peacock eel care

Question
Hello, I just got a peacock eel about 2 weeks ago and I'm just now researching about them but I can't seem to find some answers. My tank has been set up since i bought the eel. The tank is only 10 gallons. The eel is a peacock eel or a spiny eel. I have 2 other fish in with the eel. I don't know how to check the pH, ammonia, and nitrate levels. I haven't changed my water yet, I've only had the tank for 2 weeks.
So I've been reading online and it says to give eels a sand bottom because they will bury themselves into it. My bottom are the normal fish tank rocks. Do i need to change it?
Also, when i feed my other two fish, i watch them eat, but it seems like the eel never eats. I feed the fish Shrimp Pellets.

Answer
Hi Ericka;

Peacock Eels are in the Spiny Eel family. They don't like to eat dried foods, especially when trying to get used to a new home. They need live food such as live bloodworms, live tiny baby fish, live brine shrimp, live ghost shrimp, live tubifex worms, etc. He's also having a hard time because your tank is still in the break-in period, which can last a total of 6 to 8 weeks. Eels don't handle the break-in period very well. Waste toxins rise to lethal levels in new tanks sometimes and with 3 fish adding waste in there it's probably pretty toxic. The best thing for your eel would be to take him back to the fish store. He needs a larger tank anyway, at least a 30 gallon, because he grows to be over a foot long. So, basically, even with just the eel in there and no other fish your tank would already be way overstocked. I am afraid he won't last long enough to grow in your tank though. The break-in period is just too hard on him and his troubles are just beginning. It will get worse. As a result of his stress he probably won't even try to eat at this point, even if you provide live food for him. It would only add to the bio-load and cause toxins to rise even further. The uneaten food will make the water even more toxic. Make a 25% water change every day until you can decide what to do. It will help lower the toxins until it finally breaks in.

It would be better not to get any more fish for your tank until it's through the break-in period. You also need to know what kind of fish the other ones are. I fear there's more trouble ahead if they aren't suitable for a ten gallon. Get a test kit at your local fish store too. It will help you monitor the ammonia, nitrite, pH and nitrate levels. Get a kit that uses liquid drops or tablets. Avoid the dip strips or sticks. In my opinion, even though they may be easier to use, they are not very accurate.

You also really need to research more about basic fish keeping and especially about the Break-in Period, also known as "Cycling", or "New Tank Syndrome". Here are a few links, starting with my own page about new tanks;

http://www.xanga.com/Expert_Fish_Help

http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin.html

http://www.bestfish.com/breakin.html

http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/aquariumstartup/a/newtankmistakes.htm

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/beginnerinfo/a/fishcalc.htm

http://aquariumhobbyist.com/articles/NewAquarium.html

Here is a link about peacock eels;

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/458.htm

Good luck and I hope everything works out okay...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins