Snowflake eel refusing to eat - two months now.

[Awolartist]

Hi all, about 6 weeks ago I had a major ich outbreak and had to quarantine and treat everyone. Two fish plus the eel survived and are now out of quarantine waiting in a 30 gallon tank to go back to their regular home after enough time has passed. The eel has always been finicky and really would only eat because the clown trigger would try to take his food (fresh scallops or shrimp from the grocery store) and he would get excited and wrestle it away. Otherwise I would be smacking him in the face with it and he didn't want it.
He has some rocks to hide under, some sand, doesn't act any differently but absolutely won't eat. I've tried soaking it in garlic, no luck. Any suggestions?

 

[bluemon]

Have you tried live food?

 

[Awolartist]

Have you tried live food?

I haven't, there is a very active lunare wrasse in with him and I assumed he would be much faster at snapping up any food. Any suggestion on what to try?

Also, I just saw on another post that they can hunger strike after jumping out - I forgot this but his first day of quarantine he jumped and I found him under the kitchen table in the morning. No idea how long he was out but he seemed to recover quickly and didn't appear to have any visible injuries apart from the slime coat.

 

[rhitee93]

I've never tried them with my snowflake, but ghost shrimp were a favorite live food suggestion for a very experienced eel keeper that used to frequent this forum. They were the first thing he would suggest to get a finicky predator to eat.

 

[vbaker6579]

Hi all, about 6 weeks ago I had a major ich outbreak and had to quarantine and treat everyone. Two fish plus the eel survived and are now out of quarantine waiting in a 30 gallon tank to go back to their regular home after enough time has passed. The eel has always been finicky and really would only eat because the clown trigger would try to take his food (fresh scallops or shrimp from the grocery store) and he would get excited and wrestle it away. Otherwise I would be smacking him in the face with it and he didn't want it.
He has some rocks to hide under, some sand, doesn't act any differently but absolutely won't eat. I've tried soaking it in garlic, no luck. Any suggestions?

I have a 4 foot tesslotta he eats clams and oysters lobes them like crazy eats every 3 days 5-6 of each when i feed i keep them alive in a small tank. Take them out of shell he goes crazy 4 them. Used 2 eat shrimp and salmon went on a hunger strike 4 a few weeks now eats like crazy. My zebras eat shrimp every few days.

 

[littlefoxx]

I have a 4 foot tesslotta he eats clams and oysters lobes them like crazy eats every 3 days 5-6 of each when i feed i keep them alive in a small tank. Take them out of shell he goes crazy 4 them. Used 2 eat shrimp and salmon went on a hunger strike 4 a few weeks now eats like crazy. My zebras eat shrimp every few days.

How is your tessa with your fish at that size??

 

[vbaker6579]

All my fish great i have big tangs 5 of them a few triggers, clownfish, bunch of hermit crabs. Eel never went after any.

 

[dschuffert]

I have had a Snowflake Eel for about a year. I have been fortunate; he eats anything I put in front of him. I feed him every other day. In the evening, I drop in large freeze-dried krill (I let the krill soak in fresh water for a half hour or so before dropping them in the tank). I have large fish that snack on the Krill. The Snowflake Eel comes out of hiding and skims the surface of the water, snacking on the Krill too. Maybe you could try some large freeze-dried Krill?

 

[littlefoxx]

I have had a Snowflake Eel for about a year. I have been fortunate; he eats anything I put in front of him. I feed him every other day. In the evening, I drop in large freeze-dried krill (I let the krill soak in fresh water for a half hour or so before dropping them in the tank). I have large fish that snack on the Krill. The Snowflake Eel comes out of hiding and skims the surface of the water, snacking on the Krill too. Maybe you could try some large freeze-dried Krill?

Krill is actually not good for them to eat all the time. Are you feeding him other things too? And unless its a juvenile they shouldn't eat every other day

 

[dschuffert]

Krill is actually not good for them to eat all the time. Are you feeding him other things too? And unless its a juvenile they shouldn't eat every other day

Yep, good point, every other day he gets his fresh shrimp and and frozen silver sides (thawed). He is thriving, growing, and active.

 

[littlefoxx]

Yep, good point, every other day he gets his fresh shrimp and and frozen silver sides (thawed). He is thriving, growing, and active.

Ah good how big is he??

 

[littlefoxx]

Also OP sometimes eels are picky. Try feeding the same food a few times to see if they eat it or not. Mu jeweled is s PITA to feed, he only likes silversides and lrs chunky. But sometimes it takes a while for them to eat, as long as the eel isnt losing weight I wouldnt worry. My zebra took about a month and some change to finally eat. She loves table shrimp

 

[dschuffert]

Ah good how big is he??

He is about 18 inches or so now. He was about 6 inches when I got him from my LFS.

 

[dschuffert]

All my fish great i have big tangs 5 of them a few triggers, clownfish, bunch of hermit crabs. Eel never went after any.

The same here. My Snowflake Eel hasn't touched any his other tank mates.

 

[littlefoxx]

The same here. My Snowflake Eel hasn't touched any his other tank mates.

i only have one eel thats eaten fish but tessas have a bad rep and Ive always wanted one but dont want to risk my fish cause of their size