Eels are carnivores that mainly eat other animals, from tiny insect larvae to fish, crabs, and even birds, depending on their species and size.

Quick Scoop: What Do Eels Eat?

Think of eels as stealthy underwater hunters with very flexible tastes.

Core menu (most species)

  • Small fish and fry (minnows, juvenile fish, etc.).
  • Crustaceans: crabs, shrimp, crayfish, prawns, kōura (freshwater crayfish in New Zealand).
  • Mollusks and invertebrates: clams, mussels, snails, worms, insect larvae.
  • Jellyfish, squid, and octopus for some marine species.
  • Carrion (dead animals) when they find it in freshwater.

By Habitat and Size

Freshwater eels

  • Small eels: insect larvae, worms, water snails.
  • Larger eels: fish, freshwater crayfish, and sometimes small birds like ducklings that venture near the water surface.
  • Many freshwater eels are cannibalistic and will eat other eels if they can.

Saltwater eels (e.g., moray eels)

  • Fish, crustaceans, squid, clams, and other marine creatures.
  • Some large saltwater eels have been reported taking unusual prey like sea snakes or small vertebrates when the opportunity arises.

How They Hunt

Eels usually hunt at night, using a strong sense of smell and an elongated body to sneak into crevices and tight spaces where prey hides.

They grab prey with rows of small, sharp teeth and often swallow it whole rather than chewing.

Fun example

A river eel might start life nibbling on insect larvae and worms in the gravel, then grow into an ambush predator that lurks under banks, darting out to grab passing fish or even an unlucky duckling that swims too close.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.