I picked up two 6-inch juvenile "snowflake" eels (gymnothorax tile) and currently have them in a 20 gallon slightly brackish setup. The pet store had them in full freshwater and when I mentioned that they shouldn't be, they pretty much just gave them to me ($5 for the pair) to get them into a more suitable environment. I know the manager at this store well so it was one of those situations where the wholesaler told them they were "freshwater" because that happened to be where they were collected (probably a brackish river or something), so that's what they displayed them as. I made the water lightly brackish for now until I can slowly acclimate them to increasing amounts of salinity. My question is, can these eels be kept in full saltwater (1.020 to 1.022 which is what I keep my main marine tank at)?
Gymnothorax tile - "snowflake eel" - kept in full salt?
- Thread starter PinkLady
- Start date
I posted this a while back. Maybe there's some info you might like.
The "Freshwater" (Brackish to Marine) Moray Eels, Family Muraenidae
Bob Fenner
Of the fifteen genera and more than two-hundred species of muraenids there are a couple of handfuls that are known to occasionally enter freshwater in tropical and temperate areas. Of these, two are of principal use to aquarists, being available in good numbers in areas where regular collection of ornamentals is an industry.
The purpose of this article is to inform the public and industry that these two species are really not so much "permanent" freshwater residents... but better considered brackish water organisms (spg 1.005-1.010). Though you may see them presented in "all freshwater settings" for sale, they are best kept in partially saltwater as long term possibilities.
Other literature-noted marine, venturing into brackish, possibly freshwater Morays are listed, and a smattering of non-moray anquilliforms (true eels), as is a mention of a few of the many groups of fishes called "eels" that are not true eels.
Most notably more Freshwater to Brackish:
Echidna rhodochilus Bleeker 1863, "Freshwater White-Cheeked Moray". Indo-west Pacific; Indonesia and Philippines. To about thirteen inches in length... this is principally a marine species, consider it temporarily brackish. It occasionally enters freshwater... Aquarium image. Generally only accepts live shrimp, small fishes as foods.
Gymnothorax polyuranodon (Bleeker 1853), a "Freshwater Moray". Indo-Pacific; Sri Lanka to Fiji, down to Australia. To about three feet in length... if it lives... most do not... this is a freshwater to brackish to marine/estuarine species. Best considered brackish. Aquarium image of a Philippine specimen (Fiji, New Guinea ones black and white mottled). Easily fed on all fresh or live meaty foods.
Other Morays that venture from Marine into Brackish to and Maybe into Fresh For A While (Temporarily): Rare in ornamental aquatics.
Anarchias seychellensis Smith 1962, the Seychelles Moray Eel. Indo-Pacific; East Africa to Easter Island. To nearly a foot in length. Brackish to marine.
Echidna leucotaenia Schultz 1943, the White Faced Moray Eel. Indo-Pacific; East Africa to the Tuamotus. To thirty inches. Brackish.
Gymnothorax afer Bloch 1795, the Dark Moray. Eastern Atlantic; Mauritania to Namibia. To a meter in length. Brackish to marine.
Gymnothorax fimbriatus (Bennett 1832), the Fimbriated Moray. Indo-Pacific; Madagascar to the Society Islands. To thirty two inches in length.
Gymnothorax tile (Hamilton 1822). Indo-West Pacific; Andaman Sea to Indonesia, Philippines. To two feet total length.
Strophidon sathete, Hamilton 1822 is almost certainly the same species), the Giant Slender Moray Eel. Indo-Pacific; Red Sea, eastern coast of Africa to Fiji. To twelve feet in length.
Thyrsoidea macrura (Bleeker 1854), the Giant Slender Moray Eel. Indo-Pacific; Red Sea, eastern coast of Africa to Fiji. To more than thirteen feet in length (world's largest moray). Found around river mouths, occasionally entering into freshwater. A food fish that is rarely offered in the pet-fish trade. A voracious feeder on fish, shrimp, cephalopods.
Uropterygius concolor (Ruppell 1838), the Unicolor Snake Moray . Indo-Pacific; Red Sea, East Africa to the Society Islands. To twenty inches in length. Brackish to marine, often found in Mangrove swamps.
