Osmeridian man Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 I have 2 small (8cm) shortfin eels that have been eating Ox heart and sinking pellets. Is this diet ok for them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Welcome to the forum - I can't help with what to feed them but how long have you had them and how is your tank set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osmeridian man Posted January 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Hey there I have had them for about 3 weeks and they have doubled in size. They are in a 2 foot tank at the moment and when they get larger I will move them to a larger tank. They have caves and plenty of plants to hide in and seem rather happy with the tank(not trying to escape). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Make sure your lid is very secure with no holes, or else they'll become carpet eels - just like my two tiny ones when I was a kid. Whatever you're feeding them has to be better than the rotting filth they most likely eat in the wild :] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Well done! I really struggle to get eels to feed in captivity, and consequently take them back... That diet should be fine. Assuming you know it is VITAL to cut all fat off the heart meat? They can't process it and it clogs the liver. They have DOUBLED in three weeks to 8cm? Really? Eels are incredibly slow growing. A two-foot eel is about twenty years old. Sounds like you have things going pretty well Romeo, eels don't really eat rotting filth. Well, ok, they do, but the natural diet is largely aquatic and terrestrial insects, small fish, small animals that fall in, and yes an element of carnivorous scavenging, but mostly the other options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abercrombie Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osmeridian man Posted January 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Yes, I cut off the fat on the Ox heart( I have been feeding it to my larger Carnivorous fish for years) The tank they are in is normally about 22 degrees and I think this is the main reason behind the growth spurt. The tank is only half-filled with water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Make sure your lid is very secure with no holes, or else they'll become carpet eels - I cant stress this enough!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 ox heart rocks. I am a huge fan of it for fish food. Though i still haven't tried shrimp, but I struggle to believe there is more to them that water...! Why is the tank only half full? It can be good to try and slow down and escaping eel, but filling the tank up would help with the temperature. A half-filled two-foot tank will fluctuate wildly with temperature in most situations. All native fish require cold water, which is bit of a struggle at the moment. Eels can probably withstand 22 degrees ok but you should get very worried if it gets more than that. So true what HaNs and Romeo are saying about them escaping. Even if the gap doesn't look big enough for an eel to get through it will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osmeridian man Posted January 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 The tank has a lid but there are a few gaps in it, which is why the tank is half full. I think shortfin eels are probably the best native fish to deal with higher temperatures(as they are found in warmer countries), but if the tank gets any warmer I will start adding plastic bottles of frozen water. Shrimp is a good food for feeding fish but I normally feed Ox heart and hi-quality pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navarre Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Nice Nautalis! How do you deal with the slime coat? Navarre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osmeridian man Posted January 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Thanks, Not a problem so far although they are very slimy lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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