Ribbon Ele

[Reef obcession]

Anyone ever keep a ribbon ele for a period of time? I just got one , he is in my frag tank alone and it seems that I cant get him to eat. He hides in a cavern and I will squirt food in there but not sure if he takes it. Just thought id ask

 

[Western_reefer]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1897876

 

[snorvich]

Anyone ever keep a ribbon ele for a period of time? I just got one , he is in my frag tank alone and it seems that I cant get him to eat. He hides in a cavern and I will squirt food in there but not sure if he takes it. Just thought id ask

Hmmm, you got a ribbon eel and don't know what to feed it? Did you consider doing any research first?

 

[Gfsrepairs]

I agree you seriously screwed up! First off, their one of the hardest to keep alive. Mainly cause they are real picky eaters. Some only eat live food. I kept mine alive for 8 months and got him to eat frozen sliders. I started with feeding him live guppies and he would only look at them for about a month. What I started doing was putting the guppies in and once I notice it responsing to it. I put frozen brine shrimp in the tank and created a feeding frenzy with all the other fish that took a week and he finally grabbed one. Start there and pray! But do some serious googling cause that eel is really hard to keep. There's alot of things ppl tried. Triggering feeding responses with a small jaw grabber, like if it was another eel. building undergravel tunnels with PVC pipes, etc... Good luck.

 

[Gfsrepairs]

Also the majority of success stories I read said that they got no response when the fish were isolated in a quartine tank. most ppl didn't get reponse till they had some kind of frenzy.

 

[small alien]

I agree you seriously screwed up!

This is not a funny story. But that is a funny line.:lolspin: Hopefully, your eel will be the exception. Good luck.

 

[minhvu]

Make sure your tank is completely covered. They are great at finding ways to get out. Try to entice if with different kind of food. Mysis, shrimp, and silverside are good food to get it to eat

 

[Reef obcession]

I knew they where very hard to keep, I had copperbanded Butterfly fish for years so I was up to the challenge, plus the ele was at this nasty yonkers pet store where they use city water,tank temp very whatever the weather does so I wanted to save this beauty.

 

[SDguy]

Doesn't sound like you are trying the right kinds of food. Try live shrimp and live fish. Make sure it has places to hide (feels secure). Dangle the live food in front of its nose a little.

 

[snorvich]

Eels, in general find food through smell. Try fresh squid on a feeding stick. But ribbon eels are traditionally very difficult.

 

[small alien]

How is it doing?

 

[velvetelvis]

I knew they where very hard to keep, I had copperbanded Butterfly fish for years so I was up to the challenge, plus the ele was at this nasty yonkers pet store where they use city water,tank temp very whatever the weather does so I wanted to save this beauty.

That's always a tough situation...if you buy the fish, the store gets money, but if you leave the fish there, he dies... :hmm2:

I really wish the aquarium industry would crack down on the importation and sale of fragile species like ribbon eels. With such a dismal survival rate, fishes like these need to be left in the ocean, or restricted to public aquariums that might have the facilities and expertise to successfully keep them (and then disseminate that knowledge to aquarists).

 

[Western_reefer]

That's always a tough situation...if you buy the fish, the store gets money, but if you leave the fish there, he dies... :hmm2:

I really wish the aquarium industry would crack down on the importation and sale of fragile species like ribbon eels. With such a dismal survival rate, fishes like these need to be left in the ocean, or restricted to public aquariums that might have the facilities and expertise to successfully keep them (and then disseminate that knowledge to aquarists).

The same was said about Anthias a while back, look at where we are now. Same was said about the Orange Spotted File fish, there are a few people who are already raising fry, same goes for Mandarine fish, ORA is selling captive bred already.

 

[Reef obcession]

well My kids where at a local beach and came home with a container of tiny glass sghrimp and mino's so I put them in with the ele. He is eating the shrimp and hiding at night. Awesume species to watch. thanks everyone

 

[deaddat]

Glad to hear you were able to get him to eat!

 

[velvetelvis]

The same was said about Anthias a while back, look at where we are now. Same was said about the Orange Spotted File fish, there are a few people who are already raising fry, same goes for Mandarine fish, ORA is selling captive bred already.

I can see your point, but the problem is that for every experienced aquarist who takes an informed gamble on keeping one of these fish, there are probably going to be dozens if not hundreds more who buy them, kill them through ignorance or bad husbandry, and then simply go out and replace them without ever learning anything from their mistakes.

I'm not against experimentation by *experienced* and responsible aquarists. I'm dead set against treating animals like they're a disposable (and infinitely renewable) resource, and IMO, selling delicate species with low captive survival rates to any old body who can afford them is doing exactly that.

 

[Western_reefer]

I can see your point, but the problem is that for every experienced aquarist who takes an informed gamble on keeping one of these fish, there are probably going to be dozens if not hundreds more who buy them, kill them through ignorance or bad husbandry, and then simply go out and replace them without ever learning anything from their mistakes.

I'm not against experimentation by *experienced* and responsible aquarists. I'm dead set against treating animals like they're a disposable (and infinitely renewable) resource, and IMO, selling delicate species with low captive survival rates to any old body who can afford them is doing exactly that.

Well, there is nothing we can do about those who buy them, kill them through ignorance or bad husbandry, and then simply go out and replace them without ever learning anything from their mistakes.

 

[bryan007]

I've been in the hobby for many years and sadly have purchased fish and inverts that have poor survival rates. I think most of us have done that especially when we were new to the hobby. I doubt anyone here has not done that if so then you are quite unique. I'm not here to smite anyone just remember your early days starting out before critizing someone else. Many people only have a local LFS for advice and we want to trust them. I would probably be inclined to rescue a fish from a place as discribed but would certainly give the owner a piece of my mind. I applaud what R.O. did. As mentioned above to many think of these animals as disposable things and that is really sad that so many have so little value for life. It is why we have rescue missions for dogs, cats, etc.