Zebra eel not eating

1smalltownalbert · Dec 17, 2016

Have had a zebra for about 10 days now. Can't get him to eat. Put scallops and sea bass right infront of his nose. Won't take it. Any ideas?

eatbreakfast · Dec 19, 2016

Try ghost shrimp if you have an LFS that can get them.

miyags · Dec 19, 2016

How big is the eel? Try frozen raw squid. Thaw a piece of squid with the skin on. Take a long and skinny piece and dangle it in front of him with a shishkabob stick.

1smalltownalbert · Dec 19, 2016

Will try. Thanks

lion king · Dec 19, 2016

You may have to try something live to get him going, like eatbreakfast said you could try ghost shrimp. Zebra's love fidler crabs, get a live one from a freshwater store. https://www.reef2reef.com/members/eatbreakfast.33199/

wkscott · Dec 20, 2016

Did you observe him eating at the LFS where you purchased him? If not, did you ask what they were feeding him?
Even if purchased online, you can always ask about what has been fed.

1smalltownalbert · Dec 21, 2016

Never saw him eat at store. Bot some squid as well as two different kinds of shrimp today. Will give it a try tomorrow.

ZoaCollector · Dec 21, 2016

Eels are very resilient, they can go pretty long without eating. I'm sure he'll come around. By the way, zebra eels mainly eat crustaceans so fresh whole shrimp would be a better bet.

miyags · Dec 22, 2016

Any luck?

1smalltownalbert · Dec 24, 2016

Tried small uncooked shrimp last few days. Very gingerly bites it off clamp but struggles to eat it. Will keep trying. Now that he has taste of it he is slowly learning that when I show up it means food

1smalltownalbert · Dec 27, 2016

Just not having much luck in getting this guy to eat. He's about 18" and I think he's eaten two small marble sized pieces of shrimp in the three weeks that I've had him. Pretty sure now that he never ate at the store. Can't put in live feed as the angels or triggers or grouper will gobble it up long before it's in his vicinity. Any ***** ?

eatbreakfast · Dec 27, 2016

Perhaps put a divider in the tank where he can 'learn' to get fod without competition.

Eels are very resilient, so given a chance,should be able to rebound quite well.

1smalltownalbert · Dec 27, 2016

Impossible to divide tank. 5'x5'x5' with a large permanent rock structure in the middle

lion king · Dec 27, 2016

Sounds like you might not have qt him before introducing into your main display. Not only to protect against the introduction of disease into your display, qt also serves to establish a new fish to captive living.

Eels can go quite long without eating. You could also set up a qt tank and remove him from display to the tank where he would be alone. At that point you could feed him live if necessary, then wean him to the food you would eventually be feeding him. Once he was eating from tongs or how ever you'll be feeding him. You reintroduce into the display, and he'll be fine. If you can't do that you can just keep trying to feed him and hope for the best, or return him.

1smalltownalbert · Dec 28, 2016

Thanks for the tips. The guy at the Lfs says they can go months without eating. Will keep trying b

Adri · Dec 30, 2016

My zebra won't eat shrimp very well at all but he loves crab clusters! I buy the frozen crab clusters and cut those in half so quarters, thaw in water and add liquid garlic. Works like a charm every time. Good luck I hope this works for your guy...

1smalltownalbert · Dec 31, 2016

Will try. Thanks

rayn · Dec 31, 2016

All my zebra would eat was crab meat. I bought it already cut up and in chunks. Shrimp or fish was always a no go.

tyler1503 · Jan 8, 2017

As mentioned above, he should be ok to go a while without eating. Eels are tough and rebound pretty well normally.
If you can, try live crabs. They'll be much easier than shrimp when it comes to other fish competing for them. Hold them in front of the eel with a pair of tongs, but don't let it go until the eel takes it.
Also, your tank is 5x5x5?? Got any pics of that monster tank?!

Aquanaut WA · Jan 11, 2017

Adri said:
My zebra won't eat shrimp very well at all but he loves crab clusters! I buy the frozen crab clusters and cut those in half so quarters, thaw in water and add liquid garlic. Works like a charm every time. Good luck I hope this works for your guy...

Please describe "clusters" is it found in LFS or Asian Market...I have a new zebra in the QT too