Hand-Feeding Fire Eels

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Polyptasaurus;4960362; said:
What do you guys hand feed yours? I'm curious because I generally use shrimp but it's obviously MUCH better to get them on a varied diet. And have you had any luck with Massivore pellets?
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shrimp, prawns, bloodworms, and earthworms. other than that i havent seen my 2 eat anything else. they will go check out pellets but thats about it.
 
My youngest daughter at 6 loves the fire eel, I had a 25-27 inche, but have down graded to a smaller one, roughly 7-9 inches. I sold all my big tanks. They are cool fish. Love to get a large tank with 3 large fire eels. I've had tire tracks, nothing close to the fire eels I've had. I haven't had the patient to feed off hand. But I find they are easier to train at larger size, never the less they are smart fish people don't give enough credit to.
 
quinn13;4960417; said:
the fire eels are ok with aggressive fish?
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Yes, and no.. I've never had an issue keeping mine with predetory fish.. but aggressive fish seem to not be ideal tank-mates. In general I wouldn't keep them with cichids. Particulalry territorial males. their mouth structure seems to be very similar to bone-tounges. they don't really have "teeth" but can deliver a powerful nip. with that being said some people keep them with larger more docile cichlids particularly SA/CA I'm nto sure if this works long-term once the cichlids mature. my personal experiance was they where fine with my Oscar until it reached matureity then it would harass my eels. They where very outgoing prior to this, and suddenly became very reclusive. after watching the tank a few days, realized the Oscar would chase them anytime they came out. ATM I keep mine with immature pike cichlids which everyone minds their own and the eels are still very outgoing and boisterouse. Pike cichlids being notoriousely aggressive I'm nto sure if this will continue to work long-term.

THe few species I've kept with my eels long-term that imho are fine tank mates are florida gar ( the eels where already 12" and the gar 6" when introduced now the eels are approx 24" and the gar are 16-18") Panques ( I personally own a royal thats been with the eels almost as long as i've had them) and smaller Bichir ( Sen's, and a young ornate. these are with my tire track and everyone gets along fine) My M. Dayii are kept with a panda oranda and some larger mollys and platies. ( my goldfish did randomly lose an eye to idk.. but I do suspect the M dayii.. but his other eye has been just fine since he was reintroduced to the tank)

small fish usually end up prey to more aggressive spineys, where my fire eels won't touch the feeders I offer my gar time to time.

to Sum things up.. Medium/Large Community tanks are ideal imho for a majority of spineys.
 
I have a about a 10 inch fire eel. He's so shy!! He eats only at night when nobody's watching. My black spotted eel is so like a puppy! He's the coolest fish I've ever had. He LOVES Bloodworms too but you can tell how curiuse he is about everything. If I stop to look at the tank he's out of his cavern and saying hi!

I'm working with the fire eel though.. someday he wont be so shy. How do you guys decorate your fire eel tanks?
 
I keep it natural, ALWAYS. Rocks and driftwood with very small-sized gravel and a few fake plants (would use real but the sev would destroy them immediately).
 
I got a fire eel around 20" or so and only eats from my hand. I will get a video for you guys sometime today. Ive been stuffing the shrimp with pellets latly. wish me luck with that
 
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