Eel suggestions

[808jaymakoa]

I'm planning on putting an eel in my tank down the road and want to hear everyone's suggestions and personal experiences. I have three eels in mind but am open to suggestions on other eels I haven't listed. The three eels in mind are snowflake, zebra morey and blue ribbon. My tank is a 55 gallon with about 65lbs of live rock with tons of caves that interlink together so that's not a problem. I do have a glass cover for the tank but would prefer to leave it off if all possible. My fish as of now are 2 damsels 1 true perc clown 1 pseudo bicolor 1 lawn morey blenny 1 yellow tang 1 blue hippo tang and 1 flame angel. I do have one red fire shrimp that hangs out in one cave. 4 snails and about 10 hermits. I don't plan on adding anymore fish for awhile and I do plan on upgrading my tank in a couple years to a 150 gallon or bigger. I really like what I hear about the zebra morey but is my tank to small? The really like the color and looks of the blue ribbon but I hear they are a pain in the ***. And I considered the snowflake cause its a bit smaller eel. What are pros and cons of each one and what does everyone suggest. Thanks ahead of time.

 

[buddythelion]

Eel with no cover? You're 100% asking for dead fish. I have a golden dwarf moray and even with lots of hiding places she still found the smallest hole to crawl through and move into the chambers of my tank. Any small fish is a possible snack for an eel, it's just instinct to eat small things for them. The fire shrimp would be a really expensive snack as well.

 

[808jaymakoa]

Yea I hear you man. I do have a glass cover for the tank and would put it on but like I said I'd just prefer not to. Not saying ill get what I want but is one less likely to escape? Also is one less likely to have one of my current inhabitants for dinner. From what I've read some places the zebra morey won't bother the inhabitants if kept fed. Now I take that with a grain of salt and don't believe it till I see it. Also the snowflake eels my lfs get are extremely small and I'm certain that they wouldn't be able to fit the shrimp in its mouth. The damsels I'm not to sure about though.

 

[shse666]

There are significant risks here. A snowflake eel has a lower chance of leaving your tank without a cover but there are no guarantees at all about that.
I've had eels escape from a 1/4 inch hole that I left for a power cord and did not fix. A zebra may be more aggressive. A BRE may not eat. Ever.

A SFE may not eat your other fish when they are young and small. However, the eel isn't stupid. Why should it eat reconstituted potatoes when filet minion is swimming just inches away? You wouldn't, So don't expect your fish to do the "right thing" and not eat the $330.00 Blotched Anthias in your tank.

Eel with no cover? You're 100% asking for dead fish. I have a golden dwarf moray and even with lots of hiding places she still found the smallest hole to crawl through and move into the chambers of my tank. Any small fish is a possible snack for an eel, it's just instinct to eat small things for them. The fire shrimp would be a really expensive snack as well.

 

[buddythelion]

Yup, well put shse666. And you'd be surprised what a fish can eat. I feed my golden dwarf moray krill that is easily 2x her mouth and she swallows it no problem.

 

[ohio reefer]

A 55 is to small for a zebra. A blue ribbon is not a beginner eel and is one of the most difficult to feed fish I've kept. My snowflake is an escape artist and even though he is 33 inches long and about 2-3 inches round he can get out if small holes. Luckily I fixed that problem.

Look at his smug face. He knows what he's doing.


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[bct15]

Tank is way to small for a zebra, take a look at some of these

Snowflake
Golden dwarf moray
Skeletor eel
Firecoral eel

Definitely don't go with blue ribbon eel


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[Kheebl]

You could do a green wolf eel. While not a true eel but actually a dotty back. I have one in my predator tank and he is a nice addition. There is no top on my tank and he has never tried to jump out.