New Snowflake Eel...not sure what I'm doing.

[Eienna]

This new used tank that my hubby and I got came with a lovely foot-long snowflake eel. The owner said he has so far ignored live fish and inverts (kept him in a full-blown reef until the chiller went out under the halides and cooked the coral) and has been eating frozens reliably for 3+ years. The owner had hand-fed him with tongs, as well. Very gentle. Didn't even try to bite when I had to touch him in the bucket. We want to keep him.

So here's the problem. I've had to stuff him in my 29 with my other fish and two peppermint shrimp while we get the new tank set up. While they're not being aggressive to him at all, the tank's overfull. He is very nervous, whether of us or the other fish I don't know, and has been hiding out a lot. I have not witnessed him taking food yet, and it has been about 3 days, so I'm getting nervous. He has not, thankfully, touched my peppermints.

The owner said he eats just about any frozen food, including mysis, not just the bigger stuff like krill or silversides, but he's not going after my mysis (possibly because it's a bit freezerburnt...hah) and won't take pellets which is my only other current option. I have just enough money to try and get him something he'll be interested in to last the month. Any suggestions...stuff your snowflakes really dig that I might try to get him eating?

I expect he'll perk up when I get him back in his original tank with some elbow room, but obviously I don't want him starving/getting sick in the meantime.

 

[Eienna]

Another question - you see in shops and such a bunch of baby eels cramming themselves in one tube together. Do they like being that way as adults??

 

[miyags]

I feed eel's squid. Buy a frozen one, thaw it out and cut it in thin strips.For a small eel about 1/8in wide x 1 1/2 to 2in long. They usually don't eat frozen fish food.

 

[Eienna]

I was reading that squid's not so good for them for some reason...?

 

[Eienna]

OK, so yesterday I tried a few chunks of frozen halibut I found in our freezer. No dice. He investigated it, then backed away without taking it. I was a bit concerned because he was starting to chase my fish, though when he got close enough he'd back off as if he was thinking, "no, that's not food after all." Today I was able to get him some frozen krill and he was more than happy to take that!!

So far, he hasn't touched my fish or inverts, even though he and the peppermint shrimp are occupying the same cave.

 

[Eienna]

He got fed twice today and has gone to bed stuffed and happy. He's taking krill from my hand (I'm getting me some feeding tongs ASAP...but he's easy to read). I think he took about 5 of Sally's krill per feeding before he decided he was done. My question is, what are the thoughts you guys have on how frequently and how much to feed this guy? Again, he's a teensy bit over a foot long. I'm also going to try soaking it in vita-chem (FINALLY found the bottle!!) since he's going to be stuck with only krill this month, and see what he thinks.

To miyags:
Sorry about automatically discarding your suggestion. I'd read something about any ink getting into the meat being detrimental to echidna eels' health, and I'd rather not take that chance.

 

[becca10]

My lil guy is about the same length. We have a routine day and night. He gets 2 pieces of silver sides in the am when the other fish get their food. I always dump their food in and he knows to some to the top and I feed him with a stick. Same at night.

 

[Eienna]

My lil guy is about the same length. We have a routine day and night. He gets 2 pieces of silver sides in the am when the other fish get their food. I always dump their food in and he knows to some to the top and I feed him with a stick. Same at night.

Thanks for the input. I think I'm gonna have to set an alarm for feeding our guy, because I'm used to feeding smaller amounts throughout the day (for the benefit of the bartlett's anthias and scooter dragonet). Maybe I can can get him on a schedule. By two pieces, do you mean two silversides, or two chunks?

How do you put the food on the stick...?

I'm happy to report he's much more bold now. When I come up he thinks "maybe food" instead of "OMG SHE'S GONNA KILL ME!!!"

 

[nubbs]

My snowflake which is about 18 inches long each only in the morning when the night time lights are on. They are a nocturnal fish so you see most of their activity when the light go out. They will hide in their cave during the day. I feel mine whole silversides in the morning. He mostly eats two good size ones. Fish are smart if they are hungry they will eat even if it something you don't want them to eat. Moving him from one tank to another is stressful for any fish, I have had fish go weeks with out eating when I first introduce them in to the tank then one day they just start. I would get the new tank up and going as soon as possible. A eel that size in that small of a tank is going to cause problems. They are a dirty fish so make sure you do weekly water changes to keep the levels in check. To help get the tank started faster you might want to check the local fish store to see if they sell cycled water. It is basically water from their tanks that is fish ready with no waiting. I never used it, but maybe someone else has and can chime in. Just my 2 cents

 

[becca10]

I use a wooden shishkabob stick

 

[Eienna]

My snowflake which is about 18 inches long each only in the morning when the night time lights are on. They are a nocturnal fish so you see most of their activity when the light go out. They will hide in their cave during the day. I feel mine whole silversides in the morning. He mostly eats two good size ones. Fish are smart if they are hungry they will eat even if it something you don't want them to eat. Moving him from one tank to another is stressful for any fish, I have had fish go weeks with out eating when I first introduce them in to the tank then one day they just start. I would get the new tank up and going as soon as possible. A eel that size in that small of a tank is going to cause problems. They are a dirty fish so make sure you do weekly water changes to keep the levels in check. To help get the tank started faster you might want to check the local fish store to see if they sell cycled water. It is basically water from their tanks that is fish ready with no waiting. I never used it, but maybe someone else has and can chime in. Just my 2 cents

I'm not keeping him in the 30 any longer than I have to. He's going in our nice big 165 just as soon as it's up and running, which should be within days. As far as weekly changes, I do that anyway. It's been my protocol since I first started in freshwater.

I need to clear up a misconception here. Water is not "cycled." Most of the nitrifying bacteria live on hard surfaces such as rocks, sand, filter media, and glass. In any case, I have plenty of cured/cycled rock to cover his needs and those of my prior fish. I should have mentioned that I had a couple of SW tanks before this. He's just my first eel, and a rather unexpected addition at that.

I use a wooden shishkabob stick

So you just...spear it?

 

[becca10]

Yup. And he comes up n attacks it, if I can keep the triggers away. It's a joint venture.

 

[Eienna]

Yup. And he comes up n attacks it, if I can keep the triggers away. It's a joint venture.

Fun n_n he's taking the krill from my hand right now, but I REALLY don't wanna get bit.

 

[Eienna]

So about 6 krill (he's done after 5 or 6) or 2 silversides twice a day, then. Don't have silversides yet but it sounds like a plan. What do they think of mussel/scallop/clam usually?