Fire eel not eating

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Travis12

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 22, 2011
37
0
6
Singapore
I just bought a fire eel which is around 7-9" and it does not seems to be eating. I did not see him eat for around 3days now... i tried feeding him bloodworms and feeder fishes but to no avail..

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A healthy fire eel can go a long time without eating, he may just need more time to settle in. What tankmates and how big of a tank? Does he have places to hide? Next try a bigger worm like red wigglers or earthworms or even ghost shrimp. Mine has gone weeks without eating and was very picky on his food when younger.
 
Its tank consist of a baby giant gourami, 2 angel fish and 2 baby peacock bass and 2 spotted gar....all mentioned were around 6"and below.

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They are usually pretty shy when younger, particularly around more aggressive eaters. Make sure everyone else is full and get some worms or shrimp down to his cave.
 
So i've had my 12" for two weeks now and he still isn't eating. Bloodworks, frozen krill and cut tp frozen shrimp, still he won't touch it. He seems to be hungry, whne its feeding time he inspects all of the food but won't eat any of it. Should i try earthworms, is that the best bet? I am really worried about it.
 
Try earthworms which you cut in half first. The smell will hopefully make the fire eel eat it. If not, you will have to deworm/treat for internal parasites.

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Boy, I know this might sound crazy, but my tire track wouldn't eat worms that weren't "room temperature"...I kept them in the fridge and I would have to let them sit out until they "warmed up"...I found out by accident really, he was doing the same thing...being very picky. Hope this helps?
 
Try red wigglers, bit smaller than night crawlers. If that doesn't do it try ghost shrimp. They do like to hunt.
 
I have never met a spiney includeing fires who could resist nightcrawlers in the end. just make sure to cut them up small enough, i have never been able to get any spiney to take red wigglers. ghost shrimp are expensive but imo an option only if nightcrawlers aren't available, for small spineys 6" or less live blackworms i've found work best, but may also work for larger eels that refuse all else ( even nightcrawlers at first)

btw i have never seen a fire eat feeder fish, only occasionally stripes of fish meat after extended time in captivity. and where all 24"+
 
For those wondering, the earth worms from academy were perfect, I had to feed them to the eel by hand but by the third one thought it might take my fingers with it :-)
 
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