Eel recommendations and care tips

[extendedmango]

I'm thinking about getting a snowflake eel for my existing reef and I have a few questions about eel care and requirements. I have a Red Sea reefer 250 that holds about 55 gallons of water with two clowns, a melanerous wrasse and a longnose hawkfish. My tank is soft coral dominated with a hammer coral, and I have an emerald crab and a pistol shrimp. I have 4 questions:
1) Is there a better eel species than snowflake for the above aquarium
2) How can I add more crevices for the eel to explore and live in
3) what is the best place to purchase an eel
4) is there anything else I should know

Thanks in advance[emoji106]




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[Cliving1]

1) Is there a better eel species than snowflake for the above aquarium-For that size tank, thats a good eel to go with. They do not get very girthy, but quite lengthy. Not that I have not seen them thick, but overall proportional.
2) How can I add more crevices for the eel to explore and live in-PVC piping works great. Eels want their entire body to be hid for them to be comfortable.
3) what is the best place to purchase an eel-Probably your local store so you can see it eat and what not.
4) is there anything else I should know-Eels are messy eaters, have a skimmer or good way of removing waste. Be careful with your clowns and what not, they are predators and will eat when hungry. If you love your fish, I would not get an eel. Not that they will 100% eat them, but they have the capability.

[cali9dub]

Get a dwarf golden. They stay small and only get about 12" long.

[ericp351]

Had a snowflake for many years. Grew to over 30 inches. He was a model citizen. I did keep him well fed. I was able to feed him silversides and shrimp by hand. I will get another one when I am ready.

[AlSimmons]

This link might help.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-12/fm/index.php

[roli112]

Get an engineer gobie, looks like an eel with out all the hassle of an eel

[extendedmango]

Get an engineer gobie, looks like an eel with out all the hassle of an eel



I would get the goby but I kinda want something that brings a bit of a challenge, and I think the snowflakes are much cooler :)


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[extendedmango]

Get a dwarf golden. They stay small and only get about 12" long.



I looked it up online but there isn't much information on care, doe anyone know more about these


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[extendedmango]

Oh and thanks for the detailed reply Cliving1


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[Cliving1]

They usually are not picky eaters. Definitely can live in a reef.

What questions were you looking for about care?

[extendedmango]

They usually are not picky eaters. Definitely can live in a reef.



What questions were you looking for about care?



Are they about the same as a snowflake care wise i.e. Tank size, hardiness, feeding


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[anbosu]

Are they about the same as a snowflake care wise i.e. Tank size, hardiness, feeding


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I don't think they are quite as easy as a snowflake, but are a better long term choice for your aquarium. A fully mature snowflake eel is a big fish, and probably too big for a 55 gallon as an adult.

[extendedmango]

I don't think they are quite as easy as a snowflake, but are a better long term choice for your aquarium. A fully mature snowflake eel is a big fish, and probably too big for a 55 gallon as an adult.



Well I have no problem with the golden but it is much more expensive. Should I risk the snowflake or invest in the smaller golden dwarf


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[Cliving1]

If its a long term investment (as it should be) for no plans on an upgrade. I would have to agree the golden dwarf is the best match. Although it is more costly treat it carefully, pick out the right one, and it will do great.

[extendedmango]

If its a long term investment (as it should be) for no plans on an upgrade. I would have to agree the golden dwarf is the best match. Although it is more costly treat it carefully, pick out the right one, and it will do great.



I completely agree, thanks everyone for the help


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[cali9dub]

There are 2 sellers on eBay that sell golden dwarfs for between 150 and 170. They only come up so often, but they are a great deal and healthy. Just fyi.

[extendedmango]

There are 2 sellers on eBay that sell golden dwarfs for between 150 and 170. They only come up so often, but they are a great deal and healthy. Just fyi.



Do you know their usernames or whatever they r called on eBay. I probably won't get mine for at least a month but I would still like to watch for one


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[cali9dub]

No I don't. Just save a search for "dwarf golden eel" and when thet get them it'll pop up. They usually get about 6 at a crack.

[scuzy]

Here are my two golden dwarf

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170207/37f1a6f57d5bd25a24c020453de9d349.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170207/fe8ee4b69162bc68a58c86971201b3c9.jpg

They are really fun to feed and pretty easy to take care of.


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[LefkoNJ]

Make sure your tank has a good cover, including the overflow. Eels will make it out otherwise.
I would also prepare to lose any inverts, they are pretty much blind so eat what they want when they bump into it as they hunt by scent.

Golden Dwarf is great, along with the snowflake.

