What about keeping eels in a reef aquarium? Would you do it?

[TheDragonsReef]

Nice to see you on here too! We usually converse on Instagram. Eels ehh? Lol!

Yeah you too haha who isnt on r2r? Too much good info and help to pass up. And of course everyone knows eels are the best lol

 

[TheDragonsReef]

If only you could find one... Haven't seen any below $600 since Hawaii closed, and haven't seen any in the last 6 months.

I know of one near philly for 499

 

[salty joe]

Doing it now

Looks hungry!

 

[Hugh Mann]

Yes! I am currently keeping a white eyed moray in my tank, and he is a model citizen! Unless you’re a crab or shrimp, then you’re lunch.

It can definitely be done, though you have to take certain things into consideration. Pebble tooths will eat your crabs and shrimp, though will leave hermits and snails alone (unless the hermit is swapping shells). Fang tooths are a different matter entirely, as they will also prey on small fish. Can be solved by stocking larger, aggressive species and feeding it well, though nothing is ever a guarantee of course. They also produce a ton of waste, so you may need to up your water change schedule or have some sort of nitrate scrubber. They’re also big, powerful fish, so they could knock over unsecured frags.

 

[Dania]

Pretty. He's a golden morey, right?

 

[thatone08]

Truly “amore”. Buon gusto.

I will be singing it this way forever now. Hahahah

 

[thatone08]

Make sure they don't try to eat your sushi!

When an Eel Climbs a Ramp to Eat Squid From a Clamp, That’s a Moray

When an Eel Climbs a Ramp to Eat Squid From a Clamp, That’s a Moray (Published 2021)

Moray eels can hunt on land, and footage from a recent study highlights how they accomplish this feat with a sneaky second set of jaws.

www.nytimes.com

I won’t be able to sing it any other way from now on.

 

[burningmime]

Totally! I want to try some smaller fangtooths (banana eel probably, or maybe a dragon) once my tank matures a bit. Kind of rules out smaller fish and almost all inverts, though.

 

[Costareefer]

The answer is an absolute yes. You may have to alter some of the ornamental inverts you want but a zebra moray for instance doesn’t eat fish and no eel eats corals. A reef tank is how the owner defines it and is only limited by the compatibility. Eels will not eat coral. But my bother fish or other inverts. The Gymnothorax is the least hospitable towards other moving tank mates but the Gymnomuraena genus and echidna can be great along with the genus Scuticaria which are the snake eels. Very positive results I’ve had with snake eels for smaller tanks.

 

[GoVols]

Only a Hawaiian dwarf eel...

 

[brmreefer]

We keep a Zebra Eel in our reef tank along with a 15+ inch Engineer Goby. The rock scape provides shelter, but is positioned in a way to be somewhat viewed when guests are over.

 

[sawdonkey]

I should add….even though I have a big zebra moray, I likely wouldn’t put one in a tank again. They are just plain boring and too hard on water quality. Mine stays in his cave for days after he eats and even when he’s hungry, he just does a few laps around the tank. I’d rather have more action in the tank if I’m going to put such a dent in my water quality.

 

[ReefRondo]

Didn’t work for me or in fact the person I sold it to either. Ended up at our LFS. Just kept eating fish.

 

[rusty hannon]

Ive put an eel in every tank ive owned. As long as you plan your livestock accordingly theres no issue. HOWEVER eels produce insane amounts of waste especially when they get bigger and you will need to have excessive amounts of nutrient export either through water changes or an extra large refugium to keep the nitrates and phosphates low enoigh for coral, especially sps.

very beautiful eel. Ive never had the money or tank for a dragon but r by far the most beautiful to me.Thanks for shareing

 

[Mark Novack]

I have a zebra and snowflake and they are no problem. However, they are always hiding unless they are really hungry so their value of enjoyment versus their biological loading and feeding needs makes them less desirable than another nice fish. They won't hunt as they are used to feeding tongs, so even when hungry the other critters are safe. The zebra can be hand fed but the snowflake is too nervous and fast and can injure the fingers while biting for shrimp. They don't jump out of the aquarium either.

 

[salty joe]

They don't jump out of the aquarium either.

Climb out might be more like it. I had a snowflake that squeezed out of a tank I thought was tightly sealed. It was during one his hungry bouts of rowdiness.

 

[gonzo620]

I’m so surprised the NOPE! is leading this thread. Since I’ve been rocking a Hawaiian dwarf in my mixed reef since September of 2018. It Definitely! can be done. This guy can eat a full sized silverside. I’ve got all kinds of live stock this guy doesn’t hurt anything. Shrimps, hermits, snails, sally crab, small fish too( leopard wrasse, Anthias, Mandarin, cleaner wrasse.

 

[Uncle Bob]

I agree, I have had two dwarf morays in my 150 gallon mixed reef for about 3 years and have never had a problem.

 

[gonzo620]

I agree, I have had two dwarf morays in my 150 gallon mixed reef for about 3 years and have never had a problem.

Did you add the second later? Or where they introduced together? Been wanting to add another more yellow than the one I have.

 

[BradB]

Surprised no one else has brought it up. I've been in the hobby 20+ years, and I've always wanted an eel, but I've never been confident my entire system is sealed. I have a lid and egg crate over my return, but it isn't impossible for a fish to get passed either. Are they really as bad of escape artists as people say?