Feeding zebra eel

[sbrodacz]

Brought home a zebra eel yesterday. It was the fish store owners eel from his home aquarium. What do you guys recommend feeding it? The fish store said to get a bag of frozen shrimp. Should I put a shrimp in a cup of tank water to defrost a little before feeding it? I'd like to offer the eel a variety of food but not sure what to grab. I'm going to run to the store this afternoon.

 

[RJT]

Nice addition. Eels eat anything shrimp, pieces of fish, clams etc. I wouldn't feed krill or silversides nothing I have fed long term seemed to like them. I usually take out a shrimp at the same time I feed the tank, by the time the tank is fed my eel is out looking for food and the shrimp is thawed out enough. I don't put it in water I sit it on top of the tank.

 

[sbrodacz]

Nice addition. Eels eat anything shrimp, pieces of fish, clams etc. I wouldn't feed krill or silversides nothing I have fed long term seemed to like them. I usually take out a shrimp at the same time I feed the tank, by the time the tank is fed my eel is out looking for food and the shrimp is thawed out enough. I don't put it in water I sit it on top of the tank.

That's exactly what happened this morning when I feeding the tank. He came out looking but all I have is frozen mysis and brine. I'm going to stop at target and grab some froze shrimp and then head to the pet store and get some other items. I may try to feed him later today just to see him eat. I used to have one years ago when I had a 150 gallon tank and he was by far my fav. I could not wait to get another.

How do you feed yours? How often and how much?Do you just drop the food in and let him get it? I used to use grabbers and feed it to him.

 

[bwrag]

I feed my snowflake krill usually a few pieces a day. With Aqua tongs.

 

[Duke4Life]

Squid or octopus are other great alternatives. The best way is to feed everyone else at 1 side, then target feed the eel, this will help minimize an accidental bite on a fish.

 

[sbrodacz]

Feed him a couple of pieces of shrimp. He went nuts for it. Came out right away for it. I usually feed the fish every other day. Does the eel really need to be fed every day?

 

[Duke4Life]

Feed him a couple of pieces of shrimp. He went nuts for it. Came out right away for it. I usually feed the fish every other day. Does the eel really need to be fed every day?

No they don't, not uncommon for them to go a week or more. Watch his behavior and in time it will be like 2nd nature.

 

[Dwilson67]

I feed my zebra silversides and have been for about a year and he still loves them

 

[Dwilson67]

And I feed him about 5 of them about every 4 days

 

[ice fish]

I highly recommend NOT feeding him more then once a week. I just had a bout with mine that i was feeding him twice a week and he went 2-3 months without eating anything. It scared me to death but its a natural thing for them. He's still my baby and a pig but man does she love to eat. He begs worse then my lionfish does