How to get a wild caught eel to eat.

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Lucas&kim

Lucas&kim

Plecostomus
MFK Member
May 7, 2016
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Hi. I recently purchased two wild caught Mastacembelus moorii. They are 12"+. Tankmates are a group of benthochromis horeii. Ive had the eels for several days now. And I've tried feeding small peices of shrimp. Does anyone have any tips or advice on how to get them to eat? They do seem interest in the food. Just won't accept it. Thanks
 
I'm not familer with that species, but maybe some more information can help someone who follows that may have more experience.

what are your tank parameters? (Wild caught tend to be more sensitive to this than tank raised i've found)

How are you attempting to feed the shrimp pieces? (Does it mimic the natural feeding of the eel? Are they nocturnal?)
 
Often it seems fish can require time to get used to a new tank. Adding hiding places, cover, dim lighting, low noise and patience often is needed beyond offering something tasty. Even getting used to the new owner can seem important.

At 12" in size, (unless they were grossly underfed), they are in no danger of starving. I don't know what this species finds appetizing, but you can offer other foods besides shrimp.

https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/fire-eel-eating-help.695560/
Try reading this thread to get more tips.
 
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Drstrangelove said:
Often it seems fish can require time to get used to a new tank. Adding hiding places, cover, dim lighting, low noise and patience often is needed beyond offering something tasty. Even getting used to the new owner can seem important.

At 12" in size, (unless they were grossly underfed), they are in no danger of starving. I don't know what this species finds appetizing, but you can offer other foods besides shrimp.

https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/fire-eel-eating-help.695560/
Try reading this thread to get more tips.
Click to expand...
The eels are from lake tanganyika. They look very healthy. They've been out of the lake for about 3 weeks now. The importer was feeding brine shrimp and blood worms. But I know they need something more substantial. I do believe the eels are nocturnal but they do move around alot during the day. Maybe cause the tank is still new to them. They are also somewhat aggressive toward each other. They stay in separate rock stacks. I've ordered long forceps to spot feed with. I keep the tanks ph around 9. Tank is 500gal with dim lighting.
 
I would try different foods. I had a fire eel that wouldn’t eat and I eventually ended up putting about 7-8 different foods in all at once to find out what the eel liked.

Try frozen bloodworms, live red wigglers, frozen shrimp, frozen beef heart, chopped up frozen tilapia, and whatever else you can find. See if it eats any of that and then feed it whatever it does eat. Make sure to clean out any of the uneaten food afterward.
 
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Fish Tank Travis said:
I would try different foods. I had a fire eel that wouldn’t eat and I eventually ended up putting about 7-8 different foods in all at once to find out what the eel liked.

Try frozen bloodworms, live red wigglers, frozen shrimp, frozen beef heart, chopped up frozen tilapia, and whatever else you can find. See if it eats any of that and then feed it whatever it does eat. Make sure to clean out any of the uneaten food afterward.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I will try that.
 
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