Fire Eel will not eat

[Tastymintz]

Ever since I purchased a fire eel from my LFS, I haven't been able to get it to eat. They said he was eating earth worms, which I tried to feed multiple times each week, including blood worms and prawn etc.
It's now been almost 2 month and I'm worried this guy is gonna die.

Originally purchased as he had a bad heater burn(they kept him in a tank with a heater with no protector) that had just healed.

He's around 18".

Any advice would be appreciated!

Water is all fine, 0 ammonia etc. Tank has been setup for 1 year+.
No aggressive from tankmates.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ichthyogeek]

What tankmates are there?

Have you attempted doing live feedings with something like blackworms? or if large enough, ghost shrimp?

 

[kno4te]

Ever since I purchased a fire eel from my LFS, I haven't been able to get it to eat. They said he was eating earth worms, which I tried to feed multiple times each week, including blood worms and prawn etc.
It's now been almost 2 month and I'm worried this guy is gonna die.

Originally purchased as he had a bad heater burn(they kept him in a tank with a heater with no protector) that had just healed.

He's around 18".

Any advice would be appreciated!

Water is all fine, 0 ammonia etc. Tank has been setup for 1 year+.
No aggressive from tankmates.

Thanks in advance.

Does it have its own hiding place? I’d try some live e-worms or black worms with the light off.

 

[Tastymintz]

Does it have its own hiding place? I’d try some live e-worms or black worms with the light off.

Yeah has its own hiding places, tried both of them with the lights off too.
I did some searching on this forum before making the post.

Added note:
He doesn't look unwell or skinny(if eels of that size even can).

 

[kno4te]

Yeah has its own hiding places, tried both of them with the lights off too.
I did some searching on this forum before making the post.

Added note:
He doesn't look unwell or skinny(if eels of that size even can).

Maybe it’s eating. Try soaking in some garlic.

 

[mel55]

just joined .
Had a few fire eels over the years always found them difficult to feed when first purchased its taken me weeks to get a 6 inch specimen to eat dead foods .
Never had a problem with live foods but didnt want this one to go down the route of only eating live .
Ive found chopped mussels and prawns mixed with live blood word always worked eventually
HTH ...

 

[tlindsey]

just joined .
Had a few fire eels over the years always found them difficult to feed when first purchased its taken me weeks to get a 6 inch specimen to eat dead foods .
Never had a problem with live foods but didnt want this one to go down the route of only eating live .
Ive found chopped mussels and prawns mixed with live blood word always worked eventually
HTH ...

Welcome aboard!

 

[Potato Patatto]

I forget I have a fire eel most of the time until I see him come out occasionally after I douse the tank in blackworms ? it’s just an eel thing from 75% of other peoples experience on here, If you’re leaving earthworms bloodworms or put ghost shrimp in the tank I think he’s eating and wouldn’t sweat it too much

 

[Tastymintz]

Well, I fed him today by hand(tongs, not directly from hand) but it's a huge relief!

 

[The Masked Shadow]

Good fror you! Lets see some pictures! Also, what size tank is he in?