Banana Eel
- Thread starter luisagos
- Start date
He ate again today, he seems to fit in.
He is a very gentle creature, takes the shrimp carefully and eats slowly.
Also noticed when he doesn't want something or doesn't like the action.
He will shake his head, like a no.
Kind of weird never seen a animal do this.
Damsel and the Saddle-Back are visiting him constantly, they both like to swim next to him.
I believe they feel threaten by him so they do their display front of him.
Doesn't seem interested in them, well yet. He had plenty of chances of biting them, so far its all good.
He is a very gentle creature, takes the shrimp carefully and eats slowly.
Also noticed when he doesn't want something or doesn't like the action.
He will shake his head, like a no.
Kind of weird never seen a animal do this.
Damsel and the Saddle-Back are visiting him constantly, they both like to swim next to him.
I believe they feel threaten by him so they do their display front of him.
Doesn't seem interested in them, well yet. He had plenty of chances of biting them, so far its all good.
Travis1787
Active member
I can't get the video to play
Small update;
He is eating everyday now,well he never stoped, lol.
Feed him about 1/2 medium size shrimp with Selcon.
Seems to be very happy, my other two fishes do not like him, they visits him now and then and do the tail fluffing in front of him. he just ignores them.
Feeding time, he also ignores them, does not see them as food (time will tell).
Those fishes are always around him, he just lays on top of the rock chilling looking at everything that goes on.
He will come out even more when ever someone comes to the tank.
Temps are always kept at 76, seems to like it, and breathing is slow, till he eats and I noticed for a hour or so, the breathing is deeper after he ate.
He is eating everyday now,well he never stoped, lol.
Feed him about 1/2 medium size shrimp with Selcon.
Seems to be very happy, my other two fishes do not like him, they visits him now and then and do the tail fluffing in front of him. he just ignores them.
Feeding time, he also ignores them, does not see them as food (time will tell).
Those fishes are always around him, he just lays on top of the rock chilling looking at everything that goes on.
He will come out even more when ever someone comes to the tank.
Temps are always kept at 76, seems to like it, and breathing is slow, till he eats and I noticed for a hour or so, the breathing is deeper after he ate.
I am starting to hand feed him now, he is very soft taking food from me.
He not shy at all, very easy to understand him now.
When ever he doesn't like a action, lets me know with the head shaking.
Thats when I know to back down, and try again later.
Seems to be growing a lot, he is getting thick now.
Will try to get video of him being hand fed.
He not shy at all, very easy to understand him now.
When ever he doesn't like a action, lets me know with the head shaking.
Thats when I know to back down, and try again later.
Seems to be growing a lot, he is getting thick now.
Will try to get video of him being hand fed.
CuttleKid
New member
Banana eels do have very sharp teeth. They can give you a nasty bite. I had one for about a year and it was the most aggressive fish I've ever kept. It killed numerous fish in my tank by taking chunks out of them, and these were lionfish and scorpionfish that he killed, not fish that can't protect themselves.
jr_83
New member
How long was the eel in your tank before it started acting crazy? Did it start off docile?
My question is how often did you feed him.
I am teaching my eel to eat small pieces and often, not wait till 3 days.
You can see he still hungry, but it wear off couple of minutes. them he seems happy and full.
I think they try to over eat, because in the wild they do not get that many chances.
I am teaching my eel to eat small pieces and often, not wait till 3 days.
You can see he still hungry, but it wear off couple of minutes. them he seems happy and full.
I think they try to over eat, because in the wild they do not get that many chances.
Been over a month now.
I am handing feeding him now.
Today was the first day, he let me touch him with my hands.
Was able to pet him for a few seconds, about 5 seconds then I back off.
He wasn't hungry in the evening, he ate like 4 small pieces of shrimp in the morning.
So I was, what the heck today is a good day to try it.
I put my hand in the tank, got like 6 inches, just brace my self for the worse, I did not want to jerk my hand off if he bite me, so i got prepare, lol.
I just watch his reaction, he knew i had no food, he just lean closer to me, then i did the same thing. I started on the side of his month, so not to spook him.
Most animals take any action from above as a very aggressive condition most time they will get very anxious.
Then i slowly work my self to the top of his head and just started to pet him as a dog, he just lean over and lower his head. After a few seconds I stop so not to push the event pass his comfort level.
He just stood there like nothing happen. Hope with time, to get him to come to me completely. This Eel does not shy away from people, a very curious animal.
Anyone that get close to the tank makes him come out just to see them.
I am handing feeding him now.
Today was the first day, he let me touch him with my hands.
Was able to pet him for a few seconds, about 5 seconds then I back off.
He wasn't hungry in the evening, he ate like 4 small pieces of shrimp in the morning.
So I was, what the heck today is a good day to try it.
I put my hand in the tank, got like 6 inches, just brace my self for the worse, I did not want to jerk my hand off if he bite me, so i got prepare, lol.
I just watch his reaction, he knew i had no food, he just lean closer to me, then i did the same thing. I started on the side of his month, so not to spook him.
Most animals take any action from above as a very aggressive condition most time they will get very anxious.
Then i slowly work my self to the top of his head and just started to pet him as a dog, he just lean over and lower his head. After a few seconds I stop so not to push the event pass his comfort level.
He just stood there like nothing happen. Hope with time, to get him to come to me completely. This Eel does not shy away from people, a very curious animal.
Anyone that get close to the tank makes him come out just to see them.
Das awesome
New member
Why do you handfeed him? Isn't that kind of risky in case you have an allergic reaction to a bite? I would never try to handfeed my fimbriated moray, but his teeth are also way longer from what I can see.
I do not think you can have a allergic reaction with most eels.
What can happen is, eels mouth is full of bacteria, because of their teeth's they can get your hand infected. With the bigger eels with long fangs, they even get to your bone, which is very bad news with infections.
My banana is eel is small, not as a aggressive like the fimbriated moray.
The fimbriated moray eel was on my list of eels to chose from. Once I did my homework, took him off the list.
Your eel is very beautiful, but at the same time, is one of the most nastiest eels out there.
Like everything in life, there is always exceptions.
What can happen is, eels mouth is full of bacteria, because of their teeth's they can get your hand infected. With the bigger eels with long fangs, they even get to your bone, which is very bad news with infections.
My banana is eel is small, not as a aggressive like the fimbriated moray.
The fimbriated moray eel was on my list of eels to chose from. Once I did my homework, took him off the list.
Your eel is very beautiful, but at the same time, is one of the most nastiest eels out there.
Like everything in life, there is always exceptions.
SantaMonica
Well-known member
Wow they really do look like bananas 
Looks like they are not as difficult to feed as Blue Ribbon Eels.
Looks like they are not as difficult to feed as Blue Ribbon Eels.