Uropterygius micropterus (Bleeker 1852), Tidepool Snake Moray. Indo-Pacific; East Africa to Samoa. To a foot long. Brackish to marine.
Other True Eel Families with Members that Live in Brackish to Freshwater Settings:
More Anguilliform families with freshwater to brackish members: Moringuidae (Spaghetti Eels), Ophichthidae (Snake and Worm Eels, Myrichthys breviceps at right).
Other Freshwater to Marine True Eels (Order Anguilliformes, that turn up occasionally in the hobby).
Anguillids, family Anquillidae. One genus, fifteen species of mostly catadromous (living in freshwater as young to adults, moving to the sea to reproduce, perishing there) fishes:
Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus 1758), the European Eel, at the London Aquarium. Anquilla rostrata, occasionally offered for sale in the United States, is very similar.
And of Course, the MANY Marine and Freshwater "Eels" That Are Not Really Eels:
Family Anarhichadidae, Wolf fishes, Wolf Blennies, Wolf Eels; North Atlantic, North Pacific. Two genera with four species. These neat, hand-trainable fishes are mainly seen in public aquaria as they can be enormous (up to 2.5 meters) in size. Gentle giants that are favorites of Public Aquariums everywhere. An Anarrhichthys ocellatus at the Birch Aquarium, San Diego.
Eelblennies, the subfamily Congrogadinae, family Pseudochromidae. Yes, the same family as the Dottybacks... The most commonly offered Eelblenny (aka Green Wolf Eel) in the hobby, Congrogadus subduscens (Richardson 1843) is shown at right.
Spiny Eels (true eels lack spines in their fins), the Mastacembelids. Found in Africa, through Syria, the Malay Archipelago and China. Four genera, sixty seven species. A Fire Eel, Mastacembelus erythrotaenia at right for example.
Swamp Eels, the family Symbranchidae. Tropical and subtropical freshwater , some into brackish environs. Western Africa, Asia, Indo-Australian Archipelago, Mexico and South America. Four genera, fifteen species. One Swamp Eel (Monopterus alba) is often referred to as a/the Freshwater Moray Eel in the aquarium trade.
Are there more? You betcha. Eelcods, Eelpouts... but these others are rarely seen in the hobby.
As you can appreciate, many fishes are capable of short-term exposure to conditions that are deleterious in longer time frames. All living things have their tolerance outside of "ideal ranges" of pH, hardness, dissolved oxygen and such. Salinity is another of the possible categories of such tolerance. Hobbyists and dealers in the trade would do well to impress on each other the need for some salt in the water of "freshwater morays", as well as sufficient alkalinity, elevated pH.
The "typical" aquarium care of Morays applies to the partially, temporarily brackish to freshwater species. They're mainly nocturnal, great at escaping captivity, need large quarters, with places to hide, not too-bright lighting, and are capable of eating slow, small fishes, crustaceans...
__________________
The "Freshwater" (Brackish to Marine) Moray Eels, Family Muraenidae
Bob Fenner
Of the fifteen genera and more than two-hundred species of muraenids there are a couple of handfuls that are known to occasionally enter freshwater in tropical and temperate areas. Of these, two are of principal use to aquarists, being available in good numbers in areas where regular collection of ornamentals is an industry.
The purpose of this article is to inform the public and industry that these two species are really not so much "permanent" freshwater residents... but better considered brackish water organisms (spg 1.005-1.010). Though you may see them presented in "all freshwater settings" for sale, they are best kept in partially saltwater as long term possibilities.
Other literature-noted marine, venturing into brackish, possibly freshwater Morays are listed, and a smattering of non-moray anquilliforms (true eels), as is a mention of a few of the many groups of fishes called "eels" that are not true eels.
Most notably more Freshwater to Brackish:
Echidna rhodochilus Bleeker 1863, "Freshwater White-Cheeked Moray". Indo-west Pacific; Indonesia and Philippines. To about thirteen inches in length... this is principally a marine species, consider it temporarily brackish. It occasionally enters freshwater... Aquarium image. Generally only accepts live shrimp, small fishes as foods.
