Recomendations for Moray Eel Feeding

[RacinRabit]

I recently acquired a 15" black laced moray eel. My questions are: what is the best food to feed her and how often should she be fed? Raw shrimp does not appeal to her, neither does dry food - she readily eats raw meat but she does not seem to be able to digest it properly. Waste food fouls the water readily (she is in a 225 gallon tank). Any ideas? Her prior owner said she ate shrimp readily but I don't believe it. Is the strategy to feed her once or twice a week and then plan a water change?

 

[Unarce]

I never had an ideal that didn't go nuts for squid. I never tried octopus, but I'm sure it would've had the same effect.

I feel the previous owner wasn't lying about the shrimp. They can go a couple of weeks in between feedings, so just give him some time.

Good luck!

 

[Anonymous]

I never had an ideal that didn't go nuts for squid. I never tried octopus, but I'm sure it would've had the same effect.

I feel the previous owner wasn't lying about the shrimp. They can go a couple of weeks in between feedings, so just give him some time.

Good luck!

Me neither, and I sleep well at night.

 

[Unarce]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Of course I meant eel. I guess I can't listen to Neruda and type at the same time. Imagine if I was watching porn!

 

[Tackett]

I had a snake eel that I fed squid, shrimp, and cod on a rotating basis. However, he only ate about 3 times a week, but more times per week if I fed him a smaller amount at each feeding, follow?

 

[RacinRabit]

Thanks for the feedback - I'll give squid a try if I can find some. Any suggestions on how much to feed and how often? :?

 

[Anonymous]

A juvenile eel might want (and need) to be fed every other day. Adults can go once or twice a week. For some reason an eel I take care of will refuse food for months at a time and then resume like nothing happened.

 

[K]

I have some common european eels, and during the winter they more or less shut down totally, feeding maybe 3 or 4 times during November-February

 

[jamesw]

Do you stick feed the shrimp? Wave around in front of the eels mouth?

Cheers
James

 

[grahamp]

Hi all,i have a 12'' snowflake moray.I feed him small silver sides(lance fish) using a wooden kebab stick.I usually feed him about twice aweek,but he lets me know when hes hungry by swimming around the tank.Don't see much off him when hes full.

 

[RacinRabit]

I didn't realize that Morrays could be such finicky eaters until I received replies from everyone! I feed mine using long tongs (plastic) and I do wave the food in front of her nose. When I have done this with shrimp, she had no response - raw meat however was vastly different.

I am headed home from a business trip and I just heard from the pet sitter that the eel is very active, so she must be good and hungry - I'll look for some squid along the way :lol:

Thanks everyone!

 

[Tackett]

For some reason an eel I take care of will refuse food for months at a time and then resume like nothing happened.

Some eels do that. I know dragons have a tendency to fast for months and then gorge themselves. Dont really know why. A few other will too.

Not to hijack threads, but has anyone EVER seen a blue ribbon eel eat. Would love to have one, but ive never seen one eat in captivity. ever.

 

[Tackett]

I just threw mine in the tank, he found it. However DO NOT try to hand feed them. Eels generally have very poor eyesight and hunt on smell. With water saturated with the smell of food, it will strike in the general direction and wind up with your hand in its mouth. And I am here to tell you, eel bites from a large eel are nasty, nasty nasty things. a matter of 42 stiches from a 5 foot leapord eel.

 

[RacinRabit]

Well, I tried my eel on squid. She certainly was able to smell it and came looking for it, but she would not take it from my long-handled tongs and if I waved or dropped it in front of her nose, she was too slow to take it - the two puffers in the tank would grab it before she did. This particular eel is quite timid and is blind in one eye. Still, I have no intention of sticking my hand in to feed her (42 stitches - ouch!). She will ravenously eat raw filet mignon and veal though. :? Shrimp remains to be of no interest to her. Will the raw meat do her any harm? The puffers have no interest in it at all and she seems to love it, but as indicated on my original post, she seems to digest it poorly.