Snowflake EEl

[Dcole12]

Hi Everyone,

I have had a snowflake eel in my tank for a few months now. I just recently added a hippo Tang (About 2") big and a smaller 6 line wrasse as well. I have woke up this morning and fed my tank and have kind of searched around for both, but can't seem to find either fish. Is it possible that my snowflake eel could eat them? Since the hippo tang rests on the ground and the 6 line does so as well? Both fish were super healthy, eating, swimming and doing their own thing. I was reading this morning that it is possible the snowflake eel could have ate them. Is this a possibility?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Yes it is absolutely possible.

 

[stanleo]

Especially the 6 line. Wrasse sleep in the rocks and eels hunt mostly at night. And if the tang could fit in its mouth, and eels are almost like snakes in that regard, it was eaten as well.

 

[Fishurama]

The eel could have eaten the fish, especially at the sizes you are talking about. I feed my eel between 3-5 full pieces of krill a day to prevent this.(keeping it full) It wont even go after my dragonets. While snowflakes are considered community eels, they will eat fish if hungry. Id suggest feeding more, find out how much it truly eats over a week or 2 span, then try again

 

[stanleo]

The eel could have eaten the fish, especially at the sizes you are talking about. I feed my eel between 3-5 full pieces of krill a day to prevent this.(keeping it full) It wont even go after my dragonets. While snowflakes are considered community eels, they will eat fish if hungry. Id suggest feeding more, find out how much it truly eats over a week or 2 span, then try again

I have thought about getting as eel so many times. Everytime I do I research and change my mind. I fear that I will get lazy about feeding it for a day or two and all my shrimps and fish will be goners!

 

[Hugh Mann]

As folks have said, snowflakes don't typically eat fish, but they definitely will, if they are hungry.

That being said, a 2" Hippo is still a pretty wide thing for an eel to swallow, your snowflake would have to be pretty large. Long, slender fish like a wrasse would go down like a hotdog though.

Check around the tank for jumpers.
Can't say about the wrasse, but Hippos new to a tank are super skittish and can and will cram themselves into openings barely wide enough for their bodies. Not ruling out eaten, but there's other possibilities. If I didn't know where it was hiding, I would think my Hippo vanished too.

I don't have a snowflake, but I have a greyfaced moray (14") that has a similar personality and diet to snowflakes. He's housed with a 2.5" Hippo, a maroon clown, 6 mollies and a Marine Betta for a few weeks now. If he wanted to he could easily swallow the clown and mollies, and I only feed this guy every 3 days.

 

[Hugh Mann]

I have thought about getting as eel so many times. Everytime I do I research and change my mind. I fear that I will get lazy about feeding it for a day or two and all my shrimps and fish will be goners!

Fish should be fine with something like a snowflake. Just be sure to avoid feeding it silversides or other fish as food. Stick to crustaceans, and it shouldn't bother fish.
Your shrimp would 100% be eaten eventually.

 

[stanleo]

Fish should be fine with something like a snowflake. Just be sure to avoid feeding it silversides or other fish as food. Stick to crustaceans, and it shouldn't bother fish.
Your shrimp would 100% be eaten eventually.

Yeah I like inverts too much. So I guess I will wait till I have my FOWLR tank.

 

[Dcole12]

As folks have said, snowflakes don't typically eat fish, but they definitely will, if they are hungry.

That being said, a 2" Hippo is still a pretty wide thing for an eel to swallow, your snowflake would have to be pretty large. Long, slender fish like a wrasse would go down like a hotdog though.

Check around the tank for jumpers.
Can't say about the wrasse, but Hippos new to a tank are super skittish and can and will cram themselves into openings barely wide enough for their bodies. Not ruling out eaten, but there's other possibilities. If I didn't know where it was hiding, I would think my Hippo vanished too.

I don't have a snowflake, but I have a greyfaced moray (14") that has a similar personality and diet to snowflakes. He's housed with a 2.5" Hippo, a maroon clown, 6 mollies and a Marine Betta for a few weeks now. If he wanted to he could easily swallow the clown and mollies, and I only feed this guy every 3 days.

Thanks for this input! I really appreciate it! I hope he hasn't ate it. I only had him for a few days, but loved the fishes personality and it was getting along really well in my tank. I will maybe get into my tank a little later and look around and move some rocks around to see if I can find him! He is usually out by now swimming around, but have yet to see him.. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Hugh Mann]

Thanks for this input! I really appreciate it! I hope he hasn't ate it. I only had him for a few days, but loved the fishes personality and it was getting along really well in my tank. I will maybe get into my tank a little later and look around and move some rocks around to see if I can find him! He is usually out by now swimming around, but have yet to see him.. Thanks for the feedback.

You're welcome. My Hippo did that too. First few days was out and swimming. Now it hides when it sees me coming down the stairs. To see it, I have to channel my inner ninja.

It's a bit of a crappy photo because my glass is dirty, but that is where my Hippo hides.

 

[Hugh Mann]

Yeah I like inverts too much. So I guess I will wait till I have my FOWLR tank.

Snails and hermits are fine. Usually. I have a bunch of snails and hermits that have been mostly left alone. I say mostly because my eel ate an astrea that toppled before I could right it. Hermits will generally only be a target during a shell change.

That being said, I sometimes find myself wishing I could have crabs and shrimp. Eels are totally worth it to set up a FowLR though. Do it.

 

[stanleo]

Snails and hermits are fine. Usually. I have a bunch of snails and hermits that have been mostly left alone. I say mostly because my eel ate an astrea that toppled before I could right it. Hermits will generally only be a target during a shell change.

That being said, I sometimes find myself wishing I could have crabs and shrimp. Eels are totally worth it to set up a FowLR though. Do it.

I have a sump and over flow box just laying around and I am kind of bored with my 110 gl freshwater tank. HMMMMM

 

[Dcole12]

I have a sump and over flow box just laying around and I am kind of bored with my 110 gl freshwater tank. HMMMMM

Saltwater is a great play man! Hard to beat them.

 

[Daddy-o]

I would think the eel would have a large lump in his belly area if he took the tang

 

[Dcole12]

I would think the eel would have a large lump in his belly area if he took the tang

I have thought the same thing, but I don't see any lumps.. and the tang was there the night before!

 

[Sharkbait19]

Yeah morays are kinda silent predators. I’m surprised fish like a tang or wrasse could’ve been eaten by it, but these things kinda happen...

 

[Daddy-o]

I would guess it lodged into a crevice

 

[Dcole12]

I would guess it lodged into a crevice

The hope is still there!