 years old. That is old! Most eels live to be about 10-12 years old. But since Tremor has always been in an aquarium he is living longer.

Moving Tremor. We can move him out of the aquarium but this move would not be good for him and may even cause him to suffer and die more quickly. Our aquarium is his home and he is happy there. We hate to move him out unless it is absolutely necessary. Plus trying to move a 5-foot eel who does not want to be taken out of the tank would be dangerous for Skip and his assistants.

Keeping watch. Skip Burson and his assistants are carefully observing Tremor as well as all the fish in the aquarium. If you notice any odd behaviors or have concerns please let the staff at the Children’s Help desk know.