Eels are carnivorous fish that primarily eat meat. They have a wide range of animal species that they can consume. Wild eels, when they are still young, mainly feed on aquatic insects and crustaceans. As they grow older, their diet expands to include fish, shrimp, and crabs. If there are decaying animal bodies nearby, they may also feed on those. In artificial farming, eels can be fed small fish, shrimp, insects, and even specially formulated fish food.
1. What Do Eels Eat?
Eels are fish that live in water and feed on other aquatic organisms that share the same habitat. As carnivores, their diet consists primarily of meat. They can consume a wide variety of food. When young, wild eels mostly eat small aquatic insects and crustaceans. As they mature, their diet broadens to include fish, shrimp, and crabs. Additionally, if there are decaying animal carcasses nearby, eels may also scavenge on them.
Eels can also be farmed, but care should be taken with their feeding. When they are small, they can be fed small fish, shrimp, and aquatic insects. As eels grow, they can be fed larger animals, including fish, shrimp, and insects. Specialized fish feed, which contains essential nutrients for eel growth, can also be used. The amount of food should be adjusted according to their size.
2. Can Eels Eat Small Fish?
As mentioned earlier, eels are carnivorous fish and have a varied meat-based diet. Small fish are an important part of their diet. Wild eels, when they grow a bit larger, develop the ability to hunt and can catch smaller fish. As they mature, their hunting ability improves, and they can capture a wider variety of small fish. In captivity, eels can also be fed small fish.
