So, my LFS knows my taste in fish. i asked if they could order in a Rope Fish for me and give me a call when they get it. well, they called this morning and said that it came in, and also said they ordered in a "freshwater" moray eel that they thought i would like. they are well educated on most fish but admitted he really didnt know anything about this eel. I always do my research before i get a fish, so of course I looked up this so-called freshwater eel (i LOVE eels but dont have a saltwater tank atm). in doing so, i found that they dont do well in freshwater regardless of their nickname. i informed them of this as well, so they know in the future. anyways, because its a smaller pet store, they priced the 1.5ft moray at $40 but was willing to give me both the moray and the rope fish for $50 if i was interested, which of course i was! so i snatched them both up.
now, for my questions! he was shipped in freshwater and kept in freshwater at the store. he literally just arrived today and was pretty much fresh out of the bag when i arrived (my rope fish was still in the bag so they must have just arrived within an hour of us getting there). i took him home and because i dont have a saltwater tank set up and spent all the money i had left ( i get paid by-weekly) on the two fish until end of the week, he is unfortunately being kept in a 30 gallon, freshwater aquarium by himself. i have lots of hiding places but the tank was thrown together quickly after we got home.
question #1: i have a larger tank that is good size for him that i plan to set up as a full saltwater tank (i want him to live a healthy life, not a poor one because someone thought they could make a buck off the freshwater community with a saltwater fish). so im wondering, because he was probably bred and raised in freshwater and is still being kept in fresh until i can get his home set up, is there a specific way i should transition him or should i just put him right in? would that be too much of a shock or should i do a drip and slowly acclimate him to the saltwater?
question #2: i am totally new to saltwater and really wasnt *planning* on setting one up for a while, but i just cant resist an eel at a good price! i really want to use that ocean in a bag stuff (the premixed saltwater, i dont know the exact name), is that ok? is it recommended? is there a specific salinity for eels that i need?
Question #3: i might as well jump right into saltwater fish keeping, so what other kinds of fish can i keep with a Moray eel? i really really love eels so other compatible eels you can suggest would be awesome. i also love Foxface Rabbit fish, they are probably my favorite saltwater fish. are they compatible or should i not try that? other types of fish that are compatible with eels? i know small fish are a no-go and im used to fish that eat whatever fits in its mouth (my favorite fish i own is a senegal birchir that has eaten fish twice the size of its head) so im generally good at picking fish in the size range i need for the aggressor in my tank, but some suggestions would be helpful.
Question #4: i saw that these eels can be fed things like tilapia and frozen foods from the grocery store? i like cheap and easy (but am not limited to it) so are there any other frozen types of food i could pick up at a grocery store that an eel would eat? frozen or fresh fish like, from the deli section? my LFS has frozen fish food, but because its a little independent store and not name brand, they are really expensive and the closest big chain store is an hour away, so if i can find stuff from the grocery store that they would eat, that would be really helpful. but please dont assume i wont go out and buy real stuff if i have to, but cant blame me for looking at cheaper options!
well, i think thats all i can think of for questions right now, if i think of more, ill add them =) thank you!
oh, and here is a photo, it is a gymnothorax tile. here he is in his VERY temporary set up:
now, for my questions! he was shipped in freshwater and kept in freshwater at the store. he literally just arrived today and was pretty much fresh out of the bag when i arrived (my rope fish was still in the bag so they must have just arrived within an hour of us getting there). i took him home and because i dont have a saltwater tank set up and spent all the money i had left ( i get paid by-weekly) on the two fish until end of the week, he is unfortunately being kept in a 30 gallon, freshwater aquarium by himself. i have lots of hiding places but the tank was thrown together quickly after we got home.
question #1: i have a larger tank that is good size for him that i plan to set up as a full saltwater tank (i want him to live a healthy life, not a poor one because someone thought they could make a buck off the freshwater community with a saltwater fish). so im wondering, because he was probably bred and raised in freshwater and is still being kept in fresh until i can get his home set up, is there a specific way i should transition him or should i just put him right in? would that be too much of a shock or should i do a drip and slowly acclimate him to the saltwater?
question #2: i am totally new to saltwater and really wasnt *planning* on setting one up for a while, but i just cant resist an eel at a good price! i really want to use that ocean in a bag stuff (the premixed saltwater, i dont know the exact name), is that ok? is it recommended? is there a specific salinity for eels that i need?
Question #3: i might as well jump right into saltwater fish keeping, so what other kinds of fish can i keep with a Moray eel? i really really love eels so other compatible eels you can suggest would be awesome. i also love Foxface Rabbit fish, they are probably my favorite saltwater fish. are they compatible or should i not try that? other types of fish that are compatible with eels? i know small fish are a no-go and im used to fish that eat whatever fits in its mouth (my favorite fish i own is a senegal birchir that has eaten fish twice the size of its head) so im generally good at picking fish in the size range i need for the aggressor in my tank, but some suggestions would be helpful.
Question #4: i saw that these eels can be fed things like tilapia and frozen foods from the grocery store? i like cheap and easy (but am not limited to it) so are there any other frozen types of food i could pick up at a grocery store that an eel would eat? frozen or fresh fish like, from the deli section? my LFS has frozen fish food, but because its a little independent store and not name brand, they are really expensive and the closest big chain store is an hour away, so if i can find stuff from the grocery store that they would eat, that would be really helpful. but please dont assume i wont go out and buy real stuff if i have to, but cant blame me for looking at cheaper options!
well, i think thats all i can think of for questions right now, if i think of more, ill add them =) thank you!
oh, and here is a photo, it is a gymnothorax tile. here he is in his VERY temporary set up:
