Do eels go off feed?

[jobu28]

I have had a banna eel for a few months. Was eating every other day like clockwork on silversides. Would not take clams or squid. Would only take about one or two silversides at a time though. He is about 16" or so. Hard to tell. Looks nice and thick and healthy. About a week and a half or so he stopped eating. Should i be worried? He still looks good.

 

[Moray keeper]

I have had a banna eel for a few months. Was eating every other day like clockwork on silversides. Would not take clams or squid. Would only take about one or two silversides at a time though. He is about 16" or so. Hard to tell. Looks nice and thick and healthy. About a week and a half or so he stopped eating. Should i be worried? He still looks good.

Silversides alone are not a good or proper diet for any moray. Morays will sometimes go off feed for any number of reasons however large of amounts of silversides will often cause fish, not just morays to stop feeding. Also I would only feed a goldentail that size twice a week. Give it some time then try fresh fish like cod, haddock, etc or even better octopus.

 

[jobu28]

Ok, thanks. I was hoping he would take clams, squid or shrimp to vary his diet but i had no luck, he ony wanted the silversides. I will try your suggestions. How long should i wait, and how long until i should worry. Thanks.

 

[Moray keeper]

Ok, thanks. I was hoping he would take clams, squid or shrimp to vary his diet but i had no luck, he ony wanted the silversides. I will try your suggestions. How long should i wait, and how long until i should worry. Thanks.

Maybe give it a few days still, also try doing a partial water change before hand and keep trying every day or so until it eats. If that don't work you can give a freshwater dip, this sometimes helps as well.

 

[FishGuy5]

Soak sald shrimp and squid in garlic Works for me.

 

[anaya]

Mine is hesitant to eat if there is more than ambient room lighting. Now, if it has been a while since the last feeding he could care less. I would give it a try with either low tank lighting or the room lights only.

 

[jobu28]

Thanks guys. I think he took a clam strip? I was stick feeding him and he just kept shaking his head at it. One of the fish pulled it off and then it got blown past his cave. He grabbed it but am not totally sure he ate it as he pulled into his cave. Will try again in a few days and see what happens.

 

[syrinx]

I wouldnt worry as long as he is keeping weight on. A few weeks is not a issue usually.

 

[jobu28]

Hes been taking clam strips and whole shrimp. Good?

 

[snorvich]

I have had one stop feeding for about six weeks. Eventually got him going again with raw squid (they hunt by smell).

 

[brycerb]

I have 4 eels and they hate clams. They will eat them if there hungry enough, but I have seem them spit them out rather than eat them. They really seem to like squid and shrimp. Sad, my eels eat better than I do.