Spiny Eel

[KingofthePisces]

my friend was moving and was giving his fish away because he couldnt take them with him and he offered to give me a 4 inch spiny eel so i accepted and took this eel home, not fully knowing what it eats or how it behaves hes been in my 23 gallon tank for about a week now and i dont think he is eating because i havnt seen him eating. he also gets harrased by my bristlenoses but appart from that there hasnt been any problems
how do i encourage him to eat if he isnt?

KOTP

 

[nmonks]

Spiny eels are awkward buggers to fit into community tanks. They are also extremely prone to opportunistic bacterial infections. The smaller species (like Macrognathus siamensis, the most commonly traded species) are essentially incompatible with gravel for this reason, and have to be kept in tanks with sandy substrates. Gravel scratches their skin, and sooner or later they develop finrot-like infections on the body that lead to death.

Feeding is not difficult provided there are no other bottom feeders. Small spiny eels especially do poorly when combined with catfish and loaches. They feed slowly, and preferably at night, taking worm-type foods. Earthworms are their absolute favourite, and these are ideal for settling in new specimens. Frozen tubifex and bloodworms are also good. Dried and flake foods are rejected.

I've written about these fish for PFK, and they have my article online. Stop by and have a read.

Cheers, Neale

 

[KingofthePisces]

Spiny eels are awkward buggers to fit into community tanks. They are also extremely prone to opportunistic bacterial infections. The smaller species (like Macrognathus siamensis, the most commonly traded species) are essentially incompatible with gravel for this reason, and have to be kept in tanks with sandy substrates. Gravel scratches their skin, and sooner or later they develop finrot-like infections on the body that lead to death.

Feeding is not difficult provided there are no other bottom feeders. Small spiny eels especially do poorly when combined with catfish and loaches. They feed slowly, and preferably at night, taking worm-type foods. Earthworms are their absolute favourite, and these are ideal for settling in new specimens. Frozen tubifex and bloodworms are also good. Dried and flake foods are rejected.

I've written about these fish for PFK, and they have my article online. Stop by and have a read.

Cheers, Neale

thanks heaps Neale!!
im going to go get some sand in a few weeks for him and im selling the bristlenose's that have been giving him a hard time (last years batch of fry), just to make his life a bit easier, im also going to pick up some frozen bloodworms to drop in once a night before i go to bed (should i just drop it in or place it infront of him?)

 

[nmonks]

Pretty much, yes. If he's hungry, he'll eat them. Don't add too much at once, and take a look in the morning to make sure they're all gone. You can also try feeding him during the day time, and see what happens. Spiny eels usually learn to feed during the day quite quickly, especially if you use something really tempting like an earthworm (which they LOVE).

Cheers, Neale

just to make his life a bit easier, im also going to pick up some frozen bloodworms to drop in once a night before i go to bed (should i just drop it in or place it infront of him?)