Is a Snowflake Eel ok for this tank ?

avalanche wolf · 10-23-2006, 02:31 AM

We have a 100 gallon tank with fish ( damsels , p. clowns , bottlenose ) we have about 20 lbs of live rock ( soon to be about 100 lbs )

We have a listing in craigslist..om for a small snow flake for 20 bucks. We everyone get along or will we be missing community members in the morning under a rock in the Eels mouth ??

jenajet · 10-23-2006, 05:48 AM

Okay first off I love my snowflake. Now the downside is he is forever digging under the rocks kicking up sand everywhere. Not saying they all do it but he does and it drives me crazy! I have to take a baster to everything daily to get sand off the rock and corals. Make sure the rock is stable because as the grow they will knock it over. My eel is very good to the other inhabitants but make sure all fish with him are alot bigger than him, imo and experience that means no part of their body(head, stomach, etc) will fit in his mouth. Mine killed a large watchman goby. He couldn't eat it but they have powerful jaws and he grabbed the goby by the head and basically crushed it. Now if all this doesn't scare you off and your up for it I say go for it. Also you have to make sure the canopy is completely closed off or he will climb out. I put window screen over any and all holes on my canopy.

Geoff · 10-23-2006, 10:28 AM

if you want to keep fish in this tank i would look more closely at the zebra moray. they do not have the fish catching teeth.

G~

avalanche wolf · 10-23-2006, 10:50 AM

Zebra moray eels spend their days hiding in tropical reefs and rock formations. At dusk they make swift, strikes at passing crabs, sea urchins and snails, which they locate with their keen sense of smell. They grip their victims with their sharp, backward-curving teeth, making it almost impossible for the prey to wriggle free. When it's not hunting for food, however, the zebra moray is a shy, retiring fish. For that reason it's popular among home aquarists.
The zebra moray eel species is named for its black and white stripes, which resemble those of a zebra.

I dont even want a eel, Something the wife wants in the tank. I think it ill be a pain having something in the tank with a speical feeding req. We owned a SFE when we first got into tanks and I remember the pain it was feeding him the shirmp. I just couldnt remember him taking out the fish or not.

I think we are going to pass , didnt think about that loose rock slides thing. The last thing I need is a tidlewave in the front room from a rock pile falling over.

Thanks for the info guys !!

wickeddroptop · 10-24-2006, 03:17 PM

For a long time I only had enough rock to basically cover the bottom of the tank. Recently I added about 100 lbs to fill it up, and I have never seen my snowflake happier. He is really active now, slithering through all the crevices, he knocks some stuff down every now and then. My advice, make sure there is enough stuff for him to hide it

avalanche wolf · 10-24-2006, 11:46 PM

i just got a call from a guy willing to give me 75lbs of dried live rock !! WOOT ! That will make some great places for him. Think i might cchange my mind about getting him. Also got my old wet dry skimmer combo up and working again and the skimmer is FINALLY working. This tank is finally getting a good start !

jenajet · 10-25-2006, 03:17 AM

If you decide to get a snowflake eel the easiest way I have found of feeding him(especially since there are 2 lions ready and willing to take his dinner) is my algae scraper. On the other end is the fork looking thing I wedge the silverside, krill, or shrimp into it place it near his den and he comes out and grabs it.

jadefox · 10-13-2007, 02:07 PM

Did you get the snowflake? We are considering one for a 135-gallon tank we are starting. Jena, what other fish did you keep in the tank? Did you constantly have to replace CUC?

slamdorf · 10-25-2007, 10:29 PM

snowflake eels are the easiest, and the smallest... they are a great addition, but as someone before me said, they do shuffle things around. Zebra is my favorite. i had a 3 foot one, and it was very dosile with other fish, i did not have much that would fit in its mouth though, although it did not even eat my damsels.

NOW! the only problem ive had with both snowflake and zebra eels is.... keep a lid on at all times! they have a tendency to swim out the top... I have found my zebra and snowflake in my overflow boxes about 20 times! and once on my floor... but i didnt have a lid on for a week at that point.

Geoff · 10-26-2007, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avalanche wolf

Zebra moray eels spend their days hiding in tropical reefs and rock formations. At dusk they make swift, strikes at passing crabs, sea urchins and snails, which they locate with their keen sense of smell. They grip their victims with their sharp, backward-curving teeth, making it almost impossible for the prey to wriggle free. When it's not hunting for food, however, the zebra moray is a shy, retiring fish. For that reason it's popular among home aquarists.
The zebra moray eel species is named for its black and white stripes, which resemble those of a zebra.

not sure where you got this info, but it is wrong. Here is a better place for correct info about the teeth of a zebra moray.

this is why i recommend them for anybody who wants fish. snowflake are smaller eels, but a full grown one will easily decimate a reef tank of all of its small to medium sized fish.

there are several eels that do not grow over 12" in length. these make great choices also if you can afford them.

G~

lpdk91 · 01-14-2008, 06:12 PM

I justed added mine around 2 weeks ok. I love him. He leaves my fish alone and spends much of the day with his head poking out of the rocks. I use a plastic feeder rod to feed him silversides.

jgordie · 01-14-2008, 06:51 PM

Congrats on the purchase. We got one about 6 months ago. My son named him Shockwave. He eats krill off a skewer stick every couple of days.. He hasn't messed with any of the other fish, but...my 2 blennies have disappeared