Brackish eels and their identification

[Laticauda]

I am buying a 125 that currently houses a brackish toadfish, brackish eel, two archer fish and a Colombian shark.

I am getting the tank for my goldfish, so these guys will be downgraded to a 55 gallon. I plan on donating or giving away the archers and the "shark." (I know it's not really a shark!)

Anyway, how can I find the description of commonly sold brackish eels (known as freshwater moray) so I can tell which species this one is, and whether or not it will live in a 55 gallon for the next year. We will be moving to California, and I don't think we'll be able to transport these guys with us, so at that time they will be sold or given away.

The only reason I am keeping any of them, is because the family made me promise to keep the toadfish (whom I have become quite smitten with) and think the eel is neat, so why not keep it if I have the room in the 55 gallon. I know that archers get very large, and wouldn't be happy in a 55, as well as the Colombian shark (which is already too big for a 55 gallon.)

 

[Nikkitine]

I am buying a 125 that currently houses a brackish toadfish, brackish eel, two archer fish and a Colombian shark.

I am getting the tank for my goldfish, so these guys will be downgraded to a 55 gallon. I plan on donating or giving away the archers and the "shark." (I know it's not really a shark!)

Anyway, how can I find the description of commonly sold brackish eels (known as freshwater moray) so I can tell which species this one is, and whether or not it will live in a 55 gallon for the next year. We will be moving to California, and I don't think we'll be able to transport these guys with us, so at that time they will be sold or given away.

The only reason I am keeping any of them, is because the family made me promise to keep the toadfish (whom I have become quite smitten with) and think the eel is neat, so why not keep it if I have the room in the 55 gallon. I know that archers get very large, and wouldn't be happy in a 55, as well as the Colombian shark (which is already too big for a 55 gallon.)

Here's a good site that explains the most commonly sold "FW" eels.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebindex/fwmorayart.htm

Around here, the only FW eel I see in my LFS is Gymnothorax Tiles. More rare in the trade are Gymnothorax Polyuranodon and Echidna Rhodochilus (I have yet to find any for sale -_-). Found some photos for you too so it's easier to distinguish:

G.tile: Usually all gray with yellow "snowflake" specks

G. Polyuranodon: has more leopard-like spots

Echidna Rhodochilus: similar to G.tile but has the distinct "white lips/cheeks"

Eels don't really move much and I see a lot of mixed reviews in terms of minimum tank sizes for them. I've seen people say 20 gallons are fine while others say 125g. I'd rather go with experience instead. I currently have two in my brackish 40 breeder (with super over-filtration) and they are perfectly healthy and happy. They never move from their hiding spot except during feeding time so I really don't see a huge need for a big tank. Just gotta make sure the tank's lid is secure. Archers are super slow growers (Mine have grown a whopping .2 inches in 4 months...)and its pretty rare to see a fully grown archer in captivity. As for the shark, they're too active and big for my tastes and is the only one that definitely needs a 125g+ tank asap.

Hope this info helps and good luck with your fishes =)

 

[Laticauda]

Thank you so much for the in depth response, Nikkitine. From what I saw, it was probably a G. tiles, as you expressed above. The tank was really dirty with algae and the like, so I'll have to make a more informed decision when I get him home. I'm super excited about it already!

I'll need to work on finding a lid for my tank, though. The tank it's currently in does not have a lid, but it's a 125, and I'm sure going from that much floor space to a dinky 55 will make it decide to venture more vertical than ever before!

Any suggestions for a good lid?

As for the archers and the "shark" I have already found someone who has a brackish tank with some monos and archers that is going to take all three of these fish. Thank goodness! Last thing I need is salty water on my walls!

 

[aclockworkorange]

You're crazy for using that 125 for goldfish!
Post pictures.

You can get lids cut at hardware stores usually.

 

[Laticauda]

You're crazy for using that 125 for goldfish!
Post pictures.

You can get lids cut at hardware stores usually.

Haha! That's the only reason I'm getting a 125. My 90 gallon is so overstocked, it only takes a few days for the nitrates to get up to ~40!
I also have a 55 gallon that is 2xcapacity, as well as a 30 gallon that's 2x capacity. 15 (additional) goldfish is a lot of goldfish! I've sold a couple of my large orandas, but honestly, everyone who answers the ad, either is already overstocked, or doesn't do routine maintenance often enough!
Thanks for the suggestion on the lid!

 

[Laticauda]

Okay, it's definitely a G. tile. I think it's pretty charming. It actually has been eager to explore already, which I was not expecting, because the previous owner said it was really skittish and hid all the time. I guess it's hungry, but I haven't fed them today, and don't plan on it. We've made a custom top for the tank, and will finish gluing things in place tomorrow. I'll definitely take pictures, and possibly post something in the DIY.

Thanks for the help! I'll get a picture if he ever decides to be personable (not likely, I take it) and I want to name him either Flotsam or Jetsam. They are the only famous eels I know of...

 

[Nikkitine]

Okay, it's definitely a G. tile. I think it's pretty charming. It actually has been eager to explore already, which I was not expecting, because the previous owner said it was really skittish and hid all the time. I guess it's hungry, but I haven't fed them today, and don't plan on it. We've made a custom top for the tank, and will finish gluing things in place tomorrow. I'll definitely take pictures, and possibly post something in the DIY.

Thanks for the help! I'll get a picture if he ever decides to be personable (not likely, I take it) and I want to name him either Flotsam or Jetsam. They are the only famous eels I know of...

Hahaha, Flotsam and Jetsam are exactly what I named my two eels I really love them, they're super interesting once they get more comfortable and love to explore at night when the lights are out. Here's a vid of me feeding Jetsam, super fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBfTUvT5Pgo

 

[Laticauda]

It's a good thing we made the top before we went to bed last night. As I was turning off fish tank lights, I saw him exploring the tank, and he went straight to the top, and promptly tried to climb out.

I'm very excited about the lids I made, I've never seen anything like it. Pics to come later

 

[Laticauda]

YaY! The eel has eaten, two pieces of krill from the tongs. I think he's quite the happy camper, after the ordeal of transport yesterday!

The water he was in didn't even register on my hydrometer (like when you put freshwater in a hydrometer), but the water I have them in now is a little less than 1.012 (that's as low as the hydrometer has labeled.) I plan on slowly increasing the SG to ~1.018-1.020 over time.

Is this a good goal?

 

[Laticauda]

As promised, here are pictures of Jetsam (maybe one day, I'll also have a Flotsam, who knows )

Look at that cute face! Who couldn't love a face like that!