Eel care guide!

[SashimiTurtle]

I've got one live molly in the tank with my eel. Went and bought a few from one of the chain pet stores. I'm hoping to breed the 4 I have seperate so I don't have to keep buying feeders. Maybe he'll start eating squid again, who knows...

 

[719bloodhound]

7 days is nothing, I've got a golden dwarf that decided frozen squid(used to go absolutely nuts over) wasn't good anymore. He's refused everything I've offered and I haven't actually fed him since the middle of December. I suspect him of eating a few of my fish, but he's been in a tank by himself for a month now. Still hasn't eaten, still looks healthy.

By the way, eels and skulls are just awesome. This is my Maui.

View attachment 687883

Proof he used to eat.

Where did you get that skull

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Where did you get that skull

Umm, what's the name of that place.... Pet Superstore or something. It's one of those cheap acrylic goldfish decorations, and I'm going to encrust it with cyphastrea. There's a big hole in the back where Maui can come and go. I just glued the underside of the frag plug to that hole. It should start encrusting here soon.

Muahaha...

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Where did you get that skull

https://www.petsupermarket.com

 

[lion king]

I've got one live molly in the tank with my eel. Went and bought a few from one of the chain pet stores. I'm hoping to breed the 4 I have seperate so I don't have to keep buying feeders. Maybe he'll start eating squid again, who knows...

They are easy to breed, I used to breed them salt. They seem to take longer in salt, I was lucky to find a lfs that gets tons in at all sizes. I just got 16 for $2 for my lions.(4 for a $ on 2 for tues)

Is there anything else going on in the tank that could have thrown his eating off. The usual; water conditions, anyone picking on him, I did have a jeweled with flukes once.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

He's in his own tank, well, there is a coral banded shrimp in there. I haven't noticed it messing with him. There really isn't anything to feed in the tank other than Maui himself, so I don't think nutrients will become too much of a problem. I haven't noticed any paracites... but he's a really light colored eel. Flukes would be next to impossible to see.

 

[lion king]

He's in his own tank, well, there is a coral banded shrimp in there. I haven't noticed it messing with him. There really isn't anything to feed in the tank other than Maui himself, so I don't think nutrients will become too much of a problem. I haven't noticed any paracites... but he's a really light colored eel. Flukes would be next to impossible to see.

View attachment 688055

I'm not the expert, but it may not hurt to dose some prazi pro. If there is a problem, say parasites; prazi would likely solve it and it is rather safe and easy to administer. I've found more times than not; when a fish stops or changes his eating habits, it ends up being internal parasites.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

I'm not the expert, but it may not hurt to dose some prazi pro. If there is a problem, say parasites; prazi would likely solve it and it is rather safe and easy to administer. I've found more times than not; when a fish stops or changes his eating habits, it ends up being internal parasites.

Internal parasites... would Parazi help with that? I've always heard to use metro and focus in food for internal parasites, but he's not eating.

I have parazi, metro, kana and focus. Along with coppersafe, but it's not eel safe. I'm guessing Parazi is eel safe?

 

[Thomashtom]

Here is one of mine Dragon moray. Gotta watch him when feeding got bit twice over the last 3 years. Blind and will bite anything. LOL

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Here is one of mine Dragon moray. Gotta watch him when feeding got bit twice over the last 3 years. Blind and will bite anything. LOLView attachment 688103View attachment 688104View attachment 688105

Beautiful eel... is he really blind, or just really nearsighted like all of our eels?

 

[Thomashtom]

HAHA just nearsighted. But he is always right in the mix even when i am feeding pellets or flakes so i always have to be aware of him. Same with my snowflake but i am more concerned with him jumping out which he did about a year ago. Thanks

 

[lion king]

Internal parasites... would Parazi help with that? I've always heard to use metro and focus in food for internal parasites, but he's not eating.

I have parazi, metro, kana and focus. Along with coppersafe, but it's not eel safe. I'm guessing Parazi is eel safe?

Yes prazi pro is eel safe, Ive found it effective for mild cases of internal parasites. If I'm really concerned, once they are eating, I will follow up with metro/focus. I've had many cases of fish not eating, and after prazi pro their appetite comes back. That's how I figured that many fish not eating may be caused by internal parasites. That's if all other concerns are met as well; like a health,y size appropriate, and relatively stress free environment.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Yes prazi pro is eel safe, Ive found it effective for mild cases of internal parasites. If I'm really concerned, once they are eating, I will follow up with metro/focus. I've had many cases of fish not eating, and after prazi pro their appetite comes back. That's how I figured that many fish not eating may be caused by internal parasites. That's if all other concerns are met as well; like a health,y size appropriate, and relatively stress free environment.

Just dosed parizipro according to label. Hopefully his appetite picks back up in a week. I'll soak his food in metro and focus for a few weeks after he's eating to make sure he's cleaned out.

 

[BugXprt]

7 days is nothing, I've got a golden dwarf that decided frozen squid(used to go absolutely nuts over) wasn't good anymore. He's refused everything I've offered and I haven't actually fed him since the middle of December. I suspect him of eating a few of my fish, but he's been in a tank by himself for a month now. Still hasn't eaten, still looks healthy.

By the way, eels and skulls are just awesome. This is my Maui.

View attachment 687883

Proof he used to eat.

That's awesome, the video, the algae, and i like How you hold the food infront of power head for smell. Appreciate the reply. Thanks

 

[BugXprt]

I usually settle my eels in with something live. Ghosties might be good, if you can get some big ones. Maybe even a fiddler crab for the zebra. I wouldn't be surprised if the banana didn't take down the cardinals, the damsels are quite evasive but still on the menu. I wouldn't worry about the banana, he'll eat one your fish when he's hungry. If there's some inverts in there for the zebra, he'll find them when he's ready. Then just keep offering them a variety, squid and octopus will make them come out of the tanks.

2 awesome eel tanks, thanks guys

Yes thanks, im ok if he eats those guys, i really only planned on one fish, which i missed dearly, my black panda dogface puffer. Thanks

 

[tyler1503]

Hi everyone!
Sorry, I've been very absent from R2R for some time now.
If anyone's eels questions are still relevant, I'm happy to help!

 

[BugXprt]

I got them to eat Sunday, silversides and krill. Then Tuesday ate shrimp and scallops, also the zebra ate a clam, to big i guess, he strugled.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

3 months, no food. Longest hunger strike I've seen yet. Still looks healthy so I guess just wait him out until he shows interest in food again.

 

[lion king]

I got them to eat Sunday, silversides and krill. Then Tuesday ate shrimp and scallops, also the zebra ate a clam, to big i guess, he strugled.

Hey Bug with 2 eels you'll want to save some money, check out my thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/feeding-predators-saving-money.338328/

 

[lion king]

3 months, no food. Longest hunger strike I've seen yet. Still looks healthy so I guess just wait him out until he shows interest in food again.

View attachment 698742

So even after the prazi pro he doesn't want to eat. I know you hear alot about eels and hunger strikes, it's usually not a huge concern when he's been moved, new addition or a some other major change to a tank. Every time I've seen an eel go on a hunger strike in an established home, there's always been an underlying reason. Maybe you are blocking his view to the tv(lol). My point is it may be something so simple you wouldn't even think it made any difference. Something must have happened to upset him and throw off his appetite.