Striped eel or tire track eel or...

[Rob909]

Yeah I highly doubt they care about that haha. And looking at it next to the barrier, it could definitely fit through that stuff. Or burrow under it haha. Luckily they’re already getting used to the eel’s smell though just in case it is able to get through!

 

[Matteus]

So this guy has been doing well so far. Absolutely fearless. Did not care about the bass sizing it up nearly as much as I cared. It eats very well, comes out and cruises around the tank much more than I had expected. He’s almost one of the most consistently active members in the tank. It has surprised me in a few ways and my wife even really likes it.

 

[Rob909]

Awesome news! Really glad to hear the bass haven’t made it a snack! You don’t feed your bass live food do you? I’ve found that if you don’t, they’re less likely to make smaller tankmates snacks. Not bass specifically, most fish.

 

[Matteus]

Awesome news! Really glad to hear the bass haven’t made it a snack! You don’t feed your bass live food do you? I’ve found that if you don’t, they’re less likely to make smaller tankmates snacks. Not bass specifically, most fish.

I have just recently decided that I am no longer going to feed live fish mostly for that reason. Would live worms count in that category? I was thinking about starting a red wiggler culture but if that will trigger them to eat other tank mates I may scrap that idea. I figure most of my fish would love the worms...

 

[Rob909]

Although alive, I wouldn’t consider it a food that’s going to incite a major predatory response. I feed my fish bait worms from time to time and they love them, but I haven’t seen any increased aggression or overal feeding response from it.

 

[Matteus]

Although alive, I wouldn’t consider it a food that’s going to incite a major predatory response. I feed my fish bait worms from time to time and they love them, but I haven’t seen any increased aggression or overal feeding response from it.

Great news. Thank you for sharing your experience. I feel like your tank and most of your fish are where I am aiming to be some time next year. Almost like you are giving me fire sight of what is to come. Lol.

 

[Rob909]

I’ve also noticed we have similar interest in fish! Always happy to share personal experience!

 

[Lizanyx]

I have a tire track eel, named Good Year, he is about 11 years old and close to 29 inches. He live in a SA Cichlid tank, 150 Gal show tank, 8 feet long. I hand feed him either night crawlers, 3-4 per feeding, or frozen Bloodworm cubes 4-6 per feeding... he comes out for food 4-6 nights a week. He lives with Sevrums, Acaras, Festivums and Ket Holes... never had any issues with him, he is my 3rd Tire Track in 3+ dacades of fish keeping

 

[Matteus]

I have a tire track eel, named Good Year, he is about 11 years old and close to 29 inches. He live in a SA Cichlid tank, 150 Gal show tank, 8 feet long. I hand feed him either night crawlers, 3-4 per feeding, or frozen Bloodworm cubes 4-6 per feeding... he comes out for food 4-6 nights a week. He lives with Sevrums, Acaras, Festivums and Ket Holes... never had any issues with him, he is my 3rd Tire Track in 3+ dacades of fish keeping

Nice. Do you have any pics? Sounds like a great creature.

 

[Matteus]

Ok so I have bad news to report.

This guy didn’t eat much unless it was blood worms or brine shrimp. This meant in terms it has grown extremely slow.

Part of it not getting to eat much was because the parrots that were with it would hog all the food. I even started a culture of red wigglers worms to feed to this guy. I don’t think it even got 1 worm from the stash. Every time I would put the worms in the tt would miss it and the pigs (parrots)would eat them. This means the parrots were growing but not the eel.

The other day I looked over and the biggest parrot had the eel squirming out of its mouth like a spaghetti noodle. I freaked out and grabbed a net to save the eel. Got them separated, but not long after the parrot had it again by its head. By the time I got them separated from each other the eel was mentally messed up and swimming erratically. I ended up having to put the eel down.

It was a sad day indeed. My wife cried, and said we lost a member of our family today. I was like, wow that escalated fast. I didn’t even think she would like it.

I would like to have another try at the eel game some day. Try to grow it up to a full size, but that most likely won’t happen till after my move.

Looking back, should have tried either hand feeding it worms or even using forceps or something. Lesson learned I guess. Smh.