Banded Eel - Building a Hide?

[ChrissFishes01]

I picked up a juvenile banded eel today - he's about 16" or so. I added him into my 55 gallon FOWLR, and will eventually move him into my 125 once he's a bit bigger - just afraid he might get picked on a bit, as the Green-Spotted Puffer has already been bothering him some in the 55. The rock in that tank is pretty solid - more boulders, rather than porous reef rock. But, I've got good filtration and a decent skimmer, so I used it. Not a good set up for an eel to hide, though. Can I maybe throw in a decorated PVC pipe for him to hide in? Will he use it, in your experience? I feel bad for the little guy.

Thanks for any insight!

 

[lion king]

I prefer using rock to build a den with at least 2 openings. If you dont have the rock he would likely use the pvc to feel more secure. Eels do need to tuck their entire body away to feel secure.

 

[PicassoClown04]

+1 on the rock thing. A couple lbs of live rock broken up and epoxied/cemented back together to form a little dome cave thing would be my preference. Easily transferable to the future tank and blends in well with your existing rock work . More natural for the eel as well

 

[ChrissFishes01]

Thanks to both of you. I'll go ahead with the PVC, but will also try my hand with the cave. What epoxy do you guys recommend?

 

[PicassoClown04]

Thanks to both of you. I'll go ahead with the PVC, but will also try my hand with the cave. What epoxy do you guys recommend?

I like the coralcrete but I’ve only used it for smaller caves and projects. Try the DIY forum on here

 

[fishguy242]

hi is this the somewhat blind banded eel? they completely bury themself in sand bed,do you have pic?

 

[ChrissFishes01]

hi is this the somewhat blind banded eel? they completely bury themself in sand bed,do you have pic?

This is (I believe) Myrichthys colubrinus. So, yes, they have poor eyesight and tend to bury themselves during the day. But, I've read that they also tend to hang out underneath rockwork (or, rather, in shaded ledges/caves) and I wanted to offer him something like that.

I'll get a pic tomorrow - lights are off tonight. Hopefully he eats some breakfast, he's a skinny fella.

 

[fishguy242]

i had one for years ,very cool,but stayed buried in sand until food hit water ,sm cocktail shrimp,sm pieces of silversides,would swim a bit after eating but back into sand ,poss see nose popping up once in a while ,but that was all got to about 20" before i sold him,cool,waiting for pics ,hope yours is not so shy

 

[Reverend Turtle]

I had one many years ago, it seemed to prefer burying in sand to hiding in a cave.

 

[ChrissFishes01]

i had one for years ,very cool,but stayed buried in sand until food hit water ,sm cocktail shrimp,sm pieces of silversides,would swim a bit after eating but back into sand ,poss see nose popping up once in a while ,but that was all got to about 20" before i sold him,cool,waiting for pics ,hope yours is not so shy

I had one many years ago, it seemed to prefer burying in sand to hiding in a cave.

Thanks for the info! So maybe I'd be best off to just add another inch or two of sand rather than wasting time with a cave.

Chose this guy over the small Moray they had due to the coloration (the striping is awesome whenever they're swimming around!), but also because of the relatively small mouth he has. Much smaller than a Moray's of a similar size.

Pics are coming in the AM!

 

[fishguy242]

i see them more as a snake than eel,not sure how catergorized though

 

[Reverend Turtle]

Yes, mine was happiest when burrowing in sand that was 3-4" deep. They can be extremely difficult to get eating. On par with ribbon eels. I gave mine live ghost shrimp to start. Was able to eventually get him on frozen. Just be patient, and disturb it as little as possible. They are shy fish.

 

[BackToTheReef]

I built a series of PVC tubes connected to make a cool little network of tunnels for my snowflake in the 75 I had running. I built an 'H' with short sections of schedule 40, 45s on the ends, T's in the middle of the long side and a T in the cross of the H that had a vertical tube. I buried it in my sand bed and after he found it he loved it and hung out in it constantly. Only down side was the hermit crabs would fall in and not be able to get out due to the smooth PVC. IF I remember right I used foam and rock debris to camouflage anything above the sand bed.

