Feeding a Zebra Eel ....

ca1ore · 09/14/2017, 02:04 PM

.... or in my case, not feeding.

Bought a small (18") one from LA 2 1/2 weeks ago and have not observed it to eat anything. I have tried clams, krill, even silversides ..... nothing! Anyone with experience with this fish have any clever suggestions?

Not looking for any general 'use garlic' comments please ... those are not useful!

anbosu · 09/14/2017, 02:07 PM

How are you introducing the food? Mine have always been fed with a stick or grabbers.

My current zebra, which I got at about 16", has never eaten anything other than shrimp. Often squid can entice a feeding reaction, even though I find zebras won't eat squid as readily as say a snowflake.

ca1ore · 09/14/2017, 02:17 PM

Yes, on the end of a stick. Do you use store bought shrimp? I have been trying the large krill.

LotsaTanks · 09/14/2017, 02:24 PM

I have a 3 foot zebra. He eats shrimp only, will not recognize anything else as food. Get smaller raw shrimp and take the shell off and slice it in strips. Dangle it in front of the eels face on the end of a feeding stick. That should work. After it is used to this, add a bit of selcon vitamins to the shrimp. Mine will not touch squid, fish, mussel, clams etc. I feed mine 3 large sliced shrimp twice a week. If the piece is too wide mine spits it up a while later.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

anbosu · 09/14/2017, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Yes, on the end of a stick. Do you use store bought shrimp? I have been trying the large krill.

Yes, I buy the raw frozen shrimp or fresh at the counter, whichever is cheaper.

anbosu · 09/14/2017, 03:07 PM

I will add that if I feed the other fish in my aquarium that will invoke a "hungry" response if he is interested in food at the moment. Generally with zebras if they aren't moving around looking for food they aren't going to eat. If you put some mysis into the tank early to pique the eel's interest it may help you get it to take prepared foods.

Mike Ordner · 09/14/2017, 07:27 PM

Same here with shrimp. The ones from the seafood market. I don't even take the shell off. Chop a shrimp in several pieces. Zebra eels are blind as a bat but can smell stuff from a mile away. I toss a couple of pieces in the tank and make the eel hunt for them. I am just the opposite feeding from the above post. Feed eel first so no other smells are in the tank, then feed the rest of the fish. I do have to use a rigid air hose to keep the other fish away from the shrimp until the ell finds it. They can go a long time between feeding. Good luck.

jmicky41 · 09/14/2017, 07:29 PM

Years ago I bought one that refused to eat. After a month of trying, I bought 2 live fiddler crabs from the FW section of the fish store. By morning they were gone. That seemed to get the eel going and from then on it would take the usual krill, whole shrimp, squid etc.

ca1ore · 09/14/2017, 08:58 PM

Thanks folks, all very useful advice. Funny thing is I had a zebra some years ago that was easy to feed. Not this guy though. Will get some shrimp.

Cliving1 · 09/15/2017, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anbosu

I will add that if I feed the other fish in my aquarium that will invoke a "hungry" response if he is interested in food at the moment. Generally with zebras if they aren't moving around looking for food they aren't going to eat. If you put some mysis into the tank early to pique the eel's interest it may help you get it to take prepared foods.

This is a great point. Always made my previous eel start looking for a handout.

hotelbravo · 09/15/2017, 08:46 AM

I had a zebra moray eel go almost 2 months without eating before finally I found the food that he couldn't resist - LRS Chunky.
before I tried LRS Chunky I tried fresh squid, LIVE squid, frozen shrimp as well as live shrimp (3-6 inch tiger shrimp not those tiny ghost shrimp), clam, oyster, and scallop. I wouldn't try to feed Silversides there are to many bad stories of them being spoiled during shipment and causing fish to get sick and/or die.

nereefpat · 09/15/2017, 09:00 AM

You could try some live ghost or peppermint shrimp.

ca1ore · 09/17/2017, 06:44 PM

Thanks to all who offered suggestions. Got a couple of frozen shrimp from the store and the eel ate a strip.

Dmorty217 · 09/18/2017, 02:40 PM

Try crawfish too, I had one in the past that only wanted to eat live crawfish unless he was starved for several weeks then krill would suffice

ca1ore · 09/21/2017, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmorty217

Try crawfish too, I had one in the past that only wanted to eat live crawfish unless he was starved for several weeks then krill would suffice

Haven't seen u around much, all good I hope. Zebra is now taking shrimp strips consistently. Looks to be good to go.

Cliving1 · 09/22/2017, 05:33 AM

Glad to hear. Now that its eating something consistently, soon you can branch out and vary its diet.

Dmorty217 · 09/22/2017, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Haven't seen u around much, all good I hope. Zebra is now taking shrimp strips consistently. Looks to be good to go.

Glad to hear it. My big tank got away from me because of lacking time and equipment going bad from a power outage/lightening strike. Currently revamping it and replacing some equipment. I will have things back to where I want them in a few months I hope.

humaguy · 09/22/2017, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmorty217

<---killer, good to see you! you were missed by us dude.

