Eels took krill wrapped massivore!

[Wet Whiskers]

I have three fire eels, of which two I've had since they were little. None of them have ever accepted pellet what so ever, but the two younger ones are much more flexible. I can't believe I just conned them into taking massivore that was barely wrapped in a small pieces of krill. They mowed tons of it down happily. They are now just over 1.5 years old and about 22-24", and I would guess they are going to have a bit of a growth spurt now that they are accepting that.

 

[Krawnik]

Grats!

I'm jealous. My Fire Eel will eat ONLY live earth worms

 

[Wet Whiskers]

Grats!

I'm jealous. My Fire Eel will eat ONLY live earth worms

How long have you had him and how big is he? My older one that I got at 18" (now at least 25") is much pickier. He will only accept worms at first. Then I got him on some COOKED markert shrimp. Eventually he took defrosted raw market shrimp greedily. He will take a couple pieces of COOKED tilapia (does not like raw fish at all) or a couple pieces of krill, but won't make a good meal of it. If I cut a slit down the inside of a piece of raw, deshelled shrimp, I can stuff two massivore inside of it, and he will accept it. However, it needs to be very well hidden. With the two younger guys (about 1.5 years old and about 23-24"), they just start taking the massivore if it basically looks like bacon wrapped fillet mignon - just a small wrapping of krill.

This has all taken time as I've had these guys now for a little more than a year and a half. I do think that the competition between the three does help with urging them to take different foods. I'm not sure if they will continue to tolerate each other as they are starting to reach adulthood, but, IMO, growing up two with an older one in the tank has been very beneficial so far -seems makes the younger ones bolder and the older one more accepting of new food.

 

[Krawnik]

I've had him about 6 months now. When I got him he was about 7"-8". He's now right around the 13" mark. He acts like a total snob when I try to feed him anything other than live earth worms, literally sniffing it and then looking away pointing his nose towards the sky as if I had insulted him LOL.

Fortunately worms are reportedly a good food source and inexpensive enough. He's growing quickly into a gorgeous specimen, so I'm happy with that. Trying to get him off earth worms is more a matter of convenience - they get scarce around here in the winter time. I'm glad I bought out my local bait shop's stock about a month ago, or he'd be going hungry.

 

[Wet Whiskers]

I've had him about 6 months now. When I got him he was about 7"-8". He's now right around the 13" mark. He acts like a total snob when I try to feed him anything other than live earth worms, literally sniffing it and then looking away pointing his nose towards the sky as if I had insulted him LOL.

Fortunately worms are reportedly a good food source and inexpensive enough. He's growing quickly into a gorgeous specimen, so I'm happy with that. Trying to get him off earth worms is more a matter of convenience - they get scarce around here in the winter time. I'm glad I bought out my local bait shop's stock about a month ago, or he'd be going hungry.

Getting my guys off worms was a necessity. I go through 25 large Canadian nightcrawlers 5 days a week now at $.25 a pop where I'm at, and they're still looking for more. They otherwise go through about a 1/2 lb of market shrimp before they're full satisfied. I cant imagine what they'll be able to put away when they're all full grown!

Your guy is at a size where he maybe be still fairly flexible. I would recommend at least two food sources or when he's full sized, you'll go through at least 25 worms 5 days a week easily. But, the biggest reason is if you have a shortage of something he's not totally gonna starve.

 

[phillydog1958]

my tire tracks are about 9 inches and the other is about a foot long. they eat thawed tilapia, earth and blood worms, the larger one eats krill, also. maybe i'll try the method of feeding a pellet with krill.

 

[Krawnik]

My TT has np eating. With him it seems if I threw an old tire in the tank he'd probably gobble it up lol.


As for the Fire Eel....

I'm picking up a 180 gallon this week. He's going to get moved out of the 125 into the 180 and left alone in there for a while. I intend to put him in solitary confinement for a while until he'll start to eat something other than live worms (eliminate all competition, etc....). Hoping it works. If not, glad I own a good shovel ;P

 

[Wet Whiskers]

my tire tracks are about 9 inches and the other is about a foot long. they eat thawed tilapia, earth and blood worms, the larger one eats krill, also. maybe i'll try the method of feeding a pellet with krill.

You might be able to slit the tilapia and sneak it in there too.

My TT has np eating. With him it seems if I threw an old tire in the tank he'd probably gobble it up lol.


As for the Fire Eel....

I'm picking up a 180 gallon this week. He's going to get moved out of the 125 into the 180 and left alone in there for a while. I intend to put him in solitary confinement for a while until he'll start to eat something other than live worms (eliminate all competition, etc....). Hoping it works. If not, glad I own a good shovel ;P

He'll love the 180, and don't give up on him yet. He's not a super tiny, frail baby anymore, so I would try the following: Feed him heavily and very consistently of what he loves, and try getting the temperature up to around 82 or so making sure the water is well oxygenated. In other words, get his metabolism up nicely and get him nice and fat. Then try skipping a like two days of food and see if he might try something else. If he absolutely refuses, start again and this time try a three day fast. This is how I convinced my eels to try something new. Also, I would hand feed so they would just assume whatever was in my hand should be food. This way one of them at least usually try it.

One of the younger fire eels (Captain Jack) will at least try almost anything, but pellets. The other day, he decided thawed salmon was tasty. The other ones didn't agree. The other young one (Kelso) is a little more timid about trying new things, but has slowly become a lot more adaptable as I've started offering new things. Norbert, the older one is well, a bit more difficult.

However, I have to say that I'm glad I got him a little bit older, or would not have know what a personality these guys develop as they grow. It made me know early one that all this picky eating was worth it. Jack and Kelso were not nearly as interactive when they were small as they are now, and they're still not as personable as Norbert. About 6 months ago, Norbert decided that he enjoyed sitting in my hand so that he could easily keep his nose above the water line and peek out without the physical effort of staying high up like that. If they weren't such awesome fish, I'd really be over the effort its taken to feed these guys.

 

[Krawnik]

Also, I would hand feed so they would just assume whatever was in my hand should be food. This way one of them at least usually try it.

Like I said, my guy is a total snob. Even with earth worms, the only way he'll eat is if it's by hand. If I drop the worm in front of him he just thumbs his nose at it LOL.

I agree these are awesome fish though. The Fire Eel is what got me hooked on fish keeping. No chance I'll be giving up on him. I'd like to get a couple more, but after seeing how he interacts with my TT (which will be getting the 125) I'm afraid of excessive aggression. I'd rather have one happy eel than 3 constantly stressed eels.

 

[Wet Whiskers]

Like I said, my guy is a total snob. Even with earth worms, the only way he'll eat is if it's by hand. If I drop the worm in front of him he just thumbs his nose at it LOL.

I agree these are awesome fish though. The Fire Eel is what got me hooked on fish keeping. No chance I'll be giving up on him. I'd like to get a couple more, but after seeing how he interacts with my TT (which will be getting the 125) I'm afraid of excessive aggression. I'd rather have one happy eel than 3 constantly stressed eels.

I agree with you sticking with one eel if you're already having aggression issues. I'm surprised at how well all three of my eels have always gotten along after reading that most people have problems. Its worked with my guys, but doesn't mean more is better for everyone. Good luck with your dude!