Gymnothorax tile eating questions, Proper
food for Gymnothorax tile – 06/12/07
Hello! <Hi Amanda.> I just love your website!! So much information!
<It’s great you like it.>
I have a wonderful Gymnothorax tile. I have had him (I'm not sure how to sex
them, so I just call it a him) <Will compose an article on sexing moray eels
in the coming months.>
for about 2 years now and he's doing wonderful. He has grown a lot since I
first got him and is a joy to watch him at night. <Sounds good.> At the
moment he has a selection of ghost shrimp, rosy minnows <not appropriate
feeder fishes.>, and a few guppies. He has the tank to himself except for
feeder fishies. He has his own awesome cave that he sleeps in all day. And
other rock structures, plants <freshwater or brackish water? Hardness? If
fresh, are you sure it is a G. tile? 2 years in freshwater would be an
exceptionally long time of survival for this species.>, and tubes to hide in
when he's out at night. He likes to hang out in one of the tubes and wait
for fish to swim in. He's a lazy hunter sometimes. <Sounds familiar.>
I have 2 questions about feeding him.
1) Should I leave the smart fish in the tank? It seems that with every
sacrifice, a few fish are smart enough to learn that the eel cruises the
bottom of the tank for food and so they stay at the top, safe and uneaten.
The eel tries his best to eat the little buggers but they are just too fast
for him. Some have managed to stay alive long enough to grow big enough that
the eel isn't interested in them anymore. Should they remain in the tank or
be removed and "freed" to their own tank? Is it bad I feel like the Emperor
of Rome, deciding if the gladiators (fish) die or be set free? Hehe
<Removing them would be good to avoid overfeeding, which is a common reason
for the short lifespan of captive moray eels. Like humans they tend to eat
more than they need. If you enjoy the fate of the feeders is your own
decision. I prefer feeding frozen food and use feeders only for freshly
imported specimens or to train difficult species such as Rhinomuraena
quaesita and Pseudechidna brummeri. I consider frozen food to be more simple
and safe. See this very good article by Neale:
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/library/feeding/feeders/ on the ethics
of feeding fishes and appropriate species. See
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_4/V4I2/Freshwater_eels/freshwater_eels.htm
for proper care for G. tile. I’d stop feeding minnows and vary the diet with
sea food.>
2) I have been reading the eels prefer crustaceans <Some species do. G. tile
eats almost anything mobile including most crustaceans.>. I did at one time
attempt to keep a larger shrimp (name escapes me atm) in the tank. That
lasted all of one night. Eel gobbled that guy up, even though it was fairly
large. My question is, would feeding him crayfish be okay? <Yes, as long as
the diet is varied.> Eel is about 16 inches long (I'm not brave enough to
try and actually measure him, nor do I want to stress him out trying to) and
about as big around as a quarter. I am worried that the crayfish could hurt
him or the eel get hurt trying to eat the tough shelled guy. <You could
freeze the crayfish before feeding it to the eel.>
If it is okay, what size range would be safe? Of course, the smaller the
better, but what would be considered too big?
<About the size of the head of the eel (1-2 in.) should be safe. Larger ones
could try using their claws, although I think they would not be able to
cause serious wounds as long as you don’t throw some lobsters in there.>
Thanks so much!
Amanda.
<Hope that helps. Marco.>
Eel eating habits 9/23/06
I have a brackish water moray eel that is albino
<Unusual>
that has been doing very well. I have had him for about eight months now. The
only concern I have with him is he is beginning to eat more than he has been.
Can he eat too much?
<Mmm, yes, possible>
I place some guppies and ghost shrimp in for him to eat at his pleasure. He has
been doing well except recently he has been eating more than usual. Is this
abnormal or something like a phase eels go through?
<Can't say>
I have added a butterfly goby and a few other fish but they are too small for
guppies as food and the only other fish capable of taking guppies was my leopard
bushfish and he died (I believe he may have been stuck by the butterfly goby as
one of the two I bought was also found dead). I have watched my eel gulp a
shrimp or two then continue to go after guppies and just keep trying over and
over. He used to not eat like this before. Is there any reasons I have given
here or that you can think of for such a voracious appetite?
