In Need Of Specific Expertese

[beelzebob]

who on RC is, or could be considered the resident Morray eel expert?

i'd like to know cause i gots some real specific questions that i cannot find answeres to. and ive been doing research for almost a year.

[billsreef]

What's the question? There are several of us here that could answer most any question you could come up with ;)

[beelzebob]

ok.

so i have whats commonly known as a freshwater moray. i know that it needs brackish (High 1.015+). but, i have also found conflicting information concerning the fact that it should be transitioned to full marine conditions as an adult. but i have also heard that it should nevr be kept in full marine.

the internet is a ****ty reference, especially in this case. and ive only found it in one book. (didn't help)

id like to know if he should be transitioned into full marine, and if so, if he is reef safe.

i'm new to this forum and ignored on another cause no one want to be bothered by earl the BW moray

http://www.jjphoto.dk/fish_archive/aquarium/gymnothorax_tile2_x.jpg

also the exact species is a mystery to me as well. the LFS had it in a ciclid tank, and was just kinda "i dunno" abot the whole thing. more than not say gymnothorax tile. but i dunno.

its just always been a subtle tweak in the back of my mind that im not giving him what he needs....

does he need to go to full marine SG?
is that really a gymnothorax tile? if not, WTH is it?

anybody got any specific infomation about what different needs this thing has opposed to other morays?

[billsreef]

I've kept them in full marine conditions with no problems, I've also kept them in full fresh ;) The "need" for adults to move to full marine as to do with breeding, otherwise it's not necessary. They are "reef" safe, but like most eels any small fish and inverts are on the menu and they can knock stuff over. Haven't had my coffee yet and I'm blanking out on the species name, but that doesn't look right. Best internet reference for such is www.fishbase.org . Plug that in and see what comes up ;)

[billsreef]

Now that I've had a few cups of coffee, breakfast and lunch :D

Gymnothorax tile (http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=17266&genusname=Gymnothorax&speciesname=tile) is the correct name for the one you have ;)

[beelzebob]

so do you think it would be detramental to his health to keep him in a reef setup?

as soon as i know where i gonna be living next year i think im gonna set up my 65 into a reef, and just want to know if i should set this guy up in another tank or keep him in the reef.

an if i shouldn't keep him in the reef, whats a minimum tank size?

i like the 22-24gal cubes and could do some nice work w/ lace rock for him, but i think thats too small.

ive seen that fact sheet before, and thats just about all the information i have found on the lil guy.

[billsreef]

A 65 would be great, and a reef would not be a problem for him. However, you have to consider he is a major predator with a big mouth ;) If you don't keep him in the reef, I'd say a 30 long would be minimum tank size. I had one that found it's way into the sump in a store I used to work it. It got up to slightly over 2 feet before left that place ;)

[luke33]

I've heard that this "freshwater moray" is not a true moray and is actually a swamp eel. Just wanted to pass along

[luke33]

I've had a few of them before, sometimes they are picky eaters, but they take live food and shrimp, krill, squid. They love live shrimp and any inverts so I would suggest not keeping any with him. As soon as they molt, there done for.

[billsreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8964672#post8964672 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luke33
I've heard that this "freshwater moray" is not a true moray and is actually a swamp eel. Just wanted to pass along

Gymnothorax tile does indeed belong the family Muraenidae, making it a true moray ;)

[beelzebob]

yea he even does his open mouth moray thing all the time.

also, mos def has 2 rows of very sharp teeth.

i learned not to get my hand any where near him when i feed him real quick.

a year ago my eel literally ate a dime size piece of me.:eek1:

it was weird watching the thing eat the chunk of my hand. never heard if anything eating the hand that feeds it

but the scar can attest for the dual rows of teeth

[billsreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8965711#post8965711 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beelzebob
a year ago my eel literally ate a dime size piece of me.:eek1:


:lol:

BTW I earned the right to laugh ;)

Rember that eel in the sump I mentioned? Well one day I figured I would try and get it out, he wanted to stay. After getting a good bite of my thumb I decided he could stay :D

[T-T-Trigger]

billsreef ROCKS :bum:

[IronNipples]

:lol: mos def... :lol: :
I dunno, struck me as funny.