How bad of an idea is an Eel?

[Slocke]

So garden eels are very hard to keep because they need constant feeding.
Banana eels are Gymnotherax eels which means they eat live fish in the wild. If you want a moray go for an echidna or a zebra moray

 

[Slocke]

Eels in the trade:

Morays:

• Gymnotherax - known as the "fang toothed morays" are the most specious moray eel genus. Their diet is primarily fish though they are opportunistic hunters. Size range 1'-8'.
• Echidna - known as the "pebble toothed morays" are another common fish in the trade that hunts crustaceans. They have blunt teeth that crush. Not great at hunting fish.Size range 2'-3'.
• Gymnomuraena - Zebra moray eel. related to echidnas but much bigger any very peaceful. Size 5'.
• Rhinomuraena and Pseudechidna: The ribbon and ghost eel. Long skinny and beautiful. Only eat live fish and usually die very fast in tanks.

Other:

• Garden eels - Expert fish with deep and open sand-bed.
• Myrichthys snake eels - The moray like snake eels. Read my article.

Fake eels:

• Wolf eel - Want the aggression of a dotty back in eel size than this for you.
• Engineer goby - Goby at the front, eel at the back.

 

[Cheesus]

Eels in the trade:

Morays:

• Gymnotherax - known as the "fang toothed morays" are the most specious moray eel genus. Their diet is primarily fish though they are opportunistic hunters. Size range 1'-8'.
• Echidna - known as the "pebble toothed morays" are another common fish in the trade that hunts crustaceans. They have blunt teeth that crush. Not great at hunting fish.Size range 2'-3'.
• Gymnomuraena - Zebra moray eel. related to echidnas but much bigger any very peaceful. Size 5'.
• Rhinomuraena and Pseudechidna: The ribbon and ghost eel. Long skinny and beautiful. Only eat live fish and usually die very fast in tanks.

Other:

• Garden eels - Expert fish with deep and open sand-bed.
• Myrichthys snake eels - The moray like snake eels. Read my article.

Fake eels:

• Wolf eel - Want the aggression of a dotty back in eel size than this for you.
• Engineer goby - Goby at the front, eel at the back.

Thank you for the explanations! I think the best thing would be to wait and do a predator tank or something whenever I upgrade. I don't want to put any of the current fish in danger.

 

[Cheesus]

I looked at the snowflake eels, I just don't want to make the mistake of adding something that would negatively impact the tank. Mainly eating the clean up crew and the two small fish I have.

 

[Slocke]

Probably the best idea.

I keep my eels with a mix of other fish and have considered adding my banded snake eel to my reef as it is very peaceful so far as I've seen. The fish I worry about and the only fish I'd be worried about for you are small gobies. An eels body shape is used to pursue prey where other predators can't go. Gobies are an easy meal.

 

[Cheesus]

Probably the best idea.

I keep my eels with a mix of other fish and have considered adding my banded snake eel to my reef as it is very peaceful so far as I've seen. The fish I worry about and the only fish I'd be worried about for you are small gobies. An eels body shape is used to pursue prey where other predators can't go. Gobies are an easy meal.

Yeah I can’t risk him. He was my first fish. Lol

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

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

Second this! Only seen success in a predator tank or a large fowlr.

 

[i cant think]

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!

I would personally avoid it as the species that take out fish will happily take out your Wetmorella species and your Cryptocentrus cinctus at a minimum. Then the eels that feed on CUC will take out your snails, crabs, shrimp ect… and these have been getting rather pricy.

 

[nereefpat]

I'll go against the grain. A snowflake or zebra isn't that bad of an idea. They are almost blind, and not fish eaters in nature. The way they would bite one of your fishes would be by accident. They would eat small crabs, but not necessarily snails. You need a very secure lid. Of the two, zebras are even less of a risk with fish, but they get bigger and you don't see them much. There is serious bioload to consider. I disagree about a 125 being too small.

 

[Cheesus]

I'll go against the grain. A snowflake or zebra isn't that bad of an idea. They are almost blind, and not fish eaters in nature. The way they would bite one of your fishes would be by accident. They would eat small crabs, but not necessarily snails. You need a very secure lid. Of the two, zebras are even less of a risk with fish, but they get bigger and you don't see them much. There is serious bioload to consider. I disagree about a 125 being too small.

I just saw this reply, nutrients right now aren't a huge issue. Using a skimmer and GFO seems to keep them down. I have some dragons breathe but its still small so, I don't think it is having much of an impact.

The crabs I have I am not worried about, the trochus snails though do. They are expensive and good workers.
I am still going back and forth with this one. The LFS here has really small ones for like $60. I dont worry about the fish other than the goby and possum wrasse.

 

[Cheesus]

So, currently letting a new tank settle in some. It’s going to be my anemone grow out. I figure that they would appreciate the messy eating habits of an eel. Plus they seem to do okay with snails.
I’m thinking in a few months it’ll be time for an eel.

 

[HB AL]

They are awesome creatures just make sure depending on the type of eel your fish won't get eaten. Even if you have fish that could be swallowed if you keep it well fed it won't bother them. Currently I have a Japanese Dragon Eel and might add a Snowflake soon.

 

[Cheesus]

They are awesome creatures just make sure depending on the type of eel your fish won't get eaten. Even if you have fish that could be swallowed if you keep it well fed it won't bother them. Currently I have a Japanese Dragon Eel and might add a Snowflake soon.

Nice! It’ll just be two clowns. But they are pretty decent sized and I’ll get the smallest eel I can find By the time he gets big I bet the nems will have split.

 

[HB AL]

 

[SilvermistInc]

Grab a snowflake eel if you're dead set on one. They don't have sharp teeth, so your fish will have a better chance of fighting it off if it does get fiesty.

 

[Cheesus]

That's an awesome eel!

 

[Cheesus]

Grab a snowflake eel if you're dead set on one. They don't have sharp teeth, so your fish will have a better chance of fighting it off if it does get fiesty.

Yup that's the plan, Seems to be my best chance.

 

[Slocke]

 

[Cheesus]

I think that you have plenty of eels sir. Lol

 

[CMO]

I had a skeletor eel in my 165g sps dominant mixed reef for several years without issue. Loved that eel, he/she/they were awesome. Some details in my build thread.