Feeding a Fire Eel Juvie

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
M

Myarbro

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 31, 2010
245
0
0
Memphis TN
Hey guys! I know that there are tons of posts on here about Fire Eel’s and problems some owners are running across. I went through a few pages and could not find what I was looking for. I have seen tons of threads about having issues with adult fire eels eating, but none about juvies.

I have a FE that is a 3 inches long. He was purchased about 6 days ago and I am worried about whether he is feeding. He is in a large tank with some various cichlids that are all juvies as well. I have seen the FE picking around at the bottom, but due to the large tank size, and his small size, finding him is often difficult. I am also faced with another problem involving his eating…the cichlids. These guys go nuts when it is feeding time and I am worried that the young FE isn’t getting the opportunity to get any of the food.

Here is some info on what is fed in total to all the fish in the tank.

Various Hikari pellets
Talapia
Shrimp
Brine Shrimp
Blood Worms
Live Feeders

I would assume he would at least eat the blood worms or brine shrimp. Do you guys have any suggestions to insure he is eating? Possibly move him into a small tank until he gets bigger and is able to compete for food? Also, is the any of the above (excluding the pellets I would think) something he sould take?
 
The easiest way to ensure it's eating would be to start handfeeding it. Find out where it's hiding and drop some food near it; if you continue to do this, it will eventually (most likely within a week or 2) start taking food directly from your hand and you can control exactly how much it is fed. It should accept all of the food you are offering, except for the pellets.
 
Loves severums;4743266; said:
what tank size do u have him in now?
Click to expand...

120gal

I will try the hand feeding thing. Thanks!
 
Turkey baster and bloodworms. If this doesn't work and he refuses to eat. try live blackworms. they are small enough at 3" he shouldn't have an issue eating them. Just make sure they come from a clean source. personally I wouldn't put such a small spinney in with cichilds period. All it takes is one overzeleous cichlid and he's dinner. I would grow it out to about 8-10" before keeping it with cichlids.

bloodworms
shrimp ( not brine, brine shrimp unless fortified is poor nutrition. unless feeding newly hatched. which even for such a small eel would require alot to fill it up)
krill
mysis

and just about any type of inveribrate based foods are usually well recieved. some people don't like to feed live. But i personally believe nightcrawlers are part of a balanced diet for these fish. I chopped them up when my guys where smaller. krill and shrimp can also be cut up into smaller bits and offered.
 
Figured I would give an update. After something else tried to eat him, and with him still not eating often due to competition, I moved him to my 40gal where I have some gourami and a few very small African Cichlids (waiting for them to get bigger to move to another tank). Now I can keep a better eye on him and his feeding habits are awesome!

Here is a vid to prove!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUIF2OLnPWc&feature=player_embedded
 
hand feeding is the best way with eels.

i love hand feeding mine
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom