Emaciated eel

[jlmason2003]

I only venture into our lfs once in a blue moon because their fishkeeping skills are deplorable. Today I got bored at lunch and went in.

I know buying fish from a place like this is the last thing one should do since it encourages them to keep importing eels, but I couldn't help it. They had one emaciated fire eel. I ended up leaving with him.

Please don't chew me out for buying him... I felt horrible for the little fellow and felt it would be wrong of me to leave him there to starve (they admitted to not feeding him since they got him a week ago). It's apparent its been way more than a week since his last meal.

So, I get him home... He seems to be lacking in energy, but is swimming well in our quarantine/guppy breeding tank. I've offered him little live earthworms... He's shown no interest. I also have bloodworms (and garlic extract, if that might help), not to mention dozens of various sized feeder gups.

Does anyone have any advice to help me save his life? Has he gone without food so long that he's lost interest? Should I wait a few days?
My boyfriend and I have been keeping spiny eels for a few years now, but this is a first for us. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[davo]

Sometimes fish won't eat for a few days before eating, no matter what state they are in, just because of stress. How long is it. Have you tried live bloodworms?

 

[jlmason2003]

I guess I didn't help him in time. He went to the big pond in the sky today before I got home.
I'm going to take him back to the LFS and tell them I do not want them to order another as "replacement."
It just boils my blood... No animal deserves to be taken from its habitat only to starve to death in a pet store.
Thanks for the advice Davo, I'll keep that in mind should the need to entice an eel to eat arise again.

 

[davo]

Sorry to hear that. To be honest there may have been nothing you could do anyway, any number of things may have been wrong, or simply not eaten for too long.