Gymnothorax polyuranodon (Bleeker 1853), a "Freshwater Moray". Indo-Pacific; Sri Lanka to Fiji, down to Australia. To about three feet in length... if it lives... most do not... this is a freshwater to brackish to marine/estuarine species. Best considered brackish. Aquarium image of a Philippine specimen (Fiji, New Guinea ones black and white mottled). Easily fed on all fresh or live meaty foods.
Other Morays that venture from Marine into Brackish to and Maybe into Fresh For A While (Temporarily): Rare in ornamental aquatics.
Anarchias seychellensis Smith 1962, the Seychelles Moray Eel. Indo-Pacific; East Africa to Easter Island. To nearly a foot in length. Brackish to marine.
Echidna leucotaenia Schultz 1943, the White Faced Moray Eel. Indo-Pacific; East Africa to the Tuamotus. To thirty inches. Brackish.
Gymnothorax afer Bloch 1795, the Dark Moray. Eastern Atlantic; Mauritania to Namibia. To a meter in length. Brackish to marine.
Gymnothorax fimbriatus (Bennett 1832), the Fimbriated Moray. Indo-Pacific; Madagascar to the Society Islands. To thirty two inches in length.
Gymnothorax tile (Hamilton 1822). Indo-West Pacific; Andaman Sea to Indonesia, Philippines. To two feet total length.
Strophidon sathete, Hamilton 1822 is almost certainly the same species), the Giant Slender Moray Eel. Indo-Pacific; Red Sea, eastern coast of Africa to Fiji. To twelve feet in length.
Thyrsoidea macrura (Bleeker 1854), the Giant Slender Moray Eel. Indo-Pacific; Red Sea, eastern coast of Africa to Fiji. To more than thirteen feet in length (world's largest moray). Found around river mouths, occasionally entering into freshwater. A food fish that is rarely offered in the pet-fish trade. A voracious feeder on fish, shrimp, cephalopods.
Uropterygius concolor (Ruppell 1838), the Unicolor Snake Moray . Indo-Pacific; Red Sea, East Africa to the Society Islands. To twenty inches in length. Brackish to marine, often found in Mangrove swamps.
Uropterygius micropterus (Bleeker 1852), Tidepool Snake Moray. Indo-Pacific; East Africa to Samoa. To a foot long. Brackish to marine.
Other True Eel Families with Members that Live in Brackish to Freshwater Settings:
More Anguilliform families with freshwater to brackish members: Moringuidae (Spaghetti Eels), Ophichthidae (Snake and Worm Eels, Myrichthys breviceps at right).
Other Freshwater to Marine True Eels (Order Anguilliformes, that turn up occasionally in the hobby).
Anguillids, family Anquillidae. One genus, fifteen species of mostly catadromous (living in freshwater as young to adults, moving to the sea to reproduce, perishing there) fishes:
Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus 1758), the European Eel, at the London Aquarium. Anquilla rostrata, occasionally offered for sale in the United States, is very similar.
And of Course, the MANY Marine and Freshwater "Eels" That Are Not Really Eels:
Family Anarhichadidae, Wolf fishes, Wolf Blennies, Wolf Eels; North Atlantic, North Pacific. Two genera with four species. These neat, hand-trainable fishes are mainly seen in public aquaria as they can be enormous (up to 2.5 meters) in size. Gentle giants that are favorites of Public Aquariums everywhere. An Anarrhichthys ocellatus at the Birch Aquarium, San Diego.
Eelblennies, the subfamily Congrogadinae, family Pseudochromidae. Yes, the same family as the Dottybacks... The most commonly offered Eelblenny (aka Green Wolf Eel) in the hobby, Congrogadus subduscens (Richardson 1843) is shown at right.
Spiny Eels (true eels lack spines in their fins), the Mastacembelids. Found in Africa, through Syria, the Malay Archipelago and China. Four genera, sixty seven species. A Fire Eel, Mastacembelus erythrotaenia at right for example.
Swamp Eels, the family Symbranchidae. Tropical and subtropical freshwater , some into brackish environs. Western Africa, Asia, Indo-Australian Archipelago, Mexico and South America. Four genera, fifteen species. One Swamp Eel (Monopterus alba) is often referred to as a/the Freshwater Moray Eel in the aquarium trade.
