Smallest tank for a snowflake eel?

aws2266 · Jun 13, 2023

I have a 30g biocube and am wanting to put a snowflake eel in it. I'm seeing websites with different minimum sizes for the eel, some saying a 30g is adequate, others a 55g is required. Does anyone have experience keeping one in a bioicube or is that just cruel?

Rmckoy · Jun 13, 2023

I’ve never seen minimum tank sizes but I will say they do grow fast !

Reefer Matt · Jun 13, 2023

In my opinion that will be too small of a tank for the long term. I had a snowflake in a 135 gallon, which was plenty of room, but the eel grew to two feet long. Also, a tight fitting lid or canopy is required, as they are strong and can pop a top on a tank and get out. Also, it will most likely eat anything that will fit in it's mouth, so tank mates should be bigger than that.

Rmckoy · Jun 13, 2023

Reefer Matt said:
In my opinion that will be too small of a tank for the long term. I had a snowflake in a 135 gallon, which was plenty of room, but the eel grew to two feet long. Also, a tight fitting lid or canopy is required, as they are strong and can pop a top on a tank and get out. Also, it will most likely eat anything that will fit in it's mouth, so tank mates should be bigger than that.

I had mine in a 90 gal
I tried adding juv blue tangs 3 times and couldn’t figure out where they were going .

My wife found the 3rd one half eaten and took a picture to send to me while I was at work.

It explained the fat bulge I noticed in the eel when the others disappeared but always thought they ate everything whole .

Reefer Matt · Jun 13, 2023

Rmckoy said:
I had mine in a 90 gal
I tried adding juv blue tangs 3 times and couldn’t figure out where they were going .

My wife found the 3rd one half eaten and took a picture to send to me while I was at work.

It explained the fat bulge I noticed in the eel when the others disappeared but always thought they ate everything whole .

Yikes! Yeah, they are pretty strong eaters. They have a second set of jaws called pharyngeal jaws in their throat that allows them to swallow big prey.