22in Fire Eel HELP! Haven't Seen It Eat Over A Year!

MFK Family,

I picked up a 22in fire eel over a year ago. I literally have never seen it eat! I've tried to feed it night crawlers, ghost shrimp, black worms, blood worms, sinking cichlid gold, massivore, talapia, market shrimp, Rosie reds, goldfish, crappie minnows, and I'm sure I'm forgetting something else. I've tried to feed it during the day and at night when he's super active.

I've even isolated him in a smaller 75 for a while and tried the different foods...Nothing!

Can they go this long without eating? I've had monster fire eels in the past and never had this issue as I would eventually find something that they would readily take (I am not new to the fish or the hobby). He seems to always be sniffing around for food an even have the nerve to be honery sometimes with tank mates. The big guy looks healthy and is very active, especially at night. He does seem to be getting smaller though.

Is he eating and I'm just not noticing?

Anyone else have/had this issue?

Anyone have any other ideas/suggestions on what I could do to get him to eat?....Other foods I should try?

What am I missing?

Thanks,
LJ


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Karl K said:

Earthworms ?
I've heard fire eels love them

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Tried them...no luck.


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MN_Rebel said:

Question: how is his body condition? Is it a fat and thick or skinny and bony?

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Still pretty thick. I'm out of town but will take a photo when I get home on Monday evening.


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piranhaman00 said:

lol if it did not eat for a year it would be dead and certainly not thick. You are just not seeing it eat

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Yoimbrian said:

It's eating. If it went a full year of being active and swimming and is still healthy looking it is definitely eating something.


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That's what I'm thinking/hoping. But its still very weird that I have never seen him eat. He has his hiding space but I feed every day and it puzzles me that I have never seen him eat...nor will he eat when I spot feed him...EVER!

Thanks for the reply!