<Mmm, no>
One last question on eels in general. I have heard that all eels go to the
Sargasso Sea to spawn. Is this true or is it a specific species that does this?
Thank you
<Anguilla rostrata solamente. BobF>
Freshwater snowflake moray
I got a snow flake about 2 weeks ago and it wont eat I've tried all sorts of food (Tubifex worms.. live...crustaceans..) please help ... please mail any info you might have
thanks
<Do have patience... these Eels frequently go on food strikes when first moved... do keep trying various meaty, live foods, including smaller earthworms (like those you can dig up, or buy at bait stores), and if your other fishes, plants et al. can tolerate it (they should), do place a teaspoon per ten gallons of non-iodized salt
(ice-cream, kosher, pickling...) in this system... should help stir appetite and act as a general cathartic.
Bob Fenner>
Freshwater Moray Eels
I really appreciate the time that you took for this site.
<Ah, you're welcome. It was made for you.>
I would like to buy
a fresh water Moray Eel. I guess I need some help and no one in pet stores
really know anything about freshwater. I am going to put it in a 75-100
gallon tank. What kind of sand should I put down?
<Something fine/r... and calcareous. Please see the "Marine Substrates" section and "Moray Eels" under the Marine Index (the freshwater species are touched on there)>
Is possible to order a
fish through the mail?
<Certainly>
Can I feed them gold fish? And better yet how about
a book on fresh water moray. This would really help.
<Not really goldfish, but other live or frozen/defrosted meaty foods. Take a look at the WWM site cited, then fishbase.org then your search engines under "Freshwater Morays">
Thanks,
Michael
<Be chatting my friend. Bob Fenner>
Freshwater morays
Hi Bob,
I have been reading the FAQ on freshwater moray eels and was wondering if you
could help me out with a query of mine.
A friend of mine recently acquired 3 freshwater morays directly from a
wholesaler. He was informed that they were a freshwater species and that the
specimens were actually bred in captivity in freshwater.
<Really? Hmm, have just this last week finished spiffing up this section of WWM... no Morays (Muraenidae) have been spawned, reared in captivity... the larval history phase, the leptocephalus, is very problematical...>
He does not have the
Latin name but we believe them to be Echidna rhodochilus and they range in
colour from a peppery speckle to whitish.
<Yes... wish I had better pix of the white and black geographic "races"... very beautiful>
I am surprised to hear that they
were bred in freshwater but apparently this is the case. They are about 4"
long and currently being housed in a 20 gal aquaria where they are doing well
and feeding on river shrimp.
<Neat>
Due to the eventual size and conditions they require he has offered them to
me as I have a 150 UK gal brackish tank housing Figure eight and green
spotted puffer fish.
I am interested in taking these fish but am wondering if my current tank
inhabitants are suitable tank mates for these morays. The puffers range in
size from 1-4 inches.
<I suspect there might well be trouble with the Puffers both biting these tiny eels and consuming all their food. I would at least put a serious barrier/divider between the front and back of a section of your tank to keep them separated>
I look forwards to hearing your reply!
Many thanks,
Kris Graff
<Be chatting. Bob Fenner>
Re: freshwater morays
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the info and the quick reply!
I was wondering if it would be an option to grow the eels on in a species
tank and then introduce them to the main brackish tank with the puffers when
they are at a decent size. Would I still see problems here as regards to the
eels catching food?
<Possibly... the Puffers might be able to be trained to accept food in one corner, the eels the other...>
I will send you some pictures of the eels as soon as possible. My friend has
three of different colour phases, the white is indeed very attractive.
Once again, thank you for your help,
Kris
<Be chatting my friend. Bob Fenner>
Freshwater Eel?
Hi..!
<Hi, Carlos... Anthony Calfo in your service>
A few days ago I got an eel, searching at the web found is just one alike and is called lycodontis tile eel, is just exactly the same I have but I'm not sure if it is a snowflake eel (?).
<no sir... you have a variegated "freshwater eel", which favors brackish water and if kept in freshwater may be stressed not to feed... but not a snowflake moray eel>
This is now 6 inches, small but healthy as I think, it open its mouth sometimes when quite in a place and moves greatly but feeding is kind of concern, since 4 days ago never seen it eating, I tried freeze dried blood worms,
<good food, but not likely to be taken>
fish flakes ( as pet shop owner recommended) a
<that person needs a good book... the only way that eel is going to eat flakes is with a slingshot>
and now after more research I set a toothpick with beef heart with just small bites on it but not sure if they were from the eel.
