I'm quite sure the appendages on the end of his snout served for sensitivity, but I think the eel won't have problems recognizing food items. Did you by any chance ask the previous owner what they were feeding the fire eel.
It was the local pet supermarket who had him so I can call and see I was hoping to get him to eat the same as my other eel but I know how picky they can be sometimes I'll give em a call tomm
I stayed patient and the eel started eating .