Animal Stories - Ribbon Eel


Animal-World Information about: Ribbon Eel

Although the Ribbon Eel has been notoriously hard to keep, some aquarists are having success with feeding these beautiful creatures!  Read on!
Latest Animal Stories
Krista - 2013-02-02
I bought a Black Ribbon Eel 4 weeks ago and he has eaten 4 dozen ghost shrimp, frozen mysis, live brine shrimp, frozen brine shrimp, frozen krill and dried fish flakes. He eats everything. Will he turn blue?

Click For Replies (4)
  • Jeremy Roche - 2013-02-02
    They are great eels?  What do you mean will he turn blue?
  • Anonymous - 2013-02-15
    no, that why he is black
  • Kane - 2013-02-24
    Yes, they start off as black males, but once they mature they become blue females.
  • Joseph kop - 2018-03-03
    Actually they start out black then turn to blue males then turn to yellow females
Reply
Carson - 2015-10-05
I've had my ribbon eel for about a week. I've tried feeding it everything from frozen to live it seems like he just doesn't want to eat. I have PVC piping to make him comfortable. What should I do?

Click For Replies (1)
  • Anonymous - 2017-03-13
    Try feeding him colorful live fish like goldfish or guppies. Use a grabber arm to make it look like another eel is trying to compete with him. Good luck!
Reply
punithan - 2016-07-10
I like to add this eel with my butterfly fish

Reply
Leonard Edwards - 2014-01-05
I have a blue ribbon eel I had for a week now. I have tried certain methods which recently I tried the pipe method which he loves now im trying to get him to eat. Do anyone have any suggrstions I been trying to feed him ghost shrimp and frozen krill but he dont go for it. I even put garlic on the krill. If you would email me suggestions please jrtxboiy@gmail.com

Click For Replies (1)
  • Clarice Brough - 2014-01-05
    They can be tough to get feeding. The techniques we've used is with a poker made out of rigid 1/4' clear tubing with a paper clip attached with a rubberband to the end. Then we pierce live food (like the ghost shrimp) on the paper clip end, and offer it in front of the eel's face. The paper clip is blunt so it doesn't hurt them, and if the food is moving they pay attention and will sometimes strike.  If nothing happens, then we kinda bump them on the nose. But being bumped on the will sometimes elicit a bite reaction. This way they get the food, and then they start understanding that it is food. Still, there are some that simply won't feed. Good luck!
Reply
Joe Simpson - 2012-11-15
I have a Blue Ribbon eel in his juv state so he is still black. He use to attack anything I gave him and he has become less aggresive but still eats. I am wondering if any of you know where one can buy a female BRE. any help would be appricated. joe

Reply
Nick De Jong - 2009-09-29
Hi Everyone. I bought a Black Ribbon Eel about a year ago and it is doing just fine. It didnt eat for about two months at first, then decided it liked my fire gobies. Now I feed mollies or any other live fish. I recently got a blue ribbon eel that I added to my tank. They are best of friends and the blue eel started feeding within the 1st two weeks. The strangest thing has happened though, the Blue ribbon has now changed color and has turned black. Now that is freaky...

Click For Replies (1)
  • robert nusca - 2012-10-16
    I purchased a Blue Ribbon eel,3 weeks ago.He has been eating Rosies and guppys,but not to many,and refuses to eat except one or two days each week,so far.I noticed that after a few days,it's bright blue,turned more,toward black as well.Since it was fairly new to the aquarium.I assumed it was a sign of stress.I have a Niger Trigger,that competes with it for live food(but they interact very well.any other ideas why it has lost it's bright blue colour.I am a bit concerned.
Reply
Marinna - 2012-05-01
weeeeeell im doing a project on the ribbon eel for my 5th grade class i need lots and lots of help so if u can please send me information on the ribbon eel. my e mail adress is poppi236@aol.com THANK U FOR THE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Click For Replies (1)
  • Jeremy Roche - 2012-05-01
    Will work best if you actually ask the questions that you are looking to get answered.
Reply
Greg Earle - 2008-08-04
I have a Ribbon Eel which I believe is the longest-lived Ribbon Eel in captivity. I have had it continuously since around 1985 or 1986, I believe. It has been through at least 3 house moves which were undoubtedly traumatic to it (drain tank, put eel in bucket, etc.).

I feed it 2 dozen feeder guppies a week, once a week, and I keep nothing else in the tank (a 60 gallon) to make sure it is not stressed at all. It is like the Energizer Bunny! I am absolutely amazed at my success in keeping this beautiful creature alive for so long. I wish someone at the Monterey Aquarium or some institution would come study it before it goes!

Reply
Alan Carter - 2010-09-29
I have a Juvenile Blue Ribbon Eel still black. This guy has been very easy for me to keep. I have him in my 55 gal tank at my girls house with plenty of life rock, sand bed, (which he never burys himself in), soft corals, LPS, SPS a huge Snowflake Eel, two Tomato Clowns, a Lion Fish, a Huma Huma Trigger, and a Damsel. Seriously anything I put in front of him he'll eat. I have fed him frozen krill, frozen silversides, ghost shrimp, rosey reds from pets mart, gold fish, and small Damsels because I don't like them, and they are a good snack. lol. Does anyone know when he'll turn blue?

Click For Replies (1)
  • Anonymous - 2012-01-25
    You bought a BLACK ribbon eel NOT a BLUE ribbon eel, they look similer when young.
Reply
bill - 2010-04-02
I just bought a blue ribbon eel about a week ago that the store said was a trade in from another customer. It is eating very well with spot feeding krill I feed him 2 -3 pieces a night is this enough or too much? Please let me know he's a real pig wisemand1957@att.net

Click For Replies (1)
  • ANNE - 2011-08-14
    I just started my salt fishwater aquarium again and also bought a blue ribbon eel but it's now two weeks and he does not want to eat anything I give him.
    Has anybody got some advice for me? annecoetzeeacdc@vodamail.co.za
Reply