Tropical Fish Forums

[multiplepets]

I purchased a peacock eel yesterday and made sure my tank suited its needs but it seems to have gone missing I know they are jumpers so I checked my entire floor and found nothing I also checked hide holes in the tank. What I am wondering is if its normal for the eel to bury itself for a few days when in a new tank because I don't know were else it could have gone other than into the substrate any advice would be great. Thanks.
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Jakson

[diademhill]

They usually burrow into the substrate and in fact if the substrate is suitable for burrowing a spiny eel not doing so during the day would be giving cause for concern.

Were you not informed of this prior to purchase?

[Cinder]

I have had a peacock eel for several years. And, although it usually hides during most of the day - we often see it out and about. Mine loves to play in the filter outflow current. I do have a lot of plants, rocks and other 'open' hidey' holes in the tank so I think it feels very comfortable.

There have most certainly been a couple of times that I haven't seen it at all for almost a week at a time.

When I moved it into my 135 gln. tank I didn't have many plants in it yet and my eel went missing a couple days later. There wasn't any place for it to hide that I couldn't see (even when it hides under the sand or gravel mine always has at least the tip of his nose sticking out) so I was concerned. I had a new canister filter with larger spaces on the filter intake. We carried the canister to the sink; plugged up the sink... just in case... and carefully opened the canister. There it was... swimming around just fine in the bottom!! Freaked me out... I immediately got a new cover for the intake and haven't had to worry about that near disaster again.

Hope you find it soon.
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135 gln. freshwater tank
29 gln. freshwater tank

[multiplepets]

thanks and I did find it but I was wondering what do you feed your eel because mine isnt responding to flakes so I put in some small earthworms and he ate one but what else can I feed him that you have had success with?
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Jakson

[diademhill]

They won't eat flakes. You need to feed defrosted ( frozen ) bloodwroms, mysis or buy a south American cichlid frozen mix.

Small garden worms from a pesticide free place are good too.

[multiplepets]

Thanks I'll see if I can find some, but I do have a local store that sells freeze dried blood worms for a good price, its how they raise their guppies, do you think he would eat the freeze dried worms?
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Jakson

[diademhill]

Freeze dried are not suitable.

[Cinder]

Mine eat frozen bloodworms - thawed out before feeding.

and, mine LOVES live bloodworms.
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135 gln. freshwater tank
29 gln. freshwater tank