Tips on feeding Fire Eel in community tank...

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Candiru
MFK Member
Sep 7, 2008
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Having some problems feeding my fire eel.

I have a 9ft 1450l tank with large active fish (Silver Dollars, Silver Sharks, Silver Arowana, Giraffe Catfish and a few more...)

The problem is that of course, the Fire Eel won't eat pellets, if I put in prawn or other types of meaty fish, the other fish devour it first.

The Fire Eel is very timid and quite small. It won't compete with my other fish for food. I have tried offering the fire eel food on a stick, but again...he is extremely timid and is seems scared of the food being placed in front of him.

Any ideas?

Thanks.
 
Do you have any other smaller tanks you could get him used to feeding in first? So much easier once they feel confident to come up to take food from your hand. Otherwise turkey baster or something to put worms in front of him?
 
how long have you had him? how big is he?

I just got my 13" fire eel to eat for the 1st time 2 days ago. The way I did it was put all the food in a small net and drop it right at the front of his hide. I used tilapia and nightcrawlers and I had to add enough nightcrawlers that the other fish could run off with some but he would still have one if he wanted. It took 10 days and I practically cheered when he finally ate a nightcrawler especially since in my opinion the nightcrawler was probably a little too big for him
 
F3l1ss said:
Do you have any other smaller tanks you could get him used to feeding in first? So much easier once they feel confident to come up to take food from your hand. Otherwise turkey baster or something to put worms in front of him?
Click to expand...

I don't have any smaller tanks unfortunately. I would be killed if I even suggested it given the monster I've got. :D

thefredpit said:
how long have you had him? how big is he?

I just got my 13" fire eel to eat for the 1st time 2 days ago. The way I did it was put all the food in a small net and drop it right at the front of his hide. I used tilapia and nightcrawlers and I had to add enough nightcrawlers that the other fish could run off with some but he would still have one if he wanted. It took 10 days and I practically cheered when he finally ate a nightcrawler especially since in my opinion the nightcrawler was probably a little too big for him
Click to expand...

About 4-5". Maybe like 2 months. I read that at this size, they are terrible to get eating, and you need something around 12" before it even starts to feel comfortable and readily take food.

I think what I will do is get some prawn and place it near him (near, so he doesn't swim off), and hope he takes it. Whilst feeding the other fish very small amounts to keep their interest away.

To me though, he looks skinny, though hard to tell with an eel. I don't think he will make it long term if this continues. :eek:
 
at that size I would melt bloodworm cubes and get a turkey baster and target feed him I had to do this with my tire track eel and after a little bit he was no longer afraid of it. Also feed the other fish right before you target feed him and do it on the other side of the tank so they are distracted
 
Fire eels, will starve to death in community tanks, unless you've got them acclimated to eat.

Best way to do this is to keep em in a tank without any other fish, and train them to eat processed or frozen foods.

Mine took almost three years before it ate Tilapia fillet, I fed my group. Fire eel only live shrimp and earthworms, I still have two which are not yet on Tilapia fillet.
 
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