I have one also and with a little time they become less shy. Mine devours earthworms/night crawlers. I had two of them but they fought with one another and I had to take one back. My tank may have been a little too small for two. Great looking fish.
Sorry for rezzing this older thread, but when it comes to the python eels, there are 2 different variations. There's the Borneo Spiny Eel(Macrognathus constringere). Then there is the Borneo Giant Python Spiny Eel(Mastacembelus constringere sub. magnus).
Another cool one I've been searching a long time for is of Burmese origin, the Mastacembelus pinna sub. ruber; oh, and the Macrognathus ignis sub. fantasiae is also really cool looking.
If anyone has anything to add or correct me about, go right ahead; this is info collected from multiple archives I've been in contact with trying to decipher pics and get accurate names from countries of origin. The sub-species' spellings may be a little off, as I don't practice Latin as often as I should.