Has anyone been bit by a snowflake eel

flowflezy · Dec 28, 2013

Was just wondering if anyone has been bit by one? Or if they are nice and let u feed them.

Jamie.k · Dec 28, 2013

Haha watch them when you feed I feed mine muscles was holding It In the tank defrosting It not concentrating and it came up to get it and got my finger instead didn't really hurt was just a shock pulled my finger out and the eels was still on the other end and feel off onto my couch had to quickly scoop it up and put it back in. luckily mines only about 8-9 inches so still small haha

Dragonreef202 · Dec 28, 2013

When I had mine I fed him with tongs. No way he gets a chance of my body.

flowflezy · Dec 28, 2013

Thats crazy. Any reef tanks have them in there and if so how do u get into your tank for frags or if something falls?

Worldwide reefs · Dec 28, 2013

Most snowflakes I have dealt with in service tanks have been very fine and gentle. No worries, most would allow me to pet them.

On the flipside my store I work at got in a tesalata* eel and I got bit by that one day when trying to get it for a customer. That....hurt REALLY bad, bled for quite some time.

margdyla · Dec 28, 2013

My snowflake seemed to have no interest in me when i would stick my hand in to hand feed other fish and move rocks around. I fed him with tongs...and i dont think his eyesight was the best. Felt comfortable with my hands in the tank....never really thought twice about it

ohio reefer · Dec 28, 2013

I hand feed my snowflake, and he is very calm. Move stuff around with no fear, bought him around 3 inches, lfs said it's the smallest they've ever seen. He is not close to 30 inches. Still calm.

Flameback Pair · Dec 29, 2013

BE CAREFUL! Morays have mouths full of foul bacteria! If you get bit you should go to a doctor, you could get a very bad infection.

With that said, IMO you will be okay putting hand in tank to do maintenance or aquascaping, but DO NOT feed by hand. They will mistake your fingers for food and you will get bit.

Eienna · Dec 29, 2013

powers2001 said:
BE CAREFUL! Morays have mouths full of foul bacteria! If you get bit you should go to a doctor, you could get a very bad infection.

With that said, IMO you will be okay putting hand in tank to do maintenance or aquascaping, but DO NOT feed by hand. They will mistake your fingers for food and you will get bit.

You would think that they wouldn't, since they're rinsing their mouths out all day, lol. Someone should invent eel toothpaste.

tyler1503 · Jan 2, 2014

I've been bitten before. My snowflake decided to explore the carpet and he jumped out of the tank and landed on a small pile of salt creep on my stand I hadn't gotten rid of yet. He then took another tumble onto the carpet and was heading for under my stand where it would be near impossible to get him out. I raced to the kitchen. Found some unopened washing up gloves and after a quick sanitation, I tried to pick him up. He was waaaay too slimy and I dropped him back onto the carpet. I picked him up again and "CHOMP!!!" He got me. It hurt like hell but I'm glad he got me. It was his grip on me that let me pick him up and put him back on the tank. If he didn't get me he may not have made it. It wasn't too bad considering he was small at the time and I had thick rubber gloves on, but he did draw a bit of blood.
I tell ya, I feel sorry for any poor fish that finds itself in the jaws of a moray and doesn't have it's misery ended!