Dmorty217 · 09/22/2017, 07:14 PM

Hey Ted, I have some serious catching up to do on your thread! Hope all is well with everyone

humaguy · 09/23/2017, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmorty217

Hey Ted, I have some serious catching up to do on your thread! Hope all is well with everyone

all is well, thanks... glad you are back!

09/14/2017, 02:04 PM	#1
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Feeding a Zebra Eel .... .... or in my case, not feeding. Bought a small (18") one from LA 2 1/2 weeks ago and have not observed it to eat anything. I have tried clams, krill, even silversides ..... nothing! Anyone with experience with this fish have any clever suggestions? Not looking for any general 'use garlic' comments please ... those are not useful! __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

09/14/2017, 02:17 PM	#3
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Yes, on the end of a stick. Do you use store bought shrimp? I have been trying the large krill. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

09/14/2017, 07:29 PM	#8
jmicky41 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 891	Years ago I bought one that refused to eat. After a month of trying, I bought 2 live fiddler crabs from the FW section of the fish store. By morning they were gone. That seemed to get the eel going and from then on it would take the usual krill, whole shrimp, squid etc. __________________ The bake sale to raise money for the carwash has been cancelled - due to confusion. Current Tank Info: 125 fowlr: 280watts VHO, 75LBS of mixed rock, Deltec AP600 skimmer, wet dry, GRi 518 return pump, 15 watt Aqua UV,(2) tunze 6000 on a 7095, goldflake angel(RIP), flame angel(8 years old), mitratus butterfly, yellow tang, majestic rabbitfsih

09/14/2017, 08:58 PM	#9
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Thanks folks, all very useful advice. Funny thing is I had a zebra some years ago that was easy to feed. Not this guy though. Will get some shrimp. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

09/15/2017, 08:46 AM	#11
hotelbravo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,175	I had a zebra moray eel go almost 2 months without eating before finally I found the food that he couldn't resist - LRS Chunky. before I tried LRS Chunky I tried fresh squid, LIVE squid, frozen shrimp as well as live shrimp (3-6 inch tiger shrimp not those tiny ghost shrimp), clam, oyster, and scallop. I wouldn't try to feed Silversides there are to many bad stories of them being spoiled during shipment and causing fish to get sick and/or die. __________________ -Hodge Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.

09/14/2017, 02:07 PM	#2
anbosu Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mount Juliet, TN Posts: 4,528	How are you introducing the food? Mine have always been fed with a stick or grabbers. My current zebra, which I got at about 16", has never eaten anything other than shrimp. Often squid can entice a feeding reaction, even though I find zebras won't eat squid as readily as say a snowflake.

09/14/2017, 02:24 PM	#4
LotsaTanks Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego County Posts: 131	I have a 3 foot zebra. He eats shrimp only, will not recognize anything else as food. Get smaller raw shrimp and take the shell off and slice it in strips. Dangle it in front of the eels face on the end of a feeding stick. That should work. After it is used to this, add a bit of selcon vitamins to the shrimp. Mine will not touch squid, fish, mussel, clams etc. I feed mine 3 large sliced shrimp twice a week. If the piece is too wide mine spits it up a while later. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/14/2017, 03:07 PM	#6
anbosu Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mount Juliet, TN Posts: 4,528	I will add that if I feed the other fish in my aquarium that will invoke a "hungry" response if he is interested in food at the moment. Generally with zebras if they aren't moving around looking for food they aren't going to eat. If you put some mysis into the tank early to pique the eel's interest it may help you get it to take prepared foods.

09/14/2017, 07:27 PM	#7
Mike Ordner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Posts: 415	Same here with shrimp. The ones from the seafood market. I don't even take the shell off. Chop a shrimp in several pieces. Zebra eels are blind as a bat but can smell stuff from a mile away. I toss a couple of pieces in the tank and make the eel hunt for them. I am just the opposite feeding from the above post. Feed eel first so no other smells are in the tank, then feed the rest of the fish. I do have to use a rigid air hose to keep the other fish away from the shrimp until the ell finds it. They can go a long time between feeding. Good luck.

09/15/2017, 09:00 AM	#12
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	You could try some live ghost or peppermint shrimp. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

09/17/2017, 06:44 PM	#13
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Thanks to all who offered suggestions. Got a couple of frozen shrimp from the store and the eel ate a strip. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

09/18/2017, 02:40 PM	#14
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	Try crawfish too, I had one in the past that only wanted to eat live crawfish unless he was starved for several weeks then krill would suffice __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

09/22/2017, 05:33 AM	#16
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	Glad to hear. Now that its eating something consistently, soon you can branch out and vary its diet.

09/22/2017, 07:14 PM	#19
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	Hey Ted, I have some serious catching up to do on your thread! Hope all is well with everyone __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs