L/F Local SW Feeder Shrimp for Eels and Anglers?

[SanJoseReefer]

Is anyone aware of a location where I can buy SW feeder shrimp for my Eel and Angler? I know I can buy online, but it gets expensive with shipping. Anywhere to buy locally in the South Bay?

 

[psidriven]

Maybe check bait shops. Otherwise my buddy’s octopus seemed to do fine with fw feeder shrimp. Another option is have a breeding tank of sw mollys.

 

[Turkeysammich]

I’ve never kept an angler before. I have kept eels. You can feed them raw shrimp. Just put it in front of their face as they have bad vision. Doesn’t need to be alive.

 

[Kensington Reefer]

My pufferfish (FW) and zebra eel have been eating the shrimp and clams from the fish market for years

 

[SanJoseReefer]

how do you prepare it for them? Just cut up small pieces and place in the tank? Will they eat the ones that you can buy frozen on the half shell?

 

[Turkeysammich]

This is my personal opinion.
I don’t want to be that guy. I gotta say this tho. If you know nothing about the animals you keep. You shouldn’t have gotten them. Just because they were free. Don’t make the animals pay for you to learn.

 

[jhuynh]

use long tongs or plastic grabber reacher tool and wave the shrimp in front of its face. depending on size, cut it smaller.

 

[SanJoseReefer]

This is my personal opinion.
I don’t want to be that guy. I gotta say this tho. If you know nothing about the animals you keep. You shouldn’t have gotten them. Just because they were free. Don’t make the animals pay for you to learn.

You are welcome to your opinion, but I was also new to reefing and had to learn as I progressed. If I did not purchase things I knew nothing about, I would have never been able to start in this hobby. I would have had a tank full of water with nothing in it. I am a well educated adult who works in the Medical and Science fields. You saw only that I received an eel for free last night and made the assumption that it was on a whim. I have been researching getting an eel for some time and was about to order one online when this opportunity arose. I simply was asking the group what they fed, where they purchased items and how they prepared them. Even though I have researched the feeding of eels, the benefit of this community is being able to ask the group what they have done beyond what the literature states. I feel comments like this can deter others from asking questions for fear of receiving these types of comments or feeling embarrassed. I would ask that people be kinder in their response or find out what research the individual did prior to posing their question. Again, as you stated, this is just my option.

 

[Turkeysammich]

You are welcome to your opinion, but I was also new to reefing and had to learn as I progressed. If I did not purchase things I knew nothing about, I would have never been able to start in this hobby. I would have had a tank full of water with nothing in it. I am a well educated adult who works in the Medical and Science fields. You saw only that I received an eel for free last night and made the assumption that it was on a whim. I have been researching getting an eel for some time and was about to order one online when this opportunity arose. I simply was asking the group what they fed, where they purchased items and how they prepared them. Even though I have researched the feeding of eels, the benefit of this community is being able to ask the group what they have done beyond what the literature states. I feel comments like this can deter others from asking questions for fear of receiving these types of comments or feeling embarrassed. I would ask that people be kinder in their response or find out what research the individual did prior to posing their question. Again, as you stated, this is just my option.

That’s not how I made my assumption. I know you have zero experience and have made almost zero research by your questions to the answers people have offered. If you have researched, you would have known with in 10 minutes of research on what and how to feed eels.
I’m not questioning your education in life. I’m asking you to research before you jump. That is all.

 

[SanJoseReefer]

Again! Major assumption on your part that I have done zero research! You are welcome to swing by my condo so I can show you the research history on my computer and the books I have on my dining table! Please never make such assumptions as related to me. I am not the type of person who takes the education available on line and in print for 100% accuracy. If I am not able to ask what others are doing in a group like this, I feel the purpose of this group is not as stated. I should not have to worry about what people will think of me or judge me, based on me asking this group for their thoughts and experiences!

 

[SanJoseReefer]

Additionally, how is it that I have a two foot pvc pipe placed in my aquarium under the gravel if I have done zero research. Also, how is it that I ordered a Blue Ribbon Eel if I have done zero research. Also, how is it that I ordered hundreds of feeder shrimp weeks ago and have a tank set up with those shrimp l, ready to feed if I have done zero research. Therefore, you stated that you can tell I have done zero research is 100% and why you should ask so done what they have done before making a statement like you have.

 

[SanJoseReefer]

The last portion of the message was scrambled for some reason. My final statement was : Therefore your statement that you can tell I have done zero research is 100% false. And this is why you should ask what someone has done before making a statement like you have. I feel it is better to ere on the side of the person asking the question before making a presumptive statement that may offend.

 

[Kensington Reefer]

I am very glad to hear of a “scientific” background.
So many aquarium keepers have such poor laboratory skills

Anyway...
My pufferfish eats the shrimp and clams right from the freezer
The Mbu puffer is over 24” and a 30” zebra eel
But for the eel, I tear apart a mostly thawed shell on headless shrimp (16-20ct)

 

[SanJoseReefer]

lol. Thank you for your humorous response and the info I asked about. Much appreciated!

 

[MichaelB]

I use to feed my eel years ago larger frozen Krill

 

[Turkeysammich]

This is my last post on this subject. If you just ordered the blue ribbon eel. Please cancel it. They have almost zero survival rate in captivity long term. They are beyond expert only. If you have it already. I hope you prove me wrong and I hope it lives a super long life.
Btw. Eels are super escape artists. Keep a super tight lid. They can lift lids.

 

[MichaelB]

Yes I will also stress out they are escape artists, any gap they will find a way out, even if it's smaller than them. Needs to be 100% sealed up without any half measures for keeping eels. They are also oppturinty feeders it's not uncommon for smaller fish to disappear. At night when they are sleeping. Normally eels couldn't catch but a sleeping fish is possibly easy pickings. They are very messy eaters so ensure proper filtration. Don't over feed them. Yet ensure they are feed enough that your fish doesn't seem to be the easier option.

They will eat any shrimp or crab in the tank. So they are a no go.

Rock structures need to be resting on the glass directly not on sand they can burrow under it and cause a collapse or get stuck.

This is from when I had one back around 05.

Also the eels you picked up is fine. Some get to be over 7ft like huge ones in the wild, so a solid idea to do research and be cautious and research specific types not just eel.

 

[SanJoseReefer]

This is my last post on this subject. If you just ordered the blue ribbon eel. Please cancel it. They have almost zero survival rate in captivity long term. They are beyond expert only. If you have it already. I hope you prove me wrong and I hope it lives a super long life.
Btw. Eels are super escape artists. Keep a super tight lid. They can lift lids.

 

[tribbitt]

At the lfs I worked at eels were always primarily fed raw seafood with tongs (we fed ribbon eels feeder shrimp as well), and the first google result seems to show this is common practice. We would also do chunks of silverside.

Cool to hear you have scientific background, may I ask which field?

 

[jhuynh]

how do you prepare it for them? Just cut up small pieces and place in the tank? Will they eat the ones that you can buy frozen on the half shell?

honestly, how I read it your response, i would have interpreted the same way as @Turkeysammich.