Eel help!!!!

[Saltwat3rAddict]

I just purchased a snowflake eel. Now I dont need to be told how dumb i am to have fallen for my lfs trick he pulled off. His exact words were "these guys are harmless to other fish and that cleaner shrimp you bought from me is at no risk."I beg to differ after reading online about these guys. Well to make it short im positive my lfs guy lied to me just to make some profit. I was dumb and fell for his tricks and bought him cause he was beautiful. Now after all this research and such....is this guy not a good idea? will he infact eat my fish and shrimp and crabs?? i just need fast responses so i know to try and catch this predator and return him asap! :hmm4:

[Octoshark]

It depends upon the fish (in general - the larger, the safer). He will most likely make a meal out of must invertebrates in your tank.

[Shane Hoffman]

No matter what anyone says, never hand over $$$$$ before you research it your self. Your Eel will probably eat anything that he can fit in his mouth.

[Joe LoPresti]

The snowflake is an Edchida moray, they don't have the typical jagged, sharp teeth that other eels possess. They have blunt teeth that they use to crush their favorite prey, crustaceans...
I'd be really hestitant to put that guy in your reef tank, they'll eat pretty much anything they can fit in their mouths. I gotta admit I've always wanted to try one in my reef, but I am afraid my little fish (gobies and blennies) might become really expensive feeders.
Also, they love to burrow under rockwork, so I'd make sure you have a very stable design or he might cause an avalanche!
Good luck with him!!

[billdogg]

Eels, in general, are a poor choice for reef tanks if, for no other reason, their ability to knock things around and cause damage. They also tend to be very messy, making it difficult to keep the water as pristine as is needed for most corals. That being said, a snowflake would be one of the least problematic of the eels to keep, although, as stated above, you can pretty much kiss your smaller fish, shrimp and crabs goodbye.

It can eventually reach a length of 3 feet or so, but most stay smaller than that, IME

If it were me, I would take him back or at the very least rehome him - you wanted another tank anyway - right???

[Indymann99]

One more thing to note, you will need to cover your tank or your eel will escape and end up on the floor. I had a FO tank with a snowflake and he was lots of fun... but would not consider putting one in my tank (shrimp and small fish).

live and learn.... if the LFS you purchased him from wont take it back... maybe another store will (at the obvious $$ loss).

[jtrasap]

I have a snowflake that I've had for going on two years now. Just keep it well fed and you should be fine. I keep Mine very well fed and he doesn't bother any of the crabs or snails. He was housed with a Small Yellowtail Damsel for a couple of months and never touched it. Just keep it well fed, and make sure your tank and overflows are well covered. They are escape artists. The first Snowflake I had took a ride down one of my overflows and died in my skimmer pump the first night that I had it.

[Adam76]

I have a snowflake also shows no signs of being a problem, hasn't bothered any inverts or small fish but I can't say that about all of them. Like said above I keep well feed.

[jsharp1]

Yeah, I've kept one in a FO tank before. He never bothered any of my fish, but I made sure to keep him well fed.

Oh yes, and definitely keep the tank covered, he did jump out before. Luckily I happened to be lookin at my tank at the time so I was able to put him back in right away.

[Eric the half-bee]

I've never kept a snowflake but I do have a 14" zebra in my 400gal reef and he is quite gentle. Yes, they are messy. Yes, they will probably dine upon your shrimps/crabs. Mine cohabits with a pistol that has managed to keep out of the zebra's mouth. Mine comes to the top of the water at food time and sticks his head out. Otherwise, he lounges in the rockwork. One of the oddest events is when he comes out, my sailfin tangs will display their fins trying to cower him.

[newtank]

+1 on the advice so far. Never purchase before research, your Eel will carpet surf at some point. I had a problem with heat so I had to remove the glass tops, the my 7" snowflake got out several times, usually around feeding time, so I was able to plunk him back in the tank with no harm. I have a goofy reef in that there is no cleanup crew due to my awesome peacock mantis shrimp eats them all (except for my urchins) the problem was the Eel is essesntially blind, they have very poor eyesight, but a good sense of smell, the mantis on the other hand can see very well, and both like to hide in the same caves, so the poor eel was always getting punched in the face. He finally swam down the overflow and has gotten fat and large in the sump now for the past 10 months. I will reintroduce him into my 265 once it's cycled as one of the first inhabitants so that he scopes the good hiding spots out first, plus now that he is bigger he won't fit through the egg crate perimeter I will have along the back of the canopy. I say keep him well fed and secure, as they are really cool to watch swim around in your tank and add variety in body shape ect. Plus all your friends will think that salt water tanks are sweet!

[iamwrasseman]

Ltrasap had it correct IMO ,i have owned many moreys and put them in tanks that many others would consider insane .the key is making sure that they are well fed ,the snowflake morey is very docile compared to some "monsters" that i have owned and i would trust him with most of my other fish . he needs to be fed every day but not overfed .

[Octoshark]

No matter what anyone says, never hand over $$$$$ before you research it your self.

That just about sums it up ;)

[Saltwat3rAddict]

=( well i took him back. i couldnt stand the stress i went through watching him chase my little nemos i had in there. none of my fish slept last night and they were all terrified and hidden in the corner. im not letting one 20 dollar eel ruin my fun in this hobby. some get lucky i guess with theirs but im not wanting a huge 25 inch long eel in my tank in the future with the risk of losing my favorite fish. with that being said im growing gray hair now that i took my WHOLE TANK APART TO CATCH THE LITTLE MONSTER!!! enough said lol i got him out and hopefully a new home will do the trick for him.

[Eric the half-bee]

=( well i took him back. i couldnt stand the stress i went through watching him chase my little nemos i had in there. none of my fish slept last night and they were all terrified and hidden in the corner. im not letting one 20 dollar eel ruin my fun in this hobby. some get lucky i guess with theirs but im not wanting a huge 25 inch long eel in my tank in the future with the risk of losing my favorite fish. with that being said im growing gray hair now that i took my WHOLE TANK APART TO CATCH THE LITTLE MONSTER!!! enough said lol i got him out and hopefully a new home will do the trick for him.

I think your avatar displays the clowns' fear well...:lol: