Fire Eel Not Eating (4 months 20 days)

[PartyHacks]

Well.... I am no amateur with fire eels, but even I know that 4 months and 20 days is a long time for these guys to not eat.

I have only ever seen them eat 1 thing, and that's live ghost shrimp. I only did this one time.

I want to avoid this as much as possible because power feeding them ghost shrimp (.39 each at petsmart) can add up quick, and it would cost a lot in the long term.

I've tried:

Freeze Dried Shrimp
Sun Dried Shrimp
Frozen Shrimp
Blood worms
Nightcrawlers
Red Wiggler Worms
Pellets
Minnows/Guppy Feeders
All denied. But they will go crazy for live ghost shrimp.


Experts, is there anything I can do? I was thinking of freeze dried ghost shrimp perhaps?

 

[Fishman Dave]

Mine go crazy for mussel meat. Even taking whole mussels and trying to tear bits off. A much cheaper option if they accept it, albeit there is not a huge amount in the way of protein and vitamins but mine do well on them.

 

[Deadeye]

Are there a lot of hiding spots? It’s possible he is eating leftovers at night and you just don’t see it.

 

[PartyHacks]

Are there a lot of hiding spots? It’s possible he is eating leftovers at night and you just don’t see it.

There are around 9 hides that would be suitable for him. He rotates between places.

The store said live blackworm. I think I will continue to starve until they eat shrimp.

Mine go crazy for mussel meat. Even taking whole mussels and trying to tear bits off. A much cheaper option if they accept it, albeit there is not a huge amount in the way of protein and vitamins but mine do well on them.

I will search for mussels and try those. Thank you.

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

Mine go crazy for mussel meat. Even taking whole mussels and trying to tear bits off. A much cheaper option if they accept it, albeit there is not a huge amount in the way of protein and vitamins but mine do well on them.

Neat to know. How do you purchase those mussels? Seafood counter or already frozen ? Shells on? I definitely will try this with mine.

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

They watch other fish eat and then wants to investigate what they are eating. Very aware of their surroundings. Even argue and get bit by other plecos when going for the same morsel. What I DID is a triple blend for my smallest picky eater. I soaked frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp/spirlunia, and mysis shrimp together defrosting for good 20 minutes using warm tank water. Then poured them thru the net and put in new water cup without tap water running in the net like we usually do to rinse it off. Took the turkey baster and just slowly dropped the food in its face and thats what it eats. Now its eating mysis and brine with no bloodworms and plain mysis rinsed, an huge improvement. I'm kind of cheating trying to get them some vitamins at least once a week I let the "hikari first bites" soak with the frozen food. I know it might be dumb on my part if it's useless but oh well but trying to get them to go for pellets eventually ?‍

 

[Ferretfish12]

I always find that bloodworms and just regular earthworms will usually have good results will fish like freshwater eels

 

[PartyHacks]

They watch other fish eat and then wants to investigate what they are eating. Very aware of their surroundings. Even argue and get bit by other plecos when going for the same morsel. What I DID is a triple blend for my smallest picky eater. I soaked frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp/spirlunia, and mysis shrimp together defrosting for good 20 minutes using warm tank water. Then poured them thru the net and put in new water cup without tap water running in the net like we usually do to rinse it off. Took the turkey baster and just slowly dropped the food in its face and thats what it eats. Now its eating mysis and brine with no bloodworms and plain mysis rinsed, an huge improvement. I'm kind of cheating trying to get them some vitamins at least once a week I let the "hikari first bites" soak with the frozen food. I know it might be dumb on my part if it's useless but oh well but trying to get them to go for pellets eventually ?‍

Hahah good luck on the pellets, if you ever achieve it, post a video. As far as I know, there is nobody who has done it.

Neat to know. How do you purchase those mussels? Seafood counter or already frozen ? Shells on? I definitely will try this with mine.

Also interested. Walmart?