Are there more? You betcha. Eelcods, Eelpouts... but these others are rarely seen in the hobby.
As you can appreciate, many fishes are capable of short-term exposure to conditions that are deleterious in longer time frames. All living things have their tolerance outside of "ideal ranges" of pH, hardness, dissolved oxygen and such. Salinity is another of the possible categories of such tolerance. Hobbyists and dealers in the trade would do well to impress on each other the need for some salt in the water of "freshwater morays", as well as sufficient alkalinity, elevated pH.
The "typical" aquarium care of Morays applies to the partially, temporarily brackish to freshwater species. They're mainly nocturnal, great at escaping captivity, need large quarters, with places to hide, not too-bright lighting, and are capable of eating slow, small fishes, crustaceans...
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Awesome, that makes me happy. I was hoping to have a large all-eel marine tank with similarly sized species (2-3 foot) and was hoping they could be part of that down the road. Right now they're SO tiny, one actually jumped out of the acclimation tub and scared the crap out of me. They're hard to pick up because of the slime! He's doing OK now, I gave them 3 hours to acclimate and LOTS of rock/tubes for hiding in the tank. Left the lights off and I won't offer food until tomorrow. One doesn't look so hot, very pale compared to the other. I don't know if that one's going to make it, they said that one was there longer than the other (in freshwater along with some red-tailed sharks, bala sharks, and 2 baby peacock bass). But I'm hoping for the best.
I swear I'm doomed when it comes to going to my 2 favorite places. I always come home with something or other because I know the managers at both and they practically give me stuff every time I stop in -- food, salt, chemicals, substrates, treats, fish, small mammals...geez. Tonight I only went in for new carbon and cat litter...came home with eels.
Luckily I'm one of those nerds that always has 3-4 tanks, filters, decorations, small animal cages, substrates, water bottles, etc. in storage just for moments like this.
I swear I'm doomed when it comes to going to my 2 favorite places. I always come home with something or other because I know the managers at both and they practically give me stuff every time I stop in -- food, salt, chemicals, substrates, treats, fish, small mammals...geez. Tonight I only went in for new carbon and cat litter...came home with eels.
Luckily I'm one of those nerds that always has 3-4 tanks, filters, decorations, small animal cages, substrates, water bottles, etc. in storage just for moments like this.Just an update, they're both doing well! They came out and found different places to explore, and the paler one is keeping up with the more robust one. They weren't interested in the thawed silverside I put in there earlier today, so tomorrow I'm going to pick up some ghost shrimp and try those out. I think the movement will spark their prey drive. I read they can go quite awhile without eating, similar to snakes, so it's not a big worry -- considering that the pet store wanted to be rid of them because they kept eating any and all tankmates, I know from that that they have good appetites and have been eating well. LOL! These guys are SUPER cool to watch and very cute. I originally thought they looked kind of plain compared to the eels I'd been looking at buying (tesselated and skeletor), but they actually are really neat if you look closely at them. It's just that they're so tiny it's hard to see specific details...plus they hide a lot. 
Oh, and note to anyone else who gets these: Never use any kind of fake rock/plants in a tank with baby eels...they WILL figure out how to get underneath it and get up inside the hollow part and then it's a chore to get them back out.
Oh, and note to anyone else who gets these: Never use any kind of fake rock/plants in a tank with baby eels...they WILL figure out how to get underneath it and get up inside the hollow part and then it's a chore to get them back out.
Oh yeah, that's the first thing I did when I put them in. The bigger one jumped out of the acclimation tub and damn near crawled across half the livingroom before I came back in and saw him there. They're so freakin' slimy I had to grab him with a towel, I couldn't get a grip with my fingers!
I lost mine years ago due to an infected injury after an escape, and I learned my lesson with eels at that point. All eel tanks since have every possible opening at least taped up (for smaller species)
I don't have a camera ATM, but they look exactly like this:
Only difference is one of them is lighter and more pinkish/pearlescent, I always say that one's a girl (even though I have no clue).
Only difference is one of them is lighter and more pinkish/pearlescent, I always say that one's a girl (even though I have no clue).