Like Lee had mentioned, this eel you not see many attempting to own for even those who done this for a few years or so in keeping one successful, you would find that a few things first must be in place.
Like for one, as larger a tank you can provide it with excellent water conditions at all times and one other thing with this type of eel is you not want your tanks temperatures to elevate to often and maintain it in between just a few degrees.
Also you not want to over stock leaving this eel as much free space with as many hiding places can be provided and a DSB is a must for this eel for it may want to dig in and also this eel when is feeding will be aggressive when hungry to other small fish in the tank.
As the problem here be is one day for either no fault of your own, this eel will starve to death and once this starts, you can do nothing other then trying to force feed it yourself. In which may prove to be a loosing battle>
Also as Lee said as well, this eel would rather have its meals live. So if you have the resources and can afford it, buy crustaceans and fishes that you can and start a small holding tank for this. This I would have to say as long you do all the other things in maintaining its tank perfectly and its a nice size tank at that, you might find it that you be able to keep this species a great deal longer to where most had failed.
Silversides? As long as the eel is feeding, you must move to other foods to offer it for silversides has no nutritional values to offer for your eels health. I just see as well as Lee is suggested this as well>
As lee also suggest to you on getting clams without shells, now this you must be aware that there be much risk involved for you really want the food as fresh as you can get it and best being that your an eel that is rather picky, you should get the food fresh for each feeding and not attempt to buy a freezer stock and you might also cause freezer poisoning.
This eel will go through a change of colors and even later in life or at some early stages of its life, will change its gender in which also changes colors.
You may want to check some saltwater/marine data bases for more information. It's been a few years since I've even seen a Blue Ribbon Eel in home captivity. I had learned that they turn black as they mature. It may be that just the male or female does this change and it may be the other way around -- black to blue.
Lee is correct on his views for this species> In collecting data from any number of links, you people must know that all list their opinions or copy from other links in which offers the least correct data on this species.
Lee`s quotes on this topic is right on
Buddy
