ATKINSON

I got a 20cm fire eel 4 days ago and I have tried to feed him bloodworms daily but he is not eating. Does any one know what I should do? How long can they go without food?? Please help

Lucy

Your duplicate thread has been deleted.
Please, only start one thread per question.

sirdarksol

What kind of blood worms? Live, frozen, or dried? I think that fire eels are pretty picky, and need to be weaned off of live food to get them to eat prepared foods.

ATKINSON

They are frozen blood worms

ATKINSON

I havent managed to get live blood worms yet but will drop a block of frozen blood worms in his hide out before I turn the lights and see if he will eat it

sirdarksol

A lot of eels (and eel-shaped fish) are opportunistic feeders, waiting for food to come to them. You may have to literally dangle the blood worms right in his face to get him to eat them. Many moray eel keepers have a long pair of forceps for feeding time.

ATKINSON

I do that but he still wont eat. He just swims away

sirdarksol

Then try a different food. A piece of thawed shrimp, a live worm or cricket, a bit of smelt, anything. Keep trying different foods until you find something it will eat.

ATKINSON

Thanks, what is Smelt?

sirdarksol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smelt
I suggested it because it's a common small fish in my local grocery stores, and because it has a fairly strong odor that other fish seem to find appealing (making it an excellent baitfish).