So I found some Half banded Spiny Eels in the weekend (2)

And have tried to feed them 3 times. Twice with bloodworms and once with an earthworm.

First time they were still getting acclimatized so Its not suprise they didn't eat, Second time (early today) I held some frozen bloodworms to their face and they had a little poke at it but didn't eat any.

I threw in a live earthworm as well a couple of minutes ago to see their reaction to live food and one of them bit it but it was too large to swallow.

What do I feed them, how often do they get feed and how do I ween them onto frozen food?

Mine eat frozen bloodworms from hand, Just be patient with them it will take them a little time to adjust to the feeding, they wont stave after a few days, and are best fed every other day anyway.

Ask the LFS where you got them what they had been feeding them on, most if not all spiny eels are wild caught with a barbless fish hook, they've travelled a long way and have so much to get used to.

Make sure there are plenty of places to hide and dig so they are comfortable out of feeding times, it wont take them long to recognise you and get used to their feeding times and types of food. Mine will take brine shrimp if they have to, but much prefer the blood worms over anything else, Iggy my fire eel has a taste for discus tucker. Once under way they can grow quite quickly so be sure you have plenty of tank space.

HTH

Just the answer I was looking for.

Getting them hooked on bloodworms can be expensive when they get larger. Try raw frozen [defrosted] shrimp.

Getting them hooked on bloodworms can be expensive when they get larger. Try raw frozen [defrosted] shrimp.

Tell me about it, Iggy can power through 2 cubes on his own easily.

I had a big fire eel that ate 5 cubes a day, swallowed them whole! Wouldn't touch anything else...

Mummy pays for my fish food!

But srsly, she pays for the food and nothing else. =[

I had a thought, My internet is acting odd right now or Id have told you sooner.

When I first got my Zebra spiny, the only way I got him to eat at first was by burying the bloodworms, they use those 3 prong things on the end of their nose to feel out creatures living in the substrate, just a thought if your still having trouble, once they learn what the food looks and smells like they wont worry where it comes in from.

Haven't had much Obvious luck, they do look at they food, they don't totally disregard it. But I haven't seen them eat it. One of them seems to have a red stomach but I'm not sure if its actually from the bloodworms.

I was going to make this exact thread until I saw it was already made

I got a half-banded spiny eel day before yesterday and the lady i bought it from said she only fed it fish flakes, it is OK to continue doing this or do i need to get worms, etc?

If its eating flakes thats good, try slowly getting it on to flakes/pellets/sticks that are a little more predator orientated. The reason most people end up feeding them on blood worms is thats all they can get them to take.

alright cheers, it's supposedly nocturnal so should i be feeding it at night when i go to bed? so it's dark when i feed it?

He seems to hide in the gravel most of the daytime.

I'd be pretty sceptical of any claim of a spiny eel eating prepared foods, unless you've seen it don't believe it. Try feed it when the lights go out, then as it gets more confidence try feeding during the day.

I'd be pretty sceptical of any claim of a spiny eel eating prepared foods, unless you've seen it don't believe it. Try feed it when the lights go out, then as it gets more confidence try feeding during the day.

Okay, thanks!

Also one more question, would he be OK in a tank with 4 Cichlids? Or would they bite at him and generally give him a rough time?

would he be OK in a tank with 4 Cichlids?

Cichlids (pronounced /ˈsɪklɨd/) are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei alongside the wrasses Labridae, damselfish Pomacentridae, and surfperches Embiotocidae. The family Cichlidae is both large and diverse. There are at least 1,300 scientifically described species, making it one of the largest vertebrate families. Numerous new species are discovered annually, and many species remain undescribed. The actual number of species is therefore unknown, with estimates varying between 1,300 and 3,000. Cichlids span a wide range of body sizes, from species as small as 2.5 centimeters (1 in) in length (e.g., female Neolamprologus multifasciatus) to much larger species approaching 1 meters (3 ft) in length (e.g. Boulengerochromis and Cichla). As a group, cichlids exhibit a similar diversity of body shapes, ranging from strongly laterally compressed species (such as Altolamprologus, Pterophyllum, and Symphysodon) to species that are cylindrical and highly elongate (such as Julidochromis, Teleogramma, Teleocichla, Crenicichla, and Gobiocichla).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cichlid

You'll have to be a little more specific than "cichlids"..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cichlid

You'll have to be a little more specific than "cichlids"..

Good point...

2 Electric yellow cichlids, and 2 white (I *think* they are albino) cichlids which look nearly exactly the same- minus the colouring.

As long as the size difference isn't extreme then it could work. Just make sure the eels are getting enough food.

As long as the size difference isn't extreme then it could work. Just make sure the eels are getting enough food.

Thanks for your answer, unfortunately I woke up this morning to find a certain eel dead in my tank : (

HIJACKING MY THREAD BACK!

I really need help. I've been feeding bloodworms, small worms and insects I tried discuss pellets and nothing.

Yesterday one died so If the other doesn't start eating soon it'll probably go the same way...

I would try getting some live white worms. Also try feeding them late, like just before the lights go out. They may be looking for food at night and not finding any.

HIJACKING MY THREAD BACK!

I really need help. I've been feeding bloodworms, small worms and insects I tried discuss pellets and nothing.

Yesterday one died so If the other doesn't start eating soon it'll probably go the same way...

just a thought 12days is probably not a long enough time to starve a fish perhaps it died from other causes have you tested your water etc it could also be these other factors making them not eat

I guess it depends whether they were eating in the store. Which I foolishly forgot to ask if they were eating. Never had any problems with fish not eating before.

There is a black mass in the stomach of the remaining Eel, but exactly sure what that means though.

Whats the easiest way to get the white worms?

Whats the easiest way to get the white worms?

TradeMe

they eat fish LIVE guppy, swords anything small that dosent move to fast

TradeMe

Might not have time to wait.

they eat fish LIVE guppy, swords anything small that dosent move to fast

Thought about the option, the eel is only small still so a grown guppy will be too big. Would have to be fry.

If anyone wants to give me some I will be more than happy to accept. :lol: