New hawaiian dragon eel not eating

dragon_808

New member
I bought a baby dragon eel about a week ago,about 8 inches long. Right now it's in a 36 gallon tank with sand and some base rock. Appears perfectly healthy but I'm worried because it's not eating. I have tried feeding silversides,squid and,krill all soaked in garlic juice but he's not interested at all. Anyone here have any suggestions on how to get my dragon eel to eat?
 
Try not soaking it. Also, try other types of fish. Dragon eels eat fish (look at their mouths and teeth arrangements to see) and other soft bodied prey.

On a side note, eels can go on hunger strikes quite often when moved, but this is very dangerous for newly aquired specimens, especially the smaller ones. They have yet to build up reserves or they might have used them up during their capture and wholesale time. try some live foods such as rosies or goldfish to entice it to eat. When you get it eating, then introduce the frozen foods again (although I wouldn't stop trying to feed it those when you offer the live).
 
I'd second a lot of the advice from davelin315, but I wouldn't try live feeders just yet. A week is still normal, and you haven't tried not soaking it in garlic yet. Garlic seems to be a huge turn-off for them IME, and it isn't good for them anyway. Try unsoaked and if you still get no response, maybe consider live.
 
I'd second a lot of the advice from davelin315, but I wouldn't try live feeders just yet. A week is still normal, and you haven't tried not soaking it in garlic yet. Garlic seems to be a huge turn-off for them IME, and it isn't good for them anyway. Try unsoaked and if you still get no response, maybe consider live.

What is the reason garlic is not good for them? From what I have heard, garlic helps to repel parasites from attaching to fish?
 
also to the OP, how are you trying to feed? are you just dropping the food in or using tongs or something?
 
Thanks for all the quick responses! I tried feeding it unsoaked foods at first,then tried soaking it to see if that would make any difference. I live in Hawaii so this eel was locallly caught and in the shop for a week before I bought it. I use a feeding stick to try to feed it.
 
Thanks I'll try adding the pvc. Great thread too,I think I'll stop with the garlic and continue with the unsoaked food. If that still doesn't work I'll try saltwater feeder shrimp.
 
In addition to what has already been mentioned, you might want to try adding a length of PVC pipe or two (a little wider than the diameter of the eel, and a little longer) so that it has a place to completely hide it's self and feel secure.

As for the garlic, I found this thread to be very informative. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2352039

Good read, thanks for posting.


For my eels I have used feeder tongs feeding squid, krill, and silversides. I just bring it close to their face and wave it around a little and they go right after it. They usually poke their head out of their hiding spot when the tongs hit the water, I guess they can smell it that quick. Maybe the garlic is masking the food smell for your eel? Keep trying without the garlic and hopefully your eel will pick up on it. The dragon eels are very cool and I plan on one day getting one as well. You have any pictures of the little guy?
 
Like everyone's saying, its typical to not eat, plus if its young, this is probably the first time it has been in captivity and might take even longer than the usual 'it takes a long time to get them to eat' stuff. Just keep offering every day, at the very least every two days. BTW, they eat cephalopods primarily in the wild. My Japanese Dragon likes Mahi Mahi though, too. I would try squid, scallops (my guy hates em, tho), several different types of low fat fish (eels put on weight quickly, so high fat is great in the beginning, especially after a hunger strike, but switch to low fat afterwards, Mahi Mahi, Swordfish, anything really, just look on the back), crab\lobster, or shrimp. Just go to the sea food place in your local market and have fun. Chances are he'll take a while, so just be patient. And make sure everything is fully dethawed, but anything you aren't feeding should stay frozen. If you're going to try live food (which they say isnt neccessary yet) I would go with some Mollies if you can get them cheap since they are a brackish fish, which is a little better than freshwater. edit: just saw the saltwater shrimp comment, I would try those first before and fish, and then I would avoid freshwater fish at all costs, and really, live food if you can, obviously, its sometimes the last resort.
 
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