Snowflake eel

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packer43064

packer43064

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jul 10, 2008
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Ohio
I've wanted to setup a SW tank for awhile. SOmething different, and was googling and looking online and came across a snowflake eel. These things look amazing, weird, and very fun to keep. Just a few questions guys.

1. What's the tank size they could live happily in forever. I have a 55 lying around but if it will need upgraded to a 75 etc. then I'll just get the bigger tank now.

2. One is fine with me, but would two be even better. I know some fish do well with others while some hate sharing a tank.

3. Adult size?

4. They seem to get decent size, do you feed like a FW monster. Ie shrimp, earthworms, etc. I hear in their natural waters they eat crabs or something. Should I not de-shell the shrimp? Will they eat pellets, it's fine if not JW.

That's it for now I guess, just trying to find some info before I plunge into a SW tank.
 
packer43064;3306546; said:
I've wanted to setup a SW tank for awhile. SOmething different, and was googling and looking online and came across a snowflake eel. These things look amazing, weird, and very fun to keep. Just a few questions guys.

1. What's the tank size they could live happily in forever. I have a 55 lying around but if it will need upgraded to a 75 etc. then I'll just get the bigger tank now.

2. One is fine with me, but would two be even better. I know some fish do well with others while some hate sharing a tank.

3. Adult size?

4. They seem to get decent size, do you feed like a FW monster. Ie shrimp, earthworms, etc. I hear in their natural waters they eat crabs or something. Should I not de-shell the shrimp? Will they eat pellets, it's fine if not JW.

That's it for now I guess, just trying to find some info before I plunge into a SW tank.
Click to expand...

They are easy to keep just make sure you have allot of rock work for it. A 55 gal is fine, but the bigger the better so if you have that 75 it will be better. They will eat anything you feed them just make sure that it is small enough when it is small. (when you first get it) Also they dont need to eat everyday, I feed my only three times a week. I have mine for three years and he is a little over two feet. Dont try to keep two in the same tank I tried and it didn't turn out too well. When they are small you will have to de-shell the shrimp, but when the get to a good size you don't have to. I have not try pellets, so I can't answer that one. I hope this will help. Have fun and good luck.
 
Mine is still small, about eight inches. I buy the frozen fish food in the packs (San Francisco Bay Brand and Hikari) and put one cube of mysis, squid, clam and spirulina mysis in a little dish full of saltwater. Then I feed him with a turkey baster, a few pieces, every other day. When he gets larger, I can use the feeding tongs, but for now, this is what works. They learn very quickly. I like this method because you can stick what's leftover in the fridge, and it keeps for a good long while. I also have other fish, so what he misses (and they will miss -- they seem to not be able to see well at all) my other fish get, so everyone's happy. I would say, for minimum tank size, at least a 125. Mine should be in a 180 in a couple of weeks (just gotta get it moved in from the porch), and from what I've read, it should hold him for life. These guys regulary top out at two to two and half feet, with all the biomass that comes with it, so you'd want to have volume on your side. The new issue of TFH has an article on morays; it states that two can live together. Having never tried it, though, I can't say for sure.
 
packer43064;3306546; said:
I've wanted to setup a SW tank for awhile. SOmething different, and was googling and looking online and came across a snowflake eel. These things look amazing, weird, and very fun to keep. Just a few questions guys.

1. What's the tank size they could live happily in forever. I have a 55 lying around but if it will need upgraded to a 75 etc. then I'll just get the bigger tank now.
I would get the big tank first so you can get it setup and not need to focus on it later but focus on education about aquarium husbandry for the Eel.
2. One is fine with me, but would two be even better. I know some fish do well with others while some hate sharing a tank.


3. Adult size?
40 inches


4. They seem to get decent size, do you feed like a FW monster. Ie shrimp, earthworms, etc. I hear in their natural waters they eat crabs or something. Should I not de-shell the shrimp? Will they eat pellets, it's fine if not JW.
Feed a varied diet consisting of large chunks of meaty foods. These foods include krill, raw table shrimp, squid, clam and mussel. Never feed anything from Freshwater.
That's it for now I guess, just trying to find some info before I plunge into a SW tank.
Click to expand...

Snowflake Eel's or Echidna nebulosa Eels can be a challenge to keep due to their ability to escape aquariums. Keep a tight fitting lid or light diffuser panel on the tank. Be careful when feeding as Eels eyesight is not the best. They may accidentally (or not so accidentally) bite your hand. Irecommend the use of feeding tongs instead of using fingers.

Brief description for you here;
The Snowflake Eel is probably one of the best suited eels to be kept in captivity. It easily adjusts to a captive diet and is normally mild-mannered. Is reportedly fish safe though there are incidents of Snowflake Eels consuming smaller fishes. Snowflake eels will eat ornamental shrimps. It has been noted that occasionally a larger specimen may bite a tank mate during feeding time.

mr.reef24
 
Thanks alot guys!

I'll get a 75 when I get my apartment. That should do for quite awhile since it will be a 6-8 incher when I buy it. Thanks again!
 
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