As the title says, my fire eel stopped eating for no obvious reason. She is 2 years old, 60sm long. Lives in a 180 gal tank. Tested the water, it's fine. I do 2 40% changes weekly. I offer the same food(small frozen sea fish we have here). No outer symptom of any illness. Other fish are fine. Even the fire eel acts normally, breaths normally, but doesn't eat. It's been 3 weeks now, so I'm getting worried. Has this happened to you? I wouldn't like to start treating with meds, but eventually I'll have to. How long do you think I can wait? She's really fat and I don't think she has lost any weight this last 3 weeks. I'm sure she doesn't eat. I only offer 1 fish every day, and even if it hits her on the nose, she pays no attention to it. Then the polys take it. She used to come out and beg for her food. Any thoughts are appreciated.
Fire eel stopped eating
- Thread starter filio
- Start date
Have you added any new fish to the tank before your eel stopped eating? Bichirs especially are usually wild caught and often carry internal parasites.
Otherwise it might just be a hunger strike, eels just go on them from time to time. Can you try feeding earthworms or maybe ghost shrimp?
Otherwise it might just be a hunger strike, eels just go on them from time to time. Can you try feeding earthworms or maybe ghost shrimp?
No new fish. Those polys are the first fish I got for this tank. That was 2 years ago. And I only feed frozen food and pellets because of parasites. I've had hunger strikes with other fish, but never with the fire eel. I will wait at least onother month before before I try anything, but I'd like you to share your experience.
My experience with hunger strikes in fire eels is that they are usually broken with live earthworms or live blood/black worms. They also love shrimp, so you might want to try that.
my fire stopped eating for afew weeks one time when i changed the aquascaping in my tank. As long as they dont look to be getting emaciated, you might be in the clear. She would eat maybe on worm a week. if that. couple weeks later, she slowly got her appetite back..I'd say the best thing you can do is keep the water clean and warm (maybe bring it up to 80 or 81) and watch her. Dont try to shove food in its face cause itll just stress it out and make it not want to eat even for even longer.
Mine have gone on hunger strikes before. And it was this time of year as well. It's not uncommon. and at 3 weeks if she's still as fat and sassy as your pictures have shown Spaska? iir 
should be fine. I've found a low dose of de-wormer ( prazi-pro is what I use personally) has broken a fast. I also agree w/ earthworms to break it on occasion. internal parasites are always capable of entering a tank even what the best of precautions are taken. I would try some worms before worming the system. You can also try adding Garlic and pre-soaking her usual food. I've found since I've rotated foods, and always kept my guys guessing they hardly go on strike. But every now and then they will for-go a feeding.. and other times will beg so bad I give in and feed them on a day off. They will even on rare occasion take a few pellets, but this is rare and inconsistant.
I've noticed with spineys in general that a fat spiney with a concavish looking skull needs worming. It can be hard to see signs of internal parasites but this has been my tell-tale sign.
It is also possible she's constipated, so keep an eye for signs of this. irregular undilation of the body, random twisting of the body. Body signs that for me resemble a horse colicing.
Again I doubt it's anything so seriouse, if she goes 2 monthes at that size/age I would start worrying.
should be fine. I've found a low dose of de-wormer ( prazi-pro is what I use personally) has broken a fast. I also agree w/ earthworms to break it on occasion. internal parasites are always capable of entering a tank even what the best of precautions are taken. I would try some worms before worming the system. You can also try adding Garlic and pre-soaking her usual food. I've found since I've rotated foods, and always kept my guys guessing they hardly go on strike. But every now and then they will for-go a feeding.. and other times will beg so bad I give in and feed them on a day off. They will even on rare occasion take a few pellets, but this is rare and inconsistant.I've noticed with spineys in general that a fat spiney with a concavish looking skull needs worming. It can be hard to see signs of internal parasites but this has been my tell-tale sign.
It is also possible she's constipated, so keep an eye for signs of this. irregular undilation of the body, random twisting of the body. Body signs that for me resemble a horse colicing.
Again I doubt it's anything so seriouse, if she goes 2 monthes at that size/age I would start worrying.
Internal parasites was my first thought as well.
Would you be able to get a stool sample to look at under microscope?
Would you be able to get a stool sample to look at under microscope?
First I'd like you to know I appreciate every word. Here's an update from last night.
I tried the worms. No effect. But she never took worms. Even when she was eating like there's no tomorrow. Once I starved her for 2 weeks to make her eat night crawlers, and she simply said NO. I wanted to bring some variety in her diet, but she had her own opinion on the matter. Anyway I had some results last night. I offered a single fish as I do every day, and after a long examination she unwillingly swallowed it whole. Then spat it out. Then she took the fish apart and ate some of the pieces. Spat it back out and that was it. It looked almost as if she couldn't swallow the fish. But trust me she can eat one of those so fast, that if you blink you're gonna miss it. I made an experiment once and offered her 12 of those. She took them in less then a minute asking for more. So I hope these are good news and she will start eating soon.
@Laticauda, I have the microscope, and I can get the poo, but I really have no idea what to look for.
I tried the worms. No effect. But she never took worms. Even when she was eating like there's no tomorrow. Once I starved her for 2 weeks to make her eat night crawlers, and she simply said NO. I wanted to bring some variety in her diet, but she had her own opinion on the matter. Anyway I had some results last night. I offered a single fish as I do every day, and after a long examination she unwillingly swallowed it whole. Then spat it out. Then she took the fish apart and ate some of the pieces. Spat it back out and that was it. It looked almost as if she couldn't swallow the fish. But trust me she can eat one of those so fast, that if you blink you're gonna miss it. I made an experiment once and offered her 12 of those. She took them in less then a minute asking for more. So I hope these are good news and she will start eating soon.
@Laticauda, I have the microscope, and I can get the poo, but I really have no idea what to look for.
Things are getting from bad to worse. Its been 5 weeks now since the eel ate anything. I was away for the holidays those last 4 days and this is what I found when I came back.
There is more of that stuff on her tail.
Clown loaches are nibbing on that thing. They are fine by the way. Seems like the eel is loosing skin.
There is more of that stuff on her tail.
Clown loaches are nibbing on that thing. They are fine by the way. Seems like the eel is loosing skin.
