Yes I'm kinda board too, Looks like you can pick and choose how you keep your eels. If water is real shallow ie covers half the fish in depth O2 should not be a problem. slime yes. I used eels several times (usually after reading a post from Larry) and did manage to catch one of my nicer keepers on it. I never was very effective at putting them on the hook , sand or not putting the eel on the hook was prime escape time. Drop eel into marsh grass in the dark of night. Jus one factor I had to take into account when I was determining how many eels I would need.