[cali9dub]

I miss mine. Died in a bad "anemone in powerhead" incident. A sad day cuz they are really cool and yes, pretty easy to care for. As long as they are well fed they won't "roam" looking for food. They'll stay put. That head shake let's you know they are hungry !! Lol

[scuzy]

The smaller one escaped into sump 2x. Now I netted the teeth of the overflow and he's fatter can't make it down there no more. Love the way they snatch silversides from me.


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[extendedmango]

Here are my two golden dwarf

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170207/37f1a6f57d5bd25a24c020453de9d349.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170207/fe8ee4b69162bc68a58c86971201b3c9.jpg

They are really fun to feed and pretty easy to take care of.


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Haha I didn't know they would live in pairs. I'm good with just the one tho ; )


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[extendedmango]

Make sure your tank has a good cover, including the overflow. Eels will make it out otherwise.
I would also prepare to lose any inverts, they are pretty much blind so eat what they want when they bump into it as they hunt by scent.

Golden Dwarf is great, along with the snowflake.



I'm building a hood for my tank rn but is the overflow grate that comes with the Red Sea reefer look like it will stop eels


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[ReefsandGeeks]

Just an FYI, I got my snowflake about 2 months ago and when I first got him he went about a week without eating. Then I soaked some small pieces of silverside in garlic extract and he finally took a bite. within a couple of days, he's hungry and eating several pieces a day. The eel now is about as thick as a sharpie marker and maybe 9-10" long. I feed him 2 pieces of silverside about 1/2" long a day. Close to 2 cubes worth of food. I think that's important to note as adding that much more food can cause you to have a spike in ammonia, nitrates, phosphates...etc. Just be sure you have the filtration to handle it and you should be fine. Keeping them well fed has been said to help keep them away from your other fish. I've heard they typically eat a couple times a week, and more frequently when small.

[Cliving1]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=343589

They have one on live aquaria right now.

[extendedmango]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=343589



They have one on live aquaria right now.



Well I would have bought it but it was sold. I'll keep watching divers den


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[extendedmango]

Does anyone know how I can find a golden dwarf eel that looks like one of these
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170210/c0f8c137d9342790b691d7f9fa2ebe03.jpg


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[scuzy]

They start org looking like that darker in color but gets golden white when they get older and bigger.


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[extendedmango]

Earlier cliving said I could use pvc to help add places to hide, how wide should that pvc be


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[scuzy]

1/2" - 1" is good enough cause they are not that big.


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[scuzy]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170216/26247e82f35a3a973521755280abd1f0.jpg

The smaller one use to be brownish like the picture posted earlier. It's gotten golden as it got bigger.


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[ford prefect]

can I keep eels in a bare bottom tank?

[LobsterOfJustice]

Will golden dwarf morays eat small fish?


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[scuzy]

How small of fish?


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[Cliving1]

Every eel has the ability to eat fish. Its not that they 100% will, but it should not surprise you if it happens. Remember these are predators, not stick fed in the ocean with a regular feeding schedule. They get their food by opportunity, so if its hungry and theres a tasty fish it can catch, why not?

[LobsterOfJustice]

How small of fish?


I have fish in the 2" range, and fish as small as 1" (nano gobies).

Every eel has the ability to eat fish. Its not that they 100% will, but it should not surprise you if it happens. Remember these are predators, not stick fed in the ocean with a regular feeding schedule. They get their food by opportunity, so if its hungry and theres a tasty fish it can catch, why not?


Understood, but I've heard that snowflakes have rounded teeth and are naturally crustacean eaters. Wasn't sure if this was the case with the golden dwarf.




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[Cliving1]

OH, yes I believe you are correct. Many like the zebra eel for reef tanks for that same reason.

[aqs]

What are you feeding them ?
Won't the eels eat clean up crew ?


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[scuzy]

What are you feeding them ?
Won't the eels eat clean up crew ?


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I cut up silversides and krilss for them.


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[ca1ore]

Been happy with my dwarf golden, though frankly more pink than golden. I feed it the large krill or clams (hikari on half shell).

[LotsaTanks]

I got a snowflake and zebra eel for my 300 gallon reef. The zebra is 3.5 feet and snowflake is 3 feet and 2" thick. Big fish. They were model reef inhabitants, but due to their large feeding requirements of 4 jumbo shrimp every 4 days each, I had water quality issues and they knock everything over. Set up a 180 gallon fish only for them. I could not imagine keeping the snowflake in anything less than a 180. I would definitely go with a smaller eel for a 55 gallon or you will be doing water changes like crazy all the time to keep your water ok.