Black ribbon eel for my REEF

[Oliver94]

Hello guys!
How is your week going?


Yesterday I went to my LFS and I saw this juveline Ribbon eel.According to my research he is reef safe and seem not to cause any problem.
What do you think of getting it? I might struggle to feed him but in the end he should eat lol.








They asked 50$ for it


Thank you in advanced!

 

[cpayne015]

they can be tough to get to eat and are escape artists. if you are a experienced aquarist I would say yes but if you I wouldn't kill the fish unintentionally

 

[Oliver94]

I can't say I am that experienced in "reef" but I am an experienced aquarist in keeping aquarium from 8 years now.
And I am into the marine life since 8 months..
If I will get one I should make sure to cover well my aquarium and my overflow.

 

[Oliver94]

Good morning
thank you cpayne015 yesterday!
If possible can someone share their opinions?I am googling about it at the moment some say that it is difficult and some says moderate..
Thank you! and have a nice week-end in advanced

 

[tyler1503]

I heard a bloke had great success getting his to eat with one of those reaching tools that people use to pick up rubbish with. They also make them with animal heads for kids toys. I don't know what they're actually called.
He pretended to use it as a fake eel to chase around the food he put in the tank and it triggered a survival instinct and the eel started eating. I don't remember what site it's on, but a google search should find it pretty quickly.
The LFS I used to work at had one in a display. He was awesome. We could hand feed him silversides. He was there before I was, so I'm not sure how he started eating.
Getting them to eat is the biggest issue. Once they're reliably eating, they're pretty hardy supposedly.

 

[Oliver94]

Thank a lot Tyler!
The eel in my pet store has been there from the 5th of april 2014
But seem very healthy
Thank you guys for your opinions i really appreciate it!

 

[tyler1503]

No worries
Is it eating at the pet shop?

 

[Oliver94]

Thank you!! I hope so! I will ask the lfs to feed him in front of me.Have a nice week-end! and thanks again!

 

[Triggreef]

Thank you!! I hope so! I will ask the lfs to feed him in front of me.Have a nice week-end! and thanks again!

That sounds like the best plan. I would pass if they don't have it eating. I have not kept one personally, but I am intrigued by them & have done a lot of reading. I took care of some while working in a LFS some 14 years ago, when success was probably much less than now. Escape artist is an under statement. Every bit of your set up needs to have a good lid. If there is a half inch hole, it will find it. Also keep in mind a plan to keep it out of your over flow.

Feeding is the biggest issue I see people have with these guys. Also look at the nostril things near its mouth and make sure they aren't damaged. Feeding I would suggest at least twice daily, as I would suggest with any other fish. Others may say different. But keep in mind you may always have to use a feeding stick forever with this type of eel.

 

[tyler1503]

That sounds like the best plan. I would pass if they don't have it eating. I have not kept one personally, but I am intrigued by them & have done a lot of reading. I took care of some while working in a LFS some 14 years ago, when success was probably much less than now. Escape artist is an under statement. Every bit of your set up needs to have a good lid. If there is a half inch hole, it will find it. Also keep in mind a plan to keep it out of your over flow.

Feeding is the biggest issue I see people have with these guys. Also look at the nostril things near its mouth and make sure they aren't damaged. Feeding I would suggest at least twice daily, as I would suggest with any other fish. Others may say different. But keep in mind you may always have to use a feeding stick forever with this type of eel.

+1 don't buy it unless they show you it eating first.
Even if he does eat at the shop, make sure you can bring him back if he won't eat at home.
If you do end up getting him, it's ok if they don't eat right away though. Not many eels do at first. He may take a few weeks to settle in and eat.
Thanks you have a good one too.

 

[Oliver94]

Hello guys!
I called the pet store tonight and asked them about this eel if it is eating,they told me he should be eating artemia when feeding the clown(in the same aquarium) because he has been there for a month and a half and seems very healthy and far from starvation..They said that if he wasn't eating he wouldn't be that healthy till now..
from my personal experience when I saw it it is really active and healthy,not thin. can he survive a month and a half and stay that healthy if he was not eating?
Thank you so much for your help! I will definitely ask them tomorrow to try to feed him in front of me

 

[tyler1503]

Most morays can go several months without eating and still look healthy. I reckon thats the reason LFSs get the ribbon eels, they sell long before any health issues are evident.
I know it's a hard decision, but I'd pass on that one. They haven't been feeding him directly, so chances are he hasn't eaten. Maybe go in an ask them to feed the tank and keep a close eye on him yourself. If he comes out into the water column while feeding, there's a feeding response, so he may be lightly picking at a bit of food.

 

[Oliver94]

Thank you for you answer
I was googling more and more about these animals.
If I will have a ribbon eel in my reef,won't it touch my clown? my firefish?.. the fish population of my tank? Since he feeds on fish that's why I am asking.

Thank you again !

 

[tyler1503]

No worries
They will eat fish, although they're usually not a large eel, so they won't take out a big tang or wrasse or anything. But because you have smaller fish, you should be prepared for them to turn into lunch. It's a bit hard to judge without seeing your current fish and the eel though. A well fed happy eel is less likely to snap at a tankmate.
When I kept one at the LFS we had him with big tangs and volatin lions so I cant speak from experience with smaller fish.

 

[Oliver94]

Hello Tyler1503 Thanks a lot for your replies! and your help!
You know,before going to the LFS today I will post a new threat to get many advice if it is safe to add it with small-medium fish

Thank you so much my friend have a nice day!

 

[tyler1503]

Hello Tyler1503 Thanks a lot for your replies! and your help!
You know,before going to the LFS today I will post a new threat to get many advice if it is safe to add it with small-medium fish

Thank you so much my friend have a nice day!

Not a problem we're all here to help!
Thanks mate, you have a good day too. If you decide to get it, keep us updated with how he goes. Good luck!

 

[Oliver94]

Thank you!
Sure I will keep you updated!

 

[Oliver94]

I was at the pet store and as you told me we tried to feed him several times but it didn't work he didn't even notice the presence of food.. Poor fish.. Anyway since I saw him and after seeing him today,he seemed less energetic,thinner and fade.Thank you for all your advice guys! I wish u a good day!

 

[ohio reefer]

It's always hard for me to grasp stories of eels not eating, I've had assorted moray species and can not get them to stop eating lol

 

[tyler1503]

I was at the pet store and as you told me we tried to feed him several times but it didn't work he didn't even notice the presence of food.. Poor fish.. Anyway since I saw him and after seeing him today,he seemed less energetic,thinner and fade.Thank you for all your advice guys! I wish u a good day!

Too bad he didn't eat. They're awesome animals. If you really have your heart set on an eel and your tank is big enough maybe a zebra eel would be a good option. They're known to be the most fish safe eel in the hobby and they're pretty tame. You can train them to eat from your hand and let you rub their tummy. They get pretty big though.
Ohio, mine have always been little pigs too haha. My snowflake is a monster when there's food in the tank.