Just bought a blue ribbon eel

[bct15]

Like the title says, I just bought a blue ribbon eel I'm out of town and pick it up from the LFS Tuesday. Any tips or tricks recommended for this guy. I understand this species can be difficult and I'm only looking or useful information.

Thanks ahead of time

 

[slapshot]

Can't help you always heard, well you know. Please keep us informed as they are beautiful and can make an entire system. I would live to see a success story.

 

[ritter6788]

I have no info to help but I'd sure like to see pics of it and wish you good luck. I've not only heard they are difficult but impossible.

 

[bct15]

I will get some pics up when I pick it up, it is so awesome. It was in the store and I figured it had just as good if not a better chance with me since I am willing to put the time in to feed it, so I bought it and they are holding it until Tuesday when I leave. It was just to awesome to pass on...

 

[BarbH]

Congrats on your new addition Don't have anything to add to help but wishing you the best and look forward to seeing pictures when your are able.

Sent from my SCH-R720 using Tapatalk 2

 

[revsgirl]

Congrats!! Sorry, no tips here. But I'd love to see it if you get time to take some pics!!

 

[secretreefer]

Man if anyone can do it it'd be you bro! Nice pickup, i've always wanted one of these due to their cool nature and colors!

 

[ritter6788]

So what's the deal with them? From my little bit of reading it seems that they just refuse to eat in captivity? Or is it something else that they need a special diet?

 

[Tabasco1]

Congrats man! You do like a challenge, they are amazing. No real tips from me. I was trying to find a youtube I saw a while ago that was very informative, but I'm not having much luck. I did find this one that shows someone feeding theirs... unfortunately with a goldfish, but it does show the the pipe that the eel lived in which is cool and what I think this other person had set up that was pretty successful.

Blue Ribbon Eel feeding 1 - YouTube

 

[bct15]

From my understanding, it takes a bunch of effort to get them to eat...I will try multiple times daily. If you get it to eat there is little issues from there. I have some golden dwarf morays (GDM) but there should be no issue with them fighting, and this one is about two and a half feet and his head is smaller than my GDMs, so hopefully he does not terrorize any fish, from what I understand they pretty much just get longer from this point and don't really put on much more "size".

Luckily, my wives family owns several shrimp boats in Biloxi MS...which gives me access to several fresh seafood items. However, I freeze it when I get it but the guy that sold it stated they typically take well to sliced gulf shrimp, silversides, ghost shrimp and feeder guppies...so we will see. Hopefully it works out.

 

[bct15]

Congrats man! You do like a challenge, they are amazing. No real tips from me. I was trying to find a youtube I saw a while ago that was very informative, but I'm not having much luck. I did find this one that shows someone feeding theirs... unfortunately with a goldfish, but it does show the the pipe that the eel lived in which is cool and what I think this other person had set up that was pretty successful.

Blue Ribbon Eel feeding 1 - YouTube

Yeah, I seen that and will rig something similar and bury it my sand in the front for him...I have a ton of PVC in the shed...I'm probably going to buy a ten or twelve mollies and grow them in the sump just in case, if all else fails I will just feed them to the nems.

 

[bct15]

Got him in the tank but I am in and out of town right now...he isn't taking food from the tongs but I am missing a small blenny I caught while diving in Florida. Not sure if he ate it or if it is just missing, this blenny does (did) steal food from my other eels so who knows. Below is a couple pics with my iPhone. He has shown interest in what I'm offering just doesn't seem to trust me fully yet.

 

[BarbH]

Very cool looking guy, hope he does well for you thanks for sharing.

 

[wysiwyg]

youll need a cover if you dont already have one there escape artists and like to carpet surf. there extremely hard to get to eat at first. i would suggest starting out with ghost shrimp or fresh live shrimp or fish of some sort. you could also try fresh squid to entice them to eat make sure you also give him plenty of places to hide

 

[wysiwyg]

i love the blue ribbon eel one of the best looking eels in my eyes

 

[ritter6788]

Amazing eel!

Will these eels not even eat live foods in captivity or is it just that they won't eat prepared or nonliving foods? Just wondering if they had an endless supply of live foods would they be more likely to take it?

 

[Steelerfan747]

Congratulations on the new addition. They are absolutely gorgeous. Best of luck to you

 

[secretreefer]

That thing is AWESOME!! Good luck B! Try live ghost shrimps. i've never had a "pedator" type fish or golden dwarf moray who could resist!

 

[caudill187]

Awesome fish! I would just try and offer him every tasty food I could get my hands at least once a day until he eats. Live shrimp or feeder fish may help if he holds out, to prevent starvation. I would get a long pair of feeding tongs to circumvent his shyness. Good luck and thanks for the pics.