I have just scoured the countryside for a two hour radius and could not find silversides for my almost 3 ft long sfe. I was told by a great online fish food store that the silversides are seasonal and right now no one has them. Hikari is their supplier and Hikari told them they would have them by the end of May. I bought lancefish, which are smaller, but he is eating them fine. He supposedly used to eat shrimp, but I have never gotten him to.
My baby eel used to love bay scallops, which are cheap and at your local grocer.....just a few suggestions