How bad of an idea is an Eel?

[Cheesus]

Hey all,
I am seriously contemplating an eel and need someone to tell me how bad of an idea it is.
I have a 125 gallon tank and a few fish already.

3 tangs
3 clowns
Lamarck's Angelfish
Watchmen goby
Blue throat trigger
Possum wrasse
Orange Back Fairy Wrasse

I don't have any aggression, everyone is about a year old and still smallish.

TIA!

 

[SilvermistInc]

An eel is a horrible idea for a tank like yours. Especially since they have this nasty habit of eating anything that'll fit in its mouth. Now if you had a species specific tank... That's another story.

 

[nereefpat]

What species?

 

[Cheesus]

What species?

Any species honestly

 

[Tcook]

What species?

Eel.

 

[Rmckoy]

I’ve added a snowflake to my reef awhile ago .
everything was good with the tank mates that were there when it was added . But as he grew and it was fast . Everything new added after him was free game .
he was donated to the lfs when I started to find all the new fish I added with heads missing or in his mouth

 

[Rmckoy]

Any species honestly

I would ……
Something mellow like a banded ( I’m not sure of their name . But they grow huge but don’t eat fish

 

[Rmckoy]

Google Search

my lfs has a few of these. .
They don’t eat fish but snails , crabs and shrimp will be gone .
They grow to 3’ long but rarely ever free swim throughout the tank .
They can be kept in smaller tanks I believe the site I was reading before this one suggested 40 gal

 

[Cheesus]

Google Search

my lfs has a few of these. .
They don’t eat fish but snails , crabs and shrimp will be gone .
They grow to 3’ long but rarely ever free swim throughout the tank .
They can be kept in smaller tanks I believe the site I was reading before this one suggested 40 gal

Thanks! Snails are expensive though. I need them lol it might just be better to pass on an eel. Maybe in the future whenever I upgrade the 125 can be an eel tank.

 

[Rmckoy]

Thanks! Snails are expensive though. I need them lol it might just be better to pass on an eel. Maybe in the future whenever I upgrade the 125 can be an eel tank.

They are messy but I agree they are best suited for a species specific tank .
or a large aggressive fish only .

 

[Cheesus]

They are messy but I agree they are best suited for a species specific tank .
or a large aggressive fish only .

Glad I asked the question. My tank probably has enough inhabitants anyways.

 

[WheatToast]

Adult engineer goby (Pholidichthys leucotaenia)?
@Slocke
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/engineer-goby.300743/

 

[Saltees]

I have 2 banana eels of about 1 ft long for over a year, I'm more concern about getting them to eat initially. They've been harassed by my tang gang in my 132G mixed reef. Doesn't bother my small fishes like damsel, anthias, firefish, wrasses, etc. or any other fish for the matter. I fed them exclusively on prawn tails once a week. Getting your nutrients managed is another ball game.

 

[Cheesus]

I have 2 banana eels of about 1 ft long for over a year, I'm more concern about getting them to eat initially. They've been harassed by my tang gang in my 132G mixed reef. Doesn't bother my small fishes like damsel, anthias, firefish, wrasses, etc. or any other fish for the matter. I fed them exclusively on prawn tails once a week. Getting your nutrients managed is another ball game.

I’ll have to take a look at those for sure

 

[AydenLincoln]

I’d maybe look into garden eels as they stay relatively small/thin and in the sand bed making them reef-safe.

 

[Cheesus]

I’d maybe look into garden eels as they stay relatively small/thin and in the sand bed.

I don’t think I have the sand bed for those. The banana eels are super expensive lol

 

[Slocke]

Hey all,
I am seriously contemplating an eel and need someone to tell me how bad of an idea it is.
I have a 125 gallon tank and a few fish already.

3 tangs
3 clowns
Lamarck's Angelfish
Watchmen goby
Blue throat trigger
Possum wrasse
Orange Back Fairy Wrasse

I don't have any aggression, everyone is about a year old and still smallish.

TIA!

Safeish eels for you:

• Any echidna eel: Most common is the snowflake. They mostly eat inverts but may get a small fish.
• Zebra moray eel: Not an echidna but closely related. Much bigger. Too big for your tank unfortunately.
• Snake eels: I've never lost a fish to a snake but I'm one of very few who keeps them. The leopard and banded are probably safe but some of the bigger ones I'd skip.

Snake Eels: The Safe Moray Alternative?

Snake Eels: The Safe Moray Alternative? by @Slocke Myrichthys colubrinus - The Banded Snake Eel Snake eels are a more rarely seen but available eel in the aquarium hobby, but are they a viable option for someone looking for a more unusual eel...

www.reef2reef.com

I also have engineer gobies as Wheat said which are basically eels but with a goby head and pecs.

 

[AydenLincoln]

I don’t think I have the sand bed for those. The banana eels are super expensive lol

Yeah they do need a deep sand bed. You could add more if you really wanted one though.

 

[Cheesus]

Safeish eels for you:

• Any echidna eel: Most common is the snowflake. They mostly eat inverts but may get a small fish.
• Zebra moray eel: Not an echidna but closely related. Much bigger. Too big for your tank unfortunately.
• Snake eels: I've never lost a fish to a snake but I'm one of very few who keeps them. The leopard and banded are probably safe but some of the bigger ones I'd skip.

Snake Eels: The Safe Moray Alternative?

Snake Eels: The Safe Moray Alternative? by @Slocke Myrichthys colubrinus - The Banded Snake Eel Snake eels are a more rarely seen but available eel in the aquarium hobby, but are they a viable option for someone looking for a more unusual eel...

www.reef2reef.com

I also have engineer gobies as Wheat said which are basically eels but with a goby head and pecs.

Thank you for the suggestions!

 

[Cheesus]

Yeah they do need a deep sand bed. You could add more if you really wanted one though.

That’s true.