A couple of questions regarding a fire eel.

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classic-chassis

classic-chassis

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Mar 2, 2008
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Thailand
Hi all.
I just got a fire eel.
It's in my 205gal, with:
3 NTTs, (5 to 7 inches),
6 clown loaches, (4 to 5 inches)
and a fingerling asian arowana.

A few questions, i know it will eat ghost shrimp, but what pellets will it eat?
I feed my NTTs masivor so i'm hoping this will be ok.
Since i put it in my tank it's been doing a lot of swimming, sometimes quite erratically, going up the corners a lot. Ad darting back and forth.
It does stop and chill in a hiding place, but then it starts again. Is this normal behaviour? It seems really inquisitive.
Any other advice on making these fish happy would be really appreciated.
 
how big is the eel? and is any one picking on it?
 
About 10 inches in length, and no.
The NTTs are giving it the odd shove, but that's it.
It seems a lot more relaxed now TBH.
 
classic-chassis said:
About 10 inches in length, and no.
The NTTs are giving it the odd shove, but that's it.
It seems a lot more relaxed now TBH.
Click to expand...

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...673-Best-diet-for-fire-eels&highlight=pellets

bloodworms have little to no nutritional value... it's like feeding kids candy... Nightcrawlers are your best bet for food, Period. Pellets imo are OKay but not the best food for spineys as most are not designed towards them. Shrimp imo are controversial at best, stick to FW species if you do. other foods kept my fire eels alive.. but nothing puts size/girth on them like nightcrawlers.

Just about any sporting goods store big or small usually carry worms.. and if not can stear you in the direction of ones that do. Local Petsmart also carry them ( but they are waaay overpriced compared ot a bait/sporting goods store.)

live blackworms are also a good food for small spiney eels ime. at 6-8" your fires hsould be growing approx 1" per month if fed right.
 
Loves severums said:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...673-Best-diet-for-fire-eels&highlight=pellets

bloodworms have little to no nutritional value... it's like feeding kids candy... Nightcrawlers are your best bet for food, Period. Pellets imo are OKay but not the best food for spineys as most are not designed towards them. Shrimp imo are controversial at best, stick to FW species if you do. other foods kept my fire eels alive.. but nothing puts size/girth on them like nightcrawlers.

Just about any sporting goods store big or small usually carry worms.. and if not can stear you in the direction of ones that do. Local Petsmart also carry them ( but they are waaay overpriced compared ot a bait/sporting goods store.)

live blackworms are also a good food for small spiney eels ime. at 6-8" your fires hsould be growing approx 1" per month if fed right.
Click to expand...

Question: What does, "they are not designed towards them" mean?
 
since you already feed massivore i wouldnt worry about it taking the pellets.. it either will or wont.. haveing other fish that do will help encourage it but your best bet is feeding it worms or more likely available to you fw shrimp. sometime they will also take strips of fresh fish.. since that thread ive learned that the key is fresh fresh fresh foods, they are very finicky eaters in that respect... i would also suggest worming your tank. fire eels are often full of IPs.
 
pellets are often low in protein and fats... spineys seem to do well on a higher protein diet. earth worms not only beinG mineral and vit rich are also protein dense and low in fats. majority of pellets are full of fillers.. but are vit/min rich as well so part of a varied diet good.. but stand alone imo not ideal. as far as i am aware no scientific studies have been done, i go off personal experiance and what ive learned from other spiney owners successful in keeping them. spineys taking pellets is rare, andnthose that do a majority of their owners continue to feed worms or shrimp as well, as on pellets alone the fish seem to stop growing or thinn out inexplainably until the other foods are added again.
 
MonsterMinis said:
i would also suggest worming your tank. fire eels are often full of IPs.
Click to expand...
I don't like the sound of that. Maybe it'll get relegated to the garden pond!
How would i "worm the tank", and will the other fish have any problems with it?
 
MonsterMinis said:
pellets are often low in protein and fats... spineys seem to do well on a higher protein diet. earth worms not only beinG mineral and vit rich are also protein dense and low in fats. majority of pellets are full of fillers.. but are vit/min rich as well so part of a varied diet good.. but stand alone imo not ideal. as far as i am aware no scientific studies have been done, i go off personal experiance and what ive learned from other spiney owners successful in keeping them. spineys taking pellets is rare, andnthose that do a majority of their owners continue to feed worms or shrimp as well, as on pellets alone the fish seem to stop growing or thinn out inexplainably until the other foods are added again.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the explanation. I was curious because I was thinking about getting a fire eel, but I would only get one if I were able to feed it pellets.
 
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