(I think I used 1.5" schedule 40 and fittings)

Planning on doing a modified version of this in the system I am planning. Allowing for some snail escape routes and open areas to allow for some flow through the tunnels. With more outlets through a couple prominent features planned in the aquascape. Also a couple smaller sections (for potentially smaller eels later on) in different areas of the aquascape. No guarantee they'll use it but let's hope/

 

[fishguy242]

i don't think banded will use may go through ,but will go into sandbed,they are very docile,i did have mine with a zebra,also pretty docile,careful what you pick with him still hoping for a photo

 

[ChrissFishes01]

Wow, thanks for all the responses! Lots of good info here - doesn't seem to be a ton readily available, other than canned information about their temperament and origins.

I've seen this guy once today - early this morning. I managed to snap a super blurry pic after lights came on, and then he was gone. Poof. Haven't seen him at all for the rest of today, not even an eel-shaped area of sand. He didn't jump (I checked), so I think he's found a spot in the tank to hole up in.

Here's the terrible (but promised pic):

Please excuse the diatoms and Cyano on the glass - the pandemic has put a big indentation on the amount of time (and CUC) I can dedicate to this tank, lol.

He's pretty skinny, and I'm hoping to get him some good food soon. I generally feed lots of live macro (hence the ulva in the pic), fresh fish/shellfish, and the occasional live ghost shrimp for the puffer. I like to think my pets get a good diet, so I'm hoping this guy does well.

I'll be adding more sand tomorrow, since this was originally intended to be a shallow sandbed tank. I manage at a Petsmart, so gotta use that discount for something, right?

 

[fishguy242]

try sm pieces of cocktail shrimp first ,would be my thoughts on getting him to eat,very cool eel,keep us posted

 

[ChrissFishes01]

So, no eel sightings so far. I see a few marks in the sand like he's been be crawling around on the bottom a bit, but I can't see his head sticking out of the sand anywhere (nor can I see a den under the rockwork).

I assume he's okay, as I haven't seen any sort of ammonia spike or a body anywhere around the tank. How would you guys suggest feeding him? I know they're nocturnal, so should I maybe thaw some small pieces of shrimp and drop them in after lights-out? Should I tie it to a rock? I was going to get some ghost shrimp today, but we're out until at least Wednesday.

Tank got fed with some fresh ocean perch today, and I have some left over... I guess that'd probably draw him out just as much as anything else.

 

[fishguy242]

yes ,mine had no special spot ,just lurked in sand bed would pop nose first with food in tank,always after dark,do not like light, feed 1/2 hr after lights out

 

[lion king]

So, no eel sightings so far. I see a few marks in the sand like he's been be crawling around on the bottom a bit, but I can't see his head sticking out of the sand anywhere (nor can I see a den under the rockwork).

I assume he's okay, as I haven't seen any sort of ammonia spike or a body anywhere around the tank. How would you guys suggest feeding him? I know they're nocturnal, so should I maybe thaw some small pieces of shrimp and drop them in after lights-out? Should I tie it to a rock? I was going to get some ghost shrimp today, but we're out until at least Wednesday.

Tank got fed with some fresh ocean perch today, and I have some left over... I guess that'd probably draw him out just as much as anything else.

Not a bad idea to drop a few live ghosties in, at lights out, then he can hunt them at his leisure through the night. Thats what I have done for many difficult eaters, usually only takes 2 or 3 feedings to come around.

 

[Hugh Mann]

+1 to rock cave over pvc.

I built my greyfaced moray a nice cave out of pvc. Even covered it in glued sand to disguise it. You know what the eel did?

Dug out its own cave BESIDE the pvc one, under the rock that was holding it in place. Only once he outgrew that cave did he move into the pvc.

Same thing in my new setup. Ignores it entirely, my marine betta uses it.