Ribbon Eels, From Reef Fishes, Vol. 1, Scott W. Michael:
Numerous pouchlike, mucus-producing cells in the epidermis of the belly - produces large amts of slime that cements its burrow together...lives in the same burrow (tube) sometimes for months or even years.
...apparently feeds during the day on small fishes that pass by the entrance to its burrow.
Sometimes they refuse to feed in captivity. Provide adequate hiding places by placing about 3-5 in. live sand and 1 inch coral rubble on the aquarium bottom, and a mound of LR on one side of the tank. ...long piece of PVC pipe nor more than 2x the diam of the eel may serve as a sanctuary....Place 45-degree elbow on one end of the pipe and cap the other end before burying it in the substrate.
...live feeder fish are necessary to entice it to feed...mollies or guppies...
...recommended to keep it in a tank by itself or with a conspecific (other ribbon eel).
...some can be trained to take small pieces of fish from end of a feeding stick/turkey baster.
...especially proficient at finding small holes/cracks in aquarium and will escape.
...will swim up siphon tubes that lack strainer caps.
...some are collected by using cyanide. This probably has unhealthy effects on their long-term health.
They are all born as protandrous hermaphrodites and go through a color change as they become males. Females are then derived from the males with yet another color change.
Juvenile: jet black with hellow
dorsal fin.
Male: changes from black to blue.
Female: yellowish blue or entirely yellow.
--you asked!
Shirley
