Regarding the mucus damage...do you have any evidence of it with this species? I see them very actively burrowing into coarse sand, scraping their bodies along hard objects like rocks and shells etc. Pelagic fish that rarely contact anything with their skin, are probably somewhat delicate, but based simply based upon their behavior, it would seem that the gentle touch from a glove would not be damaging.
Not that I hold any hope of you changing your ways... (especially describing your touch as gentle)
but gloves are damaging
as is grabbing which is traumatic, inducing stress that can kill.
Why, just so you can get a photo jolly.
Your video would be much better without it.
2 seconds of google=.The Eel's Slime Layer
­All
fish have slime covering their body, which makes them very difficult to catch by hand. Produced from glands beneath the scales, this mucous gives the fish protection from a variety of dangers. It serves three main purposes:
Osmoregulation: Just like us, fish are mostly made of
water. Fish constantly pump water in and out of their gills in order to keep an optimum biochemical balance in their bodies. We call this process osmoregulation. The slime level on the fish's body affects how much water the fish can take in and out -- a thinner slime layer allows more water in and out, and a thicker slime layer allows less. Some scientists believe this coating also allows the
eel to move from ocean to freshwater -- and vice versa -- without trauma.
Physical protection: The slime layer physically protects the fish by making it slippery. The slimy surface helps to suffocate pathogens or parasites trying to enter through the fish's scales. The mucous also protects any open wounds from further external damage and lets the fish slip through barriers like
coral or your hands with relative ease.
Aerodynamics: The slick layer of slime allows a fish to propel itself faster through the water. It fills up the tiny spaces between the scales to make the fish more streamlined -- much like the way competitive swimmers shave their bodies in order to reduce drag.
The slime on an eel can contain
alga­e. This is why the common moray eel appears green, even though its skin is actually dark blue. Also, the scales of an eel are quite small compared to other fish. In addition to its long
snakelike shape, scale size might be a reason why eels are so much more slippery to the touch than other fish.
Removing the slime layer will kill the eel. Many commercial fishermen sprinkle
salt on their caught eels in order to more quickly remove the slime and kill the fish. Also, eel blood is quite toxic. Although eel is a delicacy in many cultures, you should always cook it first in order to remove the toxic protein [source:
Animal Planet].
Sources
- Animal Planet. "Eel." 2009. (Feb. 18, 2009) http://animal.discovery.com/fish/eel/
- Encyclopædia Britannica. "Locomotion." Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 2009. (Feb. 18, 2009) locomotion (behaviour) :: Swimming -- Encyclopedia Britannica
- Fenner, Robert. "The Functions of Body Slime of Fishes." WetWebMedia.com. 2009. (Feb. 18, 2009) The Functions of Body Slimes of Fishes
- Horne, J. and Birnie, K. "Catching, handling and processing eels." FAO Corporate Document Repository. 2009. (Feb. 18, 2009) Catching, Handling and Processing Eels
- Moore, Virginia Bennett. "Slipperiest Fish in the Sea." SI Vault. June 3, 1963. (Feb. 18, 2009) http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1074841/index.htm
- Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. " Order Anguilliformes." The Animal Diversity Web. 2008. (Feb. 18, 2009) ADW: Anguilliformes: PICTURES
- Varriano, John. "At Supper with Leonardo." Gastronomica. Winter 2008. (Feb. 18, 2009) Page Moved -- UC Press: Journals