<hmmm... perhaps>
What do you recommend about this situation?
<try crustaceans (live and frozen)... krill (FD and Frozen maybe)... live ghost/grass shrimp very good>
my eel is moving and breathing as usual so I think is healthy, color, eyes and dorsal fin ( from head to tail) is ok.
<excellent>
What kind of eel is this one.? probably it just eat live fish and need to try. Best regards.
<live fish not necessary, I believe. keep us posted, Anthony>
Eel food..?
Hi..!
searching on your site I found my eel is just the same as: Gymnothorax polyuranodon .
<excellent, Carlos... but that is a good stretch from the tile eel species mentioned in your first e-mail. The feeding advice stays the same... but did you buy the eel in fresh or saltwater. If saltwater, disregard the history mentioned in the last e-mail. Best of luck to you, Anthony>
Thanks.!
Attn. Carlos Gorgon
Just got a "freshwater snowflake eel"
Ok at the risk of sounding like an idiot...I just got an eel...the guy I bought it from said it was a freshwater moray snowflake eel, he seemed to know what he was talking about and was fairly helpful...the eel is about 6-8 inches long and in a 10 gallon tank... water is entirely fresh and clean...I got some frozen silversides from the guy
I got the eel from and was wondering if this is a good food for him? I threw a few in there, about an inch square cut from the package,
I let it thaw and then dropped them in front of his hiding place (a plastic decorative aqua-gator with hollow belly and mouth open) he didn't move for them...I have fish gravel rocks on the bottom and a filter that
I got from Wal-mart...I guess I just need to know exactly what steps I need to take to make this a happy healthy eel that isn't going to die on my
fiancé.....she will be crushed....please help me....I know that all this is probably in the FAQ but
I wanted it personally...if you could send a reply to my e-mail address I would be
extremely grateful....thanks a lot.....Mike
<you are correct my friend. There is so much to say, and at times we are pressed so dearly for time to try to keep up with e-mailed queries that restating covered topics can be difficult. The eel species needs to be ID first as a true fresh, brackish or marine species. The 10 gallon tank is obscenely small whatever it is. Diet will depend o species again, but is likely to include crustacea (live shrimp (ghost/grass), crayfish, krill,
cocktail shrimp frozen). If it seems to respire fast it may need salted water indeed. Please browse articles and FAQs starting here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwmorayeels.htm
Best regards, Anthony>
Freshwater moray eels... actually brackish 11/18/05
Hi-
I have a 180 gal. tank that I've had for a long time. My fish have been thriving for many many years. Three years ago I felt really sorry for two "freshwater" moray eels in a shop in a tiny tank. They looked terrified and had no shelter. I know from
scuba diving that they like to stay in caves or overhangs and I could tell these guys were miserable and terrified. I went ahead and bought both of them, then went on the internet to see just what I needed to do for them. I upped the salt in my tank to one tablespoon to 5 gallons. My other fish are doing fine after three years. I have
Jurupari, one mono, and one "fat" goby. So the eels have been great and happy-- they each have their own cave, they were eating calamari, shrimp, krill, salmon and smelt.
<Me too!>
I know they can go a few weeks without food, which they do sometimes. They are off the food again. The problem is that for the last two and a half MONTHS they haven't eaten, they go into one cave together (which they NEVER would have done before), one has a swollen throat, the other has a lump on his chin,
<Likely goiters... from a lack of iodine (can, should be administered exogenously) and the cumulative effects of life in too "fresh" water>
and they are just acting very strange. The goby is looking grayish (he's a dark brown normally) and his eyes are a little cloudy. The eels and the goby won't eat and the other fish seem to be ok. The water tests are all fine. I've upped the salt to one tablespoon to two and a half gallons of water and upped the temp to eighty five. A week later, they still don't look good. If you can help me with this I would appreciate it greatly.
Also, do you know how long "freshwater eels" live?
<Years when kept in brackish (spg of 1.005-1010) to marine (as adults) water>
Thank you very much—
Dana Mardaga.
<Bob Fenner>
