Larval Eel

[yellowray91]

hi guys i need some help. I live on a brackish water creek in FL and tonight I was at my dock dipnetting some little bait fish and i saw this eel like thing swim out over the light and I dipped it out. It is about 2 inches long and a half inch tall clompletly see through exept for the eyes. I guess its an american eel. My ? is what do I feed it?

thanks

 

[MonsterMinis]

I would suggest live black worms.. and a picture.

 

[yellowray91]

ok i will try. ive put some frozen reef plankton in there and no interest. its mouth is so tiny i think it may have to eat microscopic stuff? also i dont think i can get a pic it takes me 5 minutes or so just to find it in a 5 gallon tank

thanks

 

[ReelBigFish]

Try bloodworms too.

Have you tried leaving food in overnight? American eels tend to feed at night.

And don't panic if it doesn't eat right away. Eels can go a very long time without food.

 

[yellowray91]

hes still alive but he never stops swiming and i have not seen him eat yet. i am going to try the blood worms like you said and also drop a little peice of shrimp in overnight.

thanks

 

[ReelBigFish]

hes still alive but he never stops swiming and i have not seen him eat yet. i am going to try the blood worms like you said and also drop a little peice of shrimp in overnight.

thanks

I didn't see my eel eat for over 2 weeks when I first got him. Even now, I've had him for over a year and I barely ever see him eat. I just drop food in before I go to bed and it's gone the next day.

Oh yeah, food doesn't have to be microscopic. If you have shrimp in there, it will most likely tear off pieces by grabbing hold and twirling like a crocodile's death roll, although that might get messy.

What's the setup like?

 

[yellowray91]

it just a 5 gallon with a hang on back and some rocks too hide in. ive done some research on them and while there see through i geuss there pelagic

thanks

 

[green_fox]

what kind of water is he in at the moment? brackish?

 

[yellowray91]

brackish but probably more fresh than salt. he doesnt even look like an eel yet more like a see through ribbon with eyes.

thanks

 

[yellowray91]

also if he lives and gets skin pigment and will show up on a camera i will post pics