55 Gallon Tank Macrognathus Circumcinctus Feeding

I’ve had my Macrognathus Circumcinctus or Half banded spiny eel for coming up on a year now and I’ve had great success with her and a younger one. I’m just wanting to discuss the proper amount to feed them. I feed them once a day sometimes twice a day because I’m trying to fatten up my two young black rams in the community. I also know that frozen and live foods, mainly worms, are pretty much all they eat. I’ve read a lot of conflicting things on how much to feed though. Some say 2-3 times a week, I’ve spoke with other successful owners and they’ve said once a day too. The first picture has both eels and the second is a bit older but she’s only gained like an inch and is about as round so it’s still pretty accurate.

 

I feed mine around 3 times a week. Are they supposed to be this round?
Mine looks more like the one in the first pic.

 

I feed mine around 3 times a week. Are they supposed to be this round?
Mine looks more like the one in the first pic.

Honestly I couldn’t tell you lol. They’ve done fine with a similar schedule to yours and daily feedings. All I can say though is that when I reduced feeding, the larger eel jumped out and died sadly. Before that she was really healthy. Now I’m feeding my smaller one daily and it has decent size but still growing out.

 

Considering fully grown specimens sometimes eat small fish (up to 3-4cm) I would say a handful (that's roughly 5) of mysis shrimp per eel per feeding are a good measure. Similar portion sizes of other foods apply.
How big is the eel currently? If it is really still growing, 2-3 feedings a day are appropriate, the older the less feedings, but the singular portion may be a bit more decadent.

 

Before my larger eel died it was very close to full grown around 7-7.5 inches and never bothered the cherry barbs I added despite them being only a lil inch but it had a big appetite for cherry shrimp. The one I still have is a solid 4 inches and growing out well with one feeding a day, daily. In my keeping they really prefer blood worms and at least one feeding a day. Daily feedings help see them more active.

 

Spiny eels do not actively hunt free swimming fish. I once had a Tanganyika spiny eel, which would hunt small Mbuna between rocks, though. That's why I am sure what these fish are capable of. They would rather be opportunistic, so if a sleeping barb drifts their way at night...

Ok, the fish is just half the size of an adult, so I would try to squeeze as many feedings into 24 hours as possible without overfeeding the other fish or impacting the water quality. Tried target feeding yet?

 

Spiny eels do not actively hunt free swimming fish. I once had a Tanganyika spiny eel, which would hunt small Mbuna between rocks, though. That's why I am sure what these fish are capable of. They would rather be opportunistic, so if a sleeping barb drifts their way at night...

Ok, the fish is just half the size of an adult, so I would try to squeeze as many feedings into 24 hours as possible without overfeeding the other fish or impacting the water quality. Tried target feeding yet?

I’ve never needed to. The other fish prefer brine shrimp and other foods while the eel mostly singles out blood worms. I might try one extra feeding to see if that’ll help it but right now I’m still noticing fair size increases. Side note, how was the Tanganyika eel? I really badly want an assorted eel tank but I’m likely sticking to a few from the macrognathus family

 

I’ve never needed to. The other fish prefer brine shrimp and other foods while the eel mostly singles out blood worms. I might try one extra feeding to see if that’ll help it but right now I’m still noticing fair size increases.

Replace the bloodworms with tubifex. Better nutritional value than the mosquito larvae.

Side note, how was the Tanganyika eel? I really badly want an assorted eel tank but I’m likely sticking to a few from the macrognathus family

I tell you directly: Not suitable to put together with the asian species, just going by the necessary conditions (pH and hardness through the roof). It had a lifestyle comparable to a moray eel, looking for food in nooks and crannies between rocks.

 

I’ll definitely add tubifex and maybe other worms to it’s diet. I usually notice much better color in fish with a more varied diet. And yeah I’ll just stick to the macrognathus family when I start the assorted eel tank. That’s the family in most familiar with and from my research most have the same conditions and temperament. Mostly different sizes from like 6 in to 12 in and different colors/patterns.

 

Replace the bloodworms with tubifex. Better nutritional value than the mosquito larvae.


I tell you directly: Not suitable to put together with the asian species, just going by the necessary conditions (pH and hardness through the roof). It had a lifestyle comparable to a moray eel, looking for food in nooks and crannies between rocks.

Would you recommend I feed my half banded every day? I'm feeding him 3 times a week right now. He's around 10cm long. I only feed him bloodworms but from your replies I guess I can add tubifex and maybe brine shrimp to his diet?

 

Give it a try. I would always have less fast days than feeding days. So maximum fast days (except you do a dry season simulation) per week should be three. 4 days a week 2 smaller feedings, 3 days fast days.

 

Give it a try. I would always have less fast days than feeding days. So maximum fast days (except you do a dry season simulation) per week should be three. 4 days a week 2 smaller feedings, 3 days fast days.

I'll try that, thanks!

 

Those eels look so cool I love the eel look for a fish.