One of the tasks I enjoy the most is feeding the wolf eel (Anarrhichthys ocellatus) in the Bird Habitat tank at the Alaska Sea Life Center. This activity takes place at the beginning of the first part of the dive when I do a quick survey of the habitat for mussel shells, large kelp, and other debris that might get caught in the siphon used to clean the habitat surface. I carry a large mesh goody bag to hold the items I collect. A small side compartment contains the half dozen or so pieces of squid that I wolf eel.
As described my Milton Love, “wolf eels are marvelous
eel-shaped fishes withextremely long bodies, large canines and molars, and
dorsal and anal fins that taper together to form a point. Adults are blue-gray, red-brown, or sometimes
almost white, and darkly spotted (sometimes heavily, sometime not). Females are sometimes brownish….Adults live
over reefs or around hunks of human-made material. You mostly see the adults with their heads
sticking out of crevices and caves, although they will go out for undulating
sojourns on occasion.”
Bird Habitat hosts a long rock-covered den near the side
viewing window. I seldom see the wolf
eel, which is about four to five feet long, swimming freely the habitat. Rather, she resides in the den face near one
opening, tail near the other. Taking one
piece of squid out of the bag at a time, I dangle it near the opening of the den
to coax her out. Most of the time, she
emerges from the den and pursues the squid that I hold in my fingertips. Other fish in the habitat may try to move in
on the morsel but the wolf eel is pretty adept at getting the squid. Soon, all the pieces of squid are consumed
and the wolf eel returns to its lair as quickly as it emerged.
If guests have been watching the feeding, I turn to them
hold up my gloved hand which held the squid, and with the index finger of the other
hand count my five fingers and then pass my wipe my hand across my forehead to
show relief that all five digits are intact.
It is a bit of a shtick, but the kids seem to really like it.
Sometimes the wolf eel will not eat what is offered. She generally refuses all food when she is
fecund with eggs. During that time, usually
around October, we don’t attempt to feed her.
The Youtube videos below demonstrate the feeding of the wolf eel.
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