Scallops and Zebra Eel

[rosemoondust]

I am wanting to feed my eel scallops. He is about 3.5 feet long now and 5 years old. I have been told they can live to be 20 years old if they have a healthy diet. I would like to add scallops to his diet (if it is a he...if anyone knows how to sex an eel please tell me). I have been told that unless you cut up the scallops a specific way the eels can chock on the scallops. If anyone feeds their eels scallops please tell me how to properly cut of the food and feed my eel safety ^^.

 

[anbosu]

I've never heard that. I think they would have to be pretty huge scallops for it to be a problem. My zebra has never had any trouble eating them.

 

[michael_cb_125]

I feed my zebra swallows all the time and have never had an issue.

~Michael

 

[TitanTV]

I think a scallop will be zero problem for your eel!!

 

[Recty]

Scallops are one of the softest foods you can feed, I wouldnt worry about it at all. My little 13" tesselata would eat whole scallops that were the same width as his head.

 

[namxas]

As far as sexing the eels goes, back awhile (we're talking 10-15 years) I read an article on morays in AFM (I almost want to say it was Scott Michael's regular column), and IIRC, one sex has a center row of teeth in the upper jaw (the male, IIRC) and the female lacks this center row.

I wish I could remember where I read it, but back then AFM was my main resource, so that was probably where I read it.

 

[FMarini]

I think i wrote this in some article, but zebra eels are protogynous hermaphrodite, ie they start off as females and can switch. Greg mentions rows of teeth- maybe true- but have you ever looked into these guys mouths to determine rows of teeth? not me
I had two sets of breeding zebra eels over the years-
establish one eels first- get the into your tank, feeding and growing- then introduce a smaller zebra eel- larger eels will be dominant(males) smaller eels will remain female
HTH

 

[namxas]

That's cool Frank...did the eggs hatch?

I know my SFE had 3 rows because i have scars from 3 rows of upper teeth from the first time it bit me. I actually tried to count them once, and it was too tuff to see them.

 

[rosemoondust]

A piece of scallop about the size of the mouth will pose no threat to the eel? or should I cut it into thin pieces?

 

[anbosu]

The eel will crush anything too big for it to swallow whole. I buy the smaller sized scallops because they are cheaper and it eats them no problem.

 

[rosemoondust]

I took the risk and I feed my eel a piece of scallop. It was so soft that it nearly fell apart in my figures. However, he loved it so much that he wanted seconds, but i had none on hand ; ;. I will without a doubt be adding scallops to the menu ^^. My only concern now is that with a healthier diet he might grow a few more feet

 

[Recty]

I took the risk and I feed my eel a piece of scallop. It was so soft that it nearly fell apart in my figures. However, he loved it so much that he wanted seconds, but i had none on hand ; ;. I will without a doubt be adding scallops to the menu ^^. My only concern now is that with a healthier diet he might grow a few more feet

And just to clarify, you didnt "take a risk" by feeding it a piece of scallop

There isnt a risk involved, I've never heard of anything choking on scallops, one of the softest marine meats there is. I'd think it would be almost impossible for an eel too.

 

[anbosu]

I took the risk and I feed my eel a piece of scallop. It was so soft that it nearly fell apart in my figures. However, he loved it so much that he wanted seconds, but i had none on hand ; ;. I will without a doubt be adding scallops to the menu ^^. My only concern now is that with a healthier diet he might grow a few more feet

Luckily if it is already 3.5' it probably won't grow much more than an additional 6" in captivity. I don't think I've ever heard of someone having a zebra eel over 4' in their tank.