eel wont eat

[spkdtch]

i understand often they will go and not eat a single thing for long periods of time, however i don't want him to starve, i want it to eat right infront of me so i know it had at least something
a cleaner wrasse died and he ate it accidentally before i could remove it, so i know he ate a big meal, but when i put uncooked shrimp in, it wont do anything like it doesnt even notice it, today i tried, he bit it and then spazzed out like it was poison and moved away from it
any tips or tricks on ways to get him interested are what im looking for, i know it will eat eventually, but anything to get him motivated is appreciated, im not looking for other varieties so much, as i am looking for tricks and tips to maybe flavor the shrimp or make it more enticing
as far as the type, even the LFS didnt know what kind it was, it looks like a peppered moray, about 10-12inches
i feel bad because i leave a few pieces of shrimp in the few places where he normally hides and when i get up in the morning, they are gone, but i know my lionfish will eat anything, moving or not, no matter where i hide it, so chances are, the eel has never had a piece of shrimp thanks to the lionfish

 

[salt life]

Originally Posted by spkdtch
http:///forum/post/2968228
i understand often they will go and not eat a single thing for long periods of time, however i don't want him to starve, i want it to eat right infront of me so i know it had at least something
a cleaner wrasse died and he ate it accidentally before i could remove it, so i know he ate a big meal, but when i put uncooked shrimp in, it wont do anything like it doesnt even notice it, today i tried, he bit it and then spazzed out like it was poison and moved away from it
any tips or tricks on ways to get him interested are what im looking for, i know it will eat eventually, but anything to get him motivated is appreciated, im not looking for other varieties so much, as i am looking for tricks and tips to maybe flavor the shrimp or make it more enticing
as far as the type, even the LFS didnt know what kind it was, it looks like a peppered moray, about 10-12inches
i feel bad because i leave a few pieces of shrimp in the few places where he normally hides and when i get up in the morning, they are gone, but i know my lionfish will eat anything, moving or not, no matter where i hide it, so chances are, the eel has never had a piece of shrimp thanks to the lionfish
ok well as you said they do sometimes go on hunger strikes. if your trying to feed him everyday then I would stop because shoving food in his face will only stress him out. My chainlink has stopped eating lately and will only take a piece of shrimp or squid,etc. and thats it. I would also not leave food in your tank because it will mess with your water params. wait a couple days and then try, if not give an update and maybe we will see about soaking in garlic.

 

[crypt keeper]

If you havent seen your eel eat nor your lionfish eat the pieces of shrimp then you cant say with confidence your eel isnt eating. They should only be fed every few days as they digest slowly.

 

[salt life]

any update?

 

[95harley]

If he ate the cleaner wrasse he may be a fish eater. Tried any silversides?

 

[spkdtch]

still wont eat even when soaked in a bit of garlic, he goes after it if i wiggle it on a stick, but when he bites it or gets close light he is going to bite it, he flies back into hiding like its poison, its fresh, uncooked shrimp, its not old or anything
i guess ill have to try silversides, but everything else in the tank loves the shrimp, hes just very picky i guess? i dont understand why it goes after it but changes its mind
this time he has been hiding in a rock in the corner of the tank, so there is no way the lionfish will eat the shrimp i left for him, but my porcelain crab might, if you look at my other thread in the anemone and clown fish section, you can see a picture of where he is hiding, just barely can see his head sticking out
im not super worried, he is semi active and very responsive, but i would sleep easier knowing he is not slowly starving to death ya know? its been about a month or so since he ate the wrasse

 

[salt life]

Originally Posted by spkdtch
http:///forum/post/2977983
still wont eat even when soaked in a bit of garlic, he goes after it if i wiggle it on a stick, but when he bites it or gets close light he is going to bite it, he flies back into hiding like its poison, its fresh, uncooked shrimp, its not old or anything
i guess ill have to try silversides, but everything else in the tank loves the shrimp, hes just very picky i guess? i dont understand why it goes after it but changes its mind
this time he has been hiding in a rock in the corner of the tank, so there is no way the lionfish will eat the shrimp i left for him, but my porcelain crab might, if you look at my other thread in the anemone and clown fish section, you can see a picture of where he is hiding, just barely can see his head sticking out
im not super worried, he is semi active and very responsive, but i would sleep easier knowing he is not slowly starving to death ya know? its been about a month or so since he ate the wrasse
my chain link moray has been doing the same thing with the food, sometimes he will go for it then swim the other way, not sure why it is doing it either but it is still eating...
for yours I would try some silversides and if those don't work then i'd suggest trying live food, not for a permanant fix but if he eats live then thats better than not eating.. not sure what to reccomend for live food for eels since I only do frozen, maybe ghost shrimp or something? I know feeder fish are not good for them, idk if the same goes for guppies.. keep us updated, I hope he pulls through...

 

[spkdtch]

problem is hes in a tank with a lionfish, so any live small fish, the lion eats, so ghost shrimp are my only real choice for live that i can think of
when i got a horseshoe crab, he went after that until it burried itself, any advice on where to get live ghost shrimp?

 

[salt life]

Originally Posted by spkdtch
http:///forum/post/2978079
problem is hes in a tank with a lionfish, so any live small fish, the lion eats, so ghost shrimp are my only real choice for live that i can think of
when i got a horseshoe crab, he went after that until it burried itself, any advice on where to get live ghost shrimp?
your fish store should carry them, that's where I used to get them, guppies might work too, if you have feeding prongs just grab them by the tail so they still wiggle and the eel might sense it better.

 

[spkdtch]

no feeding prongs, just a skewer for the shrimp, but i might grab a pair tomorrow since i thought about getting some, and only pet store near me that ive seen them in i do not wish to support anyways, every fish i have purchased from them has been infected with one thing or another, never lived more than a month, and is kept in horrid conditions, gaint tangs in 14gals with 3-4 other fish is just wrong

 

[salt life]

Originally Posted by spkdtch
http:///forum/post/2978228
no feeding prongs, just a skewer for the shrimp, but i might grab a pair tomorrow since i thought about getting some, and only pet store near me that ive seen them in i do not wish to support anyways, every fish i have purchased from them has been infected with one thing or another, never lived more than a month, and is kept in horrid conditions, gaint tangs in 14gals with 3-4 other fish is just wrong
fish stores don't expect the fish they have to be in their tanks that long so they keep them in what they have, not saying it's right but that's how they do it. If they have the live food you need then I would get a few, put them in a container with some of the water in the bag, then mix it with some of your tank water, then net them out. if it gets the eel to eat then it's worth it to try.