Ok i'm a little confused about my tiretrack eel. I've kept him in a brackish tank for a while now and it has been doing fine...however, lately it has not been eating at all. I'm starting to wonder whether it is a freshwater eel?? Hmm. It's kept in a brackish tank with only one molly and molly fry (which are quarantined of course). The tank is only 6 galloons so that may be the problem as well? I'm currently setting up a larger tank and I will move it over to that one. But til then, what can i do to make it eat? Oh, i used to feed it dried shrimp, which it seemed to really like. It's not until this month that it stopped eating. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
eel bw or fw?
- Thread starter chanj
- Start date
Welcome to Aquaria Central! They are actually technically a freshwater Eel but they can handle light brackish. A 6 gallon is extremely small for such an Eel and I would bet you have water quality issues which is why he is not eating. Eels produce a TON of waste and can quickly dirty water so that could be the main problem. Also Eels get bored eating the same food day in and day out just like humans. We don't like to eat the same food for all of our meals all the time so try feeding some frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp along with small pieces of shrimp. Anyway, hope this helps and good luck.
I agree, even though it could "survive" slight brackish it is a very bad idea. You're putting the fish's health in jeopardy and weakening it's immune system.
A tiretrack will need at least a 50g to itself, they get pretty big. Around 2-3' I think.
A tiretrack will need at least a 50g to itself, they get pretty big. Around 2-3' I think.
ah gotcha. Alright as soon as my new tank cycles, i'll move it in there. As for now i'll try feeding it bloodworms. You think it'll go for ghost shrimp or no?
Yes it probably will, but at night as Eels are nocturnal hunters.
In fact, when you feed it you should only feed it before you turn out your light and go to sleep. Try feeding it some frozen krill or pieces of dinner shrimp.
In fact, when you feed it you should only feed it before you turn out your light and go to sleep. Try feeding it some frozen krill or pieces of dinner shrimp.
variety is the spice of life for my tire track. I feed frozen clam, prawn/shrimp, silversides, and small pieces of beefheart on a rotation. He eats everyday with vigor. He and my other fish love the variet, their colors have never been brighter and they've never looked healthier.
i have had a tire track eel for a few months now, due to his nocturnal disposition he has taken over my 'colluseum' as his home (i know it is a bit hokey, but i love the cheesy aquarium decorations) anyway, i usually pop a frozen bloodworm pellet into the colluseum when i get home at night (i'm a grad student, so this is usually about 1:30AM) althought i have never seen him actually eat it, b/c i can't see into the colluseum, he seems to be quite healthy. the tank isn't brackish, but it does have a fair amount of aquarium salt in it, sharing it with a couple bala sharks, a Violet Goby, and a Raphael Catfish. that is just my experience, i'm not an expert by any means.
Tire track eels are strictly FW, they cannot live in brackish water.
I'd worry about the dragon goby though, they do not do well in FW at all. They develop tumours and an extremely weakened immune system in FW.
I'd worry about the dragon goby though, they do not do well in FW at all. They develop tumours and an extremely weakened immune system in FW.
I have kept a fire eel for over 7yrs in a lightly brackish tank (1.003-1.007, changes with water changes).
See him here http://home.comcast.net/~rachaellauve/Lauve.html
My understanding is that all spiny eels can do well in light brackish. My fire eel is certainly as healthy as any I've ever seen.
Go to the grocery store and buy a few lbs of beef heart, shrimp, clams, scallops, calamari (squid), and/or other seafood. It is much cheaper and lasts much longer than buying feeders or by the "cube" from your LFS. Put in a ziplock with a small amount of water, just enough to submerge, and freeze horizontally. When it's feeding time, break off a piece, thaw, then feed.
My fire eel's all time favorite is earthworms from my compost heap! Your's will love them too, I assure you.
My eel eats when I feed him, day or night.
See him here http://home.comcast.net/~rachaellauve/Lauve.html
My understanding is that all spiny eels can do well in light brackish. My fire eel is certainly as healthy as any I've ever seen.
Go to the grocery store and buy a few lbs of beef heart, shrimp, clams, scallops, calamari (squid), and/or other seafood. It is much cheaper and lasts much longer than buying feeders or by the "cube" from your LFS. Put in a ziplock with a small amount of water, just enough to submerge, and freeze horizontally. When it's feeding time, break off a piece, thaw, then feed.
My fire eel's all time favorite is earthworms from my compost heap! Your's will love them too, I assure you.
My eel eats when I feed him, day or night.
1.007 isn't that high, but that's besides the point. You've taken a fish and put it into water conditions it's not used too. Regardless of whether it's suriviving, it's more than likely not thriving and it definately won't live a full life in un-natural conditions.
Fire eels are strictly FW and I'm suprised to see it's lived that long. Are you using marine salt? or aquarium salt?
Fire eels are strictly FW and I'm suprised to see it's lived that long. Are you using marine salt? or aquarium salt?