Banana Eel Feeding

[Tom Boyle]

Hi All!

I recently purchased (about a month ago) a small banana eel (around 10-12 inches) and was curious about the juvenile moray feeding schedule.

I did a bunch of research online prior to getting him and saw eels will eat a lot one day and could go a few days without eating. My question is what is the minimum amount a small moray eel like that should be eating when they do accept food.

Every 4-5 days, he will come out and either accept a small silverside or a couple small pieces of krill. But it’s never a lot of food. I’m just worried that he is slowly starving himself. I’ve also tried shrimp, clam, squid, octopus and mussels but no interest in that.

Sorry if this is something that has been answered before, I could not find anything about the minimum amount of food. I never spent this much on a fish before, and want to make sure he’s doing alright.

Thank you all!

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

When I worked in an LFS we had a golden dwarf moray eel in a display tank and it would get fed a couple of times a week. It pretty much ate krill. Would usually eat about 5 or 6 pieces and be done.

 

[littlefoxx]

Hi All!

I recently purchased (about a month ago) a small banana eel (around 10-12 inches) and was curious about the juvenile moray feeding schedule.

I did a bunch of research online prior to getting him and saw eels will eat a lot one day and could go a few days without eating. My question is what is the minimum amount a small moray eel like that should be eating when they do accept food.

Every 4-5 days, he will come out and either accept a small silverside or a couple small pieces of krill. But it’s never a lot of food. I’m just worried that he is slowly starving himself. I’ve also tried shrimp, clam, squid, octopus and mussels but no interest in that.

Sorry if this is something that has been answered before, I could not find anything about the minimum amount of food. I never spent this much on a fish before, and want to make sure he’s doing alright.

Thank you all!

If he doesnt look like he is losing weight then he is fine. My eels that size liked to eat every 2-3 days but they each did a month or so hunger strike when first added, so maybe yours is just adjusting!

 

[Tom Boyle]

If he doesnt look like he is losing weight then he is fine. My eels that size liked to eat every 2-3 days but they each did a month or so hunger strike when first added, so maybe yours is just adjusting!

Sounds good! My banana had a few day hunger strike when first introduced and ate on day 4 but since then he’s been eating less and less. He still looks okay and likes to do his laps around the aquarium. I guess I should only start to worry after a month of not eating?

 

[littlefoxx]

Sounds good! My banana had a few day hunger strike when first introduced and ate on day 4 but since then he’s been eating less and less. He still looks okay and likes to do his laps around the aquarium. I guess I should only start to worry after a month of not eating?

Honestly Ive had eels that go longer than that when they get stressed (tank transfer) and not eat. But they never lost weight so they were good and started eating when they were ready

 

[TheAddReefer]

Congratulations on the banana! I’m no expert but I’ll give my 2 cents and speak from my own experience. I wouldn’t worry to much as I’ve read eels can go a long time without food. I currently have a white spot, yellow head and a greyface with the greyface being the biggest of the 3. He’s about 12”, the yellow head is probably 10” and the white spot is 9-10”. I’ve had all three from around 6-8” and I’ve only dealt with a hunger strike once and that was an eel I no longer have. Anyway I feed every 2-3 days, they all eat a different amount and like different things. My greyface will not eat silversides, he only wants squid, octopus and shrimp. The other 2 eat a seafood mixture with the white spot eating the most of the 3. Pay attention to what he takes from you. I feed my fish at the same time, floating mysis will always get an eel to eat, it’s worked on every eel I’ve ever had including black and white ribbons. Only eel it did not work on was a blue ribbon.

 

[littlefoxx]

How is the banana doing??