Fire Eel refusing food

[Yoda1]

Probably a common question

But....

I have had a new 30cm Fire Eel for 2 weeks. And it’s refusing to eat. I have tried silver sides, minced fish, blood worm, prawns, live earth worms. Not interested. I have tired target feeding with long tweezers with the lights off. Not interested.

Do I just have to be patient?

 

[kno4te]

I’d say wait it out. I believe it will feed. Can try at night time feeding.

 

[thefredpit]

in my experience you are lucky to get new eels to eat in the first 2 weeks just wait it out trying every couple days

 

[Yoda1]

Thanks for the replies.

I have tried to target feed at night time.

I guess I just have to be patient.

 

[Yoda1]

It's now 3 weeks and Fire Eel is still refusing food.
At what stage should I be concerned?

 

[phreeflow]

Try live blackworms...

 

[Rob909]

What’s your temp looking like? I’ve found that bumping up the temp raises metabolisms and makes eating a little higher on the priority list lol.

And what are the tankmates? I’ve also found that a new fire eel isn’t too competitive when it comes to food and spook easily at feeding time. But once eating and established, they’re right at the front of the glass when you walk up!

 

[Yoda1]

I can’t get live black worms but have tried blood worms - not interested

Tank temps is 28*c
He’s with a pair of hystrix Rays, silver dollars and angels.
I have been using a long pair of tweezers to get the food right to him, and prevent the other fish from eating it first.

 

[Rob909]

Your water temperature is fine. Maybe you can try garlic. Walmart and big 5 sell garlic flavored nightcrawlers. They didn’t harm my eel at all when I bought them by accident once.

 

[Yoda1]

So.....

I called the lfs yesterday morning. I know the manager very well and we are on good terms.

Discussed the situation with all the options. And he recons that there is either a parasite (requiring a dewormer) or a flagellate issue (requiring Metro). I don't have qt facilities, so he offered me to bring it in:
And either leave it with him to treat
or to swap for another one.

I watched him feeding the ones in his tank
Decided on balance that I would prefer to swap.
So that's what I did.
Hopefully this second one will settle in quicker!