Hand-Feeding Fire Eels

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Polyptasaurus

Candiru
MFK Member
Jun 6, 2009
632
11
48
New York
I have owned a lot of crazy fish over the years, but even out of the more rare and expensive fish (including piranhas), the coolest thing I ever owned was actually a fire eel. My old fire eel died about a year ago and he was AWESOME. I swear it was like owning an underwater puppy. It would get all excited and wag it's tail around every time I came home. All I had to do was put my hand over the tank and it would immediately swim up to the top and poke it's weird little nose out of the water. It was also really fun because I fed him by hand every day. I usually fed him cocktail shrimp and occasionally would give him earthworms. It was great.

So I got a new one about a week and a half ago and it ate for the first time yesterday...OUT OF MY HAND. People who say that it is hard to get these monsters to eat, and harder to get them to eat out of your hand...clearly did something wrong. I highly suggest getting one of these, they are incredible and definitely the most "interactive" fish I've ever owned.

Anyone else hand feed their eels? Does the same work with Tire Tracks? What else do you feed them?
 
I just slice up some cocktail shrimp into strips (how much/big depends on how big the eel is) and honestly....just reach in there and slowly, SLOWLY wag that thing in front of his face. A hungry eel won't wait too long. Just don't get nervous because they will take it quickly so be prepared for it, theres no reason to jump. Even if it did nip your finger, it doesn't hurt at all. My last eel was a beast and even if he accidentally missed and got a finger, it doesn't hurt at all, they don't have teeth like that and they have weak jaws.

Now... if you want it to eat at the top of the tank AND come to you... that takes more work. For this you have to slowly move the food farther and farther away, almost teasing it, making it swim closer and closer. Keep doing this until it eats at the top of the tank and with time...he'll come to you, you won't even need to put your whole hand in the water, let alone your entire arm.
 
Cool thanks for that info ill have to try that when I get an eel.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com
 
Interesting topic. Alot of people do things like this. And hand feed lots of stuff. It creeps me out when people do it with rays. I personaully like to not accosiate my hand with food to my fish. Because i do like to keep things with teeth. At that like to shrud stuff. But if it gives you enjoyment. Teach um as many tricks as you can. I trained a side neck turtle i had to go to the top of the tank to get pellets. Buy first holding it in front of the glass and sliding it up to the top of the tank and drop it in. At first he knew to follow my hand up. And eventually just sat and waited at that point at the top of the water and waite when she saw me. Of species i know same topic thow.
 
Mine does this, he loves prawns and can hoover several up in a few second!

He will take it at the top too but the Oscars normally grab them out of my fingers before he can get there!

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He's about 22-23 inches and hasn't been well since jumping when I was moving him to his new tank a couple of days ago!
 
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