Eel wont eat

[s2svetko]

Does anybody have any suggestions for getting a Mexican Dragon Eel to eat. He was eating smelt and shrimp fine for about two months and then one day about 2 weeks ago he just stopped eating. The parameters of the tank are good ( I have done several water changes since then ) and he is not being bothered by any of the other fish in the tank.

I do try and feed him with the tank lights on but he always ate with them on before. I am unsure if he is supposed to be a nocturnal feeder.

Does anybody have any suggestions on getting him to eat?

 

[JHemdal]

Here is a link to an article I wrote on chronic anorexia is fishes:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/12/aafeature1

As folks will surely chime in on, eels often go on hunger strikes. They almost as often begin feeding again on their own. Try different food items while you're waiting for it to start up again. That said, I've personally never had this species go off feed - more like the problem is getting them to STOP eating so much! Is the eel's breathing rate o.k., not increased over what it has been?

JHemdal

 

[jda]

My zebra would go on month-long food strikes about 2-3 times a year. I wouldn't see it much during it's strike. Then, all of a sudden, it was out and eating again. It was never any worse for the wear.

I don't know how a pebbletoothed eel compares to your dragon though.

 

[sean48183]

I think all of them do that. My eel just came off his most recent 10 day hunger strike with a vengence. I think in the wild they are used to eating one big meal and digesting for a couple days as opposed to everyday feedings which most of us do.

 

[LukFox]

I would just wait it out. My eels fast a few times a year for a couple weeks to a few months, and then they snap out of it and resume eating like nothing ever happened. Seems pretty typical in eels.

 

[s2svetko]

Thanks everybody that makes me feel a lot better.

 

[kidako]

how often do you feed ?
I feed everyday except Mon & Thurs - no food. They have only at times ate 1 or 2 silversides then stopped, next day eat alot.I beleave their eating habits are the same as snakes(can go with out eating for peroids of time , then start again)