Typical predator size and age

[jelwyoming]

I am trying to decide about which fish to add to a new predator tank I am setting up. I would like to find out what are some of the typical size versus ages for some of the different choices that I am considering. Please let me know where yours are at;
Snowflake eel
Spiny box puffer
Harlequin Tusk
Fuzzy lionfish
Wartskin angler
Common angler
Thanks

[jelwyoming]

Anyone?

[LisaD]

do you mean average adult size? WWM is a good source of length information. anglers are generally not suitable for community tanks.

my experience with typical adult sizes of these fish:

Snowflake eel - ~30 inches
Spiny box puffer - 8-10 inches
Harlequin Tusk - 7-10 inches
Fuzzy lionfish - 5-7 inches
Wartskin angler - 4 inches (only if A maculatus)
Common angler - I don't know what this is

[jelwyoming]

Thanks for that answer. Yes, I was looking an average adult size, but also their size at different ages. The "common anger" that I was referring to is the one the online stores sell as Antennarius sp.
What kind of girth does the snowflake get to? The younger ones that I see seem to keep fairly slim unlike the bigger morays.
I will check out WWM again. I haven't checked in there lately.
How fast does the box puffer grow?

[ladyshark]

A LFS had a snowflake eel with a girth the thickness of a softball--that thing was HUGE......

[LisaD]

The "common anger" that I was referring to is the one the online stores sell as Antennarius sp.

That could be any of a number of species, ranging in adult size from a few inches to over a foot.

I have bought anglers online from very reputable e-tailers, but only when I knew the species (from a picture, so I could confirm the ID). Even from the best sellers, I had no better than 50 percent survival (after a month). Anglers established in a tank with good water conditions are very hardy, but I found they can be poor shippers. You are best off selecting one from a LFS, making sure it is a species you want, and taking it home only if it still looks good after a few weeks.

[JustinReef]

I felt my snowflake outgrew my 130G so I sold him. He was about 2' and about 4" wide! He would swim across the 6' tank in a second and seemed to get stressed and feel cramped. I felt so bad for him, so I found someone with a 600G tank :) He also got way too aggressive for my tank...over about 2 years he ate 2 clowns, a bunch of chromis, a dwarf lion, and every crab in the tank. He would corner the fish and he was so fast that they had no chance. Mine may have just been more aggressive than most though. I think most people keep them in tanks that are way too small. Remember too that there can't be any openings in the top of the tank or they will escape. Mine when it was little escaped through a tiny hole in the canopy. Luckily I was home. He actually slithered like a snake all the way across my living room about 15-20' into the kitchen. It was extremely hard to pick him up too because he was very strong and could get out of my hands. He ended up being fine though, they are very tough.

[LisaD]

I've had two snowflakes in my life. They never got big enough to terrorize my tanks. Even in what I thought were well-covered tanks, both "walked" and didn't survive.

I've had my zebra moray for a long time. It has gotten pretty huge, but is still comfortable in a 5' 120. I have a smaller Brazilian dragon moray (2') that is a lot more active, and definitely needs more room. Both are headed for the 210...

BTW, does anyone know when Flying Fish Express went out of business? I bought my zebra moray from FFE about a year before they were defunct.

[LisaD]

EDIT: Sorry, duplicate post (deleted)

[jelwyoming]

Wasn't FFE bought out or renamed by LiveAquaria?

[jelwyoming]

Has anyone else had their snowflake get as large as Justinpsmith's? I am not sure that I would have bought one
if I'd heard that they got that big and aggressive. Is this common?

[reefergeorge]

My lfs has one that is about 3' long 3"high, and about 1.5" thick.

[jelwyoming]

That is pretty large as well. I wonder how aggressive at that size they are?
I have been feeding my little 12" guy silver sides. He grabs them and swallows them in a second!