Eel problem, and (future) tank question

[Sharkonwheels]

OK - got a Zebra Eel week ago last friday. hasn't eaten since I got it, about 11 days. Isn't looking skinny, is moving quite happily about the tank when lights are on, but i can;t get it to eat anything. I've tried defrosted (in a nice way) krill, and silversides, both with and without garlic (I feed everthing soaked in garlic now, for obvious reasons).

Put it on a 24" stick, nudge him with it, and he just turns away.

Should I be worried? I've read online that they can go weeks without eating, even up to a month, but I dunno. I assume he won;t starve to death, and will eat one of the fish first (Lord, PLEASE let it be a Chromis, and not an expensive fish!).

Second question:

Been thinking about upgrading tanks later in the year, maybe like a 135G. I want something 72"long, and 24" wide. height is variable, but I'd like ot keep in manageable, like 18" maybe 24" if I must (which is more than 135G I think).

My wife has really got the liking for seahorses, so i though maybe I could partition off the last 12-18" of the tank, with obvious opening for water passage but slowly, and use the area for seahorses. I have puffers and triggers, so I don't think they'd appreciate being put in the same tank together...

Is the partitioned area a reasonable concept? It would obviously extend from bottom to top, with openings in quite a few places, maybe slots, for water to flow back-and-forth...

Opinions?


Tony

 

[JetCat USA]

pick up some ghost shrimp and gut load them before feeding them to him. sometimes weening just takes patients but i wouldn't recommend extended lengths between feedings, 3 or 4 days is IMO to long.

feeder guppies will work short term if you can't get the shrimp locally.

 

[Sharkonwheels]

Hmmm...what's "gut load them" ?


Tony

 

[saltwaterfishlover]

in a poor way of describing gut loading
you are a canable..
ghost shrimp before gut loading is Christina Ricci
after gut loading is Kirstie Alley
you feed the shrimp heavily with good food then while there stomach is full you feed the eal

 

[lpsluver]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10556608#post10556608 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltwaterfishlover
in a poor way of describing gut loading
you are a canable..
ghost shrimp before gut loading is Christina Ricci
after gut loading is Kirstie Alley
you feed the shrimp heavily with good food then while there stomach is full you feed the eal

Tony...This all sounds well and good but the bottom line is that Zebra's and eels in general have poor eyesite and are ambush hunters, so these plans are destined to fail. They can go many weeks without eating so don't panic yet. They really like defrosted cocktail shrimp. Soak them if you like but you shouldn't have to. I've had several eels go on hunger strikes and they've come out of it each time. Be patient and continue to try to stick feed him. How big is he? Small eels should get fed 2x per week and anything say 15" or above once a week. In either case it is feed them all they will eat.

Bob

 

[Sharkonwheels]

Thanks guys, thanks Bob - oh, and don't think I forgot about your tank (I'm calling MYSELF out). It's that for some STUPID reason, now even my WEEKENDS are getting crashed on!! I will attempt to have the tank and accessories you loaned me back to you by the end of this weekend.

The zebra eel is approx. 12-18" long. He's still moving around at will, on the rocks, over the pumps, so he doesn't seem to have any lack of energy!


Tony

 

[cubano2480]

"They can go many weeks without eating"

not many weeks many months without eating, you can use the live shrimp that people use for fishing that's what I use they will stay a live till he founds them good luck.........

u can find some info about u eel here.............

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-12/fm/index.php

 

[Sharkonwheels]

Yeah - someone suggested today to go to a bait shop, and get some live shrimp, acclimate them as if I bought a fish, and dump 'em in the tank.

Wonder if the triggers and puffers will get 'em before the eel does, though.


Tony

 

[pedromatic]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10563638#post10563638 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sharkonwheels
Yeah - someone suggested today to go to a bait shop, and get some live shrimp, acclimate them as if I bought a fish, and dump 'em in the tank.

Wonder if the triggers and puffers will get 'em before the eel does, though.


Tony

I've done that. Didn't bother to acclimate them, just threw them in. You can get like 6 for a buck at the bait shop. Most survive, the ones that don't just get eaten first. I still have one in my tank that has survived for about a year. It has molted several times and is now about 4 inches long. They bury themselves in the sand all day and come out as soon as the lights go off; they become part of the cleanup crew.

 

[Miamireefer]

make sure you feed the eel a variety... for instance I keep my snow flake happy with clam chunks, shrimp(his favorite), silversides, and squid(cut small). The squid proves to be a pain in the arse for the eel to eat sometimes because of the tough skin but still after mangling it for a minute it takes it down but again small pieces like the size of your pinky. And for reference my eel is 24" and is about 1.5-2" in diameter.. You will love your eel and give him time. he should come around.

 

[Sharkonwheels]

OK - went to Outdoor World, the supposed self-proclaimed disneyland for fishermen, looking for live bait.
Know what they had?
A silly vending machine outside.

What a joke...

Got a reference to a place on Dania Beach Blvd, 2 block east of US1.

Gotta tell ya, those chaps were-super-nice. Mike and the gang at Anglers Bait and Tackle, were EXTREMELY helpful! Got a dozen or so shrimp, some frozen squid, he even gave me some fresh-cut fish strips, that he cut right in front of me! Also gave me some pellets he told me to try (1 or 2 at a time).

Bottom line:

Within 5 minutes, the eel had eaten *FOUR* of the shrimp!

Unreal - Just tossed 'em in, and he got a few of the slower ones, plus one that was dead, because the Picasso Trigger too 3-4 bites outta him.

Wanna thank you guys for the suggestions, and I especially want to thank the guys at Anglers - man, they really are a class act, and make you feel right at home. if you need some live stuff, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to you guys.


Tony

 

[cubano2480]

were is that Anglers Bait and Tackle ???

 

[Sharkonwheels]

Dania Beach Blvd, about 2 blocks east of US1, on the S side.

Here's info from YellowPages.com:

Anglers Bait And Tackle
230 E Dania Beach Blvd
Dania, FL 33004 Map
(954) 925-9995

Guy I dealt with was Mike.
They were super-cool, and really helpful.


Tony

 

[pedromatic]

For those in Fort Lauderdale, there's a bait shop on Prospect and Andrews. I don't remember the exact address or the name of the place, but the sign says BAIT, so just look for that.

I'm glad your eel is happy tonight.