Tips on catching an eel???

kkgaskin90 · Dec 2, 2013

Snowflake eel-he's like 8 inches long... My husband has a job by a fish store...went in for chaeto, came home with this guy. LFS told him it wouldn't go after our fish, just snails and hermits... And that it would only get hungry once a week. WRONG. Joker goes "hunting" daily, and even though he hasn't taken out a fish (yet), he will bump them with an open mouth. He's pretty, but I'm pretty sure it's just a matter of time. Any tips?
I hate taking him to our local LFS (they've had one for at least 2 months now)... But I really don't want him destroying my tank :/

kkgaskin90 · Dec 2, 2013

Also, I did some research when hubby got him that said they aren't fish eaters, but I've also seen video of someone feeding theirs live goldfish. So far I've fed him off a long dropper style feeder... I'm not one to get rid of animals I've taken in, but is this a case where I should? I mean if he's just protecting his holes, fine, but again... I like my fish. He has been fed every day so it's not like he's starving.

Kreefer · Dec 2, 2013

I have a 2 foot snowflake I've been thinking about adding to my reef tank when I upgrade/move in January. I've been feeding silversides with tongs since he was about the size of yours. He's currently in with my 9 inch Aussie tusk. He gets nosy when feeding tha tank but not aggressive. And only seems to feed when food is given with tongs. Having said that, I am nervous about my clowns and jawfish so he might just have to live in the sump Ill def be following along between now and then, though

bct15 · Dec 2, 2013

Eels are blind and go off of taste and smell. Once he gets used to the tongs he should leave your fish alone, if he nudges them as long as he isn't biting them I wouldn't be worried about it. They always have their mouth open, so bumping with an open mouth is normal. Feed it once a week. My golden dwarf moray will only eat from my tongs and is scared of my fish. If a fish winds up in his hole, it might get eaten but that is the fishes fault.

ohio reefer · Dec 2, 2013

I had a snowflake that is about 32-34 inches long and about 3-4 inches thick. Ate everything. I have had and still have a snowflake that's about 16 inches long and started with him when he was no longer than a pencil and just as thin. Whenever I'd feed he'd open mouth toward fish and even bump his mouth into them but he hasn't eaten one. He has no need to, regular feeding gives him no reason to "hunt" for fish.

kkgaskin90 · Dec 2, 2013

That makes me feel much better. I'm hoping he will realize he is being provided for! Guess I will hold on to him and make sure he stays a model citizen

Ohio, did your large eel start off naughty?

ohio reefer · Dec 2, 2013

kkgaskin90 said:
That makes me feel much better. I'm hoping he will realize he is being provided for! Guess I will hold on to him and make sure he stays a model citizen
Ohio, did your large eel start off naughty?

I actually only had him for a little over a month. I bought him because my lfs could not care for it. This thing was the biggest snowflake I've ever seen, he would not eat and I could not find out why, then I noticed he would eat my prized fish. I think he was brought up on live food, I would get the tongs and put the food an inch away from him. And nothing. My second eel has always been good, other than escaping x3. He always refused life food and it's a good thing.

Dragonreef202 · Dec 7, 2013

You don't have to feed 2-3 times a week.

kkgaskin90 · Dec 7, 2013

Just wanted to update that the eel , though curious about feedings, has been on his best behavior. No hermits or snails have fallen prey, and my 2 year old LOVES trying to find it in the tank. He's figuring out that his food comes from the tongs so as soon as he sees them in the tank he comes to his feeding spot. Pretty neat! Hope it continues this way. My clowns are pretty small (~1-1.5") Kreefer so I will keep checking in as they both grow.