Pea**** Eels

[Jolly Mon]

I have a 55 gallon tank (freshwater) with a Bala Shark, a Red Tailed black Shark, 3 clown loaches and 3 green spotted puffer fish. They all get along very well.

I recently added a Pea**** eel to this strange mix. I realize that he is nocturnal and don't expect to see him much during the day. He will often poke his nose out of the rocks to take a look around though.

Anyway, my question is: How do I know he is eating? It is almost impossible to catch him swimming and hewon't pursue food if he has his nose out of the rocks. I try to wait until the tank light has been off for an hour before putting his brine shrimp in the water - but so far, I have not seen him eat.

Any thoughts?

[flamingo]

ok, first of all you know that's a bad mix of fish right?

1. bala is alone and will get big
2. pufferfish are brackish
and 3.red tail shark may turn onthem all.

Second of all most of the time eels aren't nocturnal (well shouldn't be calling it a eel since it isn't lol). By nature they sort of are but more often I've seen them come out during the day and eat things like worms. Also try other things than brine shrimp, not a good sufficient diet. AS for telling if it eats, have no clue.

[Georgia Peach]

Originally Posted by Jolly Mon

I have a 55 gallon tank (freshwater) with a Bala Shark, a Red Tailed black Shark, 3 clown loaches and 3 green spotted puffer fish. They all get along very well.

yeah, for now..

[AshleytheGreat]

First off....

I wouldnt know how to answer this but I googled a little and i found that eels dont need to be fed regulary, only maybe a couple times a weeks. And sometimes they go into a "hybernation" period and do not eatfor several weeks or so.


I mean the only way I would guess if the eel was eating was to make sure his belly looks plump when you catch a glimpse of him

[matt123]

Am I the only one who giggled when I saw the title starred out?

[Jolly Mon]

Yeah, I know - the site bleeped out part of the name, not my idea believe me.

I am also aware that my mix is not ideal. I just switched up to a 55 gallon but have had the Bala and the Red Tail for 18 months or so. The Green Spotted Puffers and the P. Eel are new members. The LPS told me that adding just a little bit a salt would improve the overall health of my tank and make it livable for the Puffers.

I started out with 2 Balas but one died early on. The only questionable behavior I've seen from the Red Tail so far is rubbing up against the Bala. This happens now and then since the new tank was introduced. Mating behavior or aggression?

[Fishfirst]

I wouldn't worry about your red tail shark really, they aren't all that mean, some individuals give them a bad wrap. However, the "salt" that your LFS said you should use to help out your puffers is not the salt you need for them to be happy/healthy. They need a brackish environment, which means HALF saltwater HALF freshwater, and if it doesn't say that you have MARINE salt on the box/bag of salt you have, its worthless to a puffers health. You may not see the affects of being in a freshwater system yet, but believe me, you will, kidney failure/disfunction is only one of the many things that will happen if they are kept in a freshwater tank for an extended period of time. I'd either take them back to the LFS and inform them that these are brackish fish and will not buy from them until they label them so, OR setup a new aquarium for these guys (30 gallons would be nice) and inform the LFS and inform them of the above stipulations.

Also never break these rules:
1) never listen to the LFS's advice (they need to make a buck)
2) always research here before you buy if you are unaware of care requirements(we want to save you a buck)