docile eel?
- Thread starter hlcroghan
- Start date
the egregious
Member
Ill explain further in detail.
My Adult tesselata, (now keep in mind he is getting old now and is very large) is probably the single most docile eel I've owned due to the length of his captivity. When I feed him ( which is usually a full octopus from the grocery store) I go in the garage, step up the make shift latter and open the top, he is sensitive to light since he is so blind haha, and I reach down as far as I can to put it infront of him, otherwise he wont be able to see the food, and he comes out a little and takes it from my hand, with absolutely no aggression or fast movements at all.
My sub adult is a little more "conscience" if you will, of his surroundings and is a little more skiddish on taking food. He will swim all the way to the top and take from my hand and quickly swim back down, eat it, and then see if there will be more I am going to feed him.
I no longer have a funebris but he was very similar to Nebuchadnezzar (adult tess) but not as blind lolol.
My Adult tesselata, (now keep in mind he is getting old now and is very large) is probably the single most docile eel I've owned due to the length of his captivity. When I feed him ( which is usually a full octopus from the grocery store) I go in the garage, step up the make shift latter and open the top, he is sensitive to light since he is so blind haha, and I reach down as far as I can to put it infront of him, otherwise he wont be able to see the food, and he comes out a little and takes it from my hand, with absolutely no aggression or fast movements at all.
My sub adult is a little more "conscience" if you will, of his surroundings and is a little more skiddish on taking food. He will swim all the way to the top and take from my hand and quickly swim back down, eat it, and then see if there will be more I am going to feed him.
I no longer have a funebris but he was very similar to Nebuchadnezzar (adult tess) but not as blind lolol.
the egregious
Member
Another thing I keep in mind for my eels is this.
You have to look at them as your pet, just like you would your dog or cat. I know a lot of people don't bother naming their fish because they look at it more as a hobby than a pet. I'll tell you what though, the moment you name your eel, you get a nice connection with it, it makes you more responsible in a way to. You get more feeling driven. I treat my eels with lots of love, just like I would my dog. Sure I can't go on a walk with my eels or swim, but that's ok. They provide me with an ABUNDANCE of joy and pride. A lot of morays can live an excess of 35+ years, and I love it because it makes me think long term. I have had Nebuchadnezzar, since before my first son was born, and he is still thriving and healthy.
Moray of the story: Think of them as a pet not an item.
You have to look at them as your pet, just like you would your dog or cat. I know a lot of people don't bother naming their fish because they look at it more as a hobby than a pet. I'll tell you what though, the moment you name your eel, you get a nice connection with it, it makes you more responsible in a way to. You get more feeling driven. I treat my eels with lots of love, just like I would my dog. Sure I can't go on a walk with my eels or swim, but that's ok. They provide me with an ABUNDANCE of joy and pride. A lot of morays can live an excess of 35+ years, and I love it because it makes me think long term. I have had Nebuchadnezzar, since before my first son was born, and he is still thriving and healthy.
Moray of the story: Think of them as a pet not an item.
hlcroghan
Active Member
I totally agree with you. I want the puffer that spits water at me and begs for food and the triggers that I can pet, and so on.....
I firmly believe that fish, especially saltwater are pretty intelligent and can be taught behaviors.
Do you ever play with them or pet them at all? From some of the videos I have seen, as long as you pay attention to their reaction, they are pretty curious animals that actually like to be petted and want to see you. Once they start to get annoyed with you, its best to leave them alone.
I firmly believe that fish, especially saltwater are pretty intelligent and can be taught behaviors.
Do you ever play with them or pet them at all? From some of the videos I have seen, as long as you pay attention to their reaction, they are pretty curious animals that actually like to be petted and want to see you. Once they start to get annoyed with you, its best to leave them alone.
the egregious
Member
Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/2661000
I totally agree with you. I want the puffer that spits water at me and begs for food and the triggers that I can pet, and so on.....
I firmly believe that fish, especially saltwater are pretty intelligent and can be taught behaviors.
Do you ever play with them or pet them at all? From some of the videos I have seen, as long as you pay attention to their reaction, they are pretty curious animals that actually like to be petted and want to see you. Once they start to get annoyed with you, its best to leave them alone.
Oh my yes!
I practically hug Neb all the time, and funny as it is my wife loves it to. The only thing neb doesn't like is when I touch him or pet him where he can't see or if feels trapped, then he will wiggle out of my hands. order of love in my life. Son,Wife,Neb.
http:///forum/post/2661000
I totally agree with you. I want the puffer that spits water at me and begs for food and the triggers that I can pet, and so on.....
I firmly believe that fish, especially saltwater are pretty intelligent and can be taught behaviors.
Do you ever play with them or pet them at all? From some of the videos I have seen, as long as you pay attention to their reaction, they are pretty curious animals that actually like to be petted and want to see you. Once they start to get annoyed with you, its best to leave them alone.
Oh my yes!
I practically hug Neb all the time, and funny as it is my wife loves it to. The only thing neb doesn't like is when I touch him or pet him where he can't see or if feels trapped, then he will wiggle out of my hands. order of love in my life. Son,Wife,Neb.
the egregious
Member
As far as an exact age I am not entirely sure but I could say that he is probably, and least 11 years old.
95harley
Active Member
Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/2661068
I think it would be cool to be able to have a pet that you can swim with. I think you would need a bigger tank though...lol
Then get my dream fish. A freshwater airapima, try 15' long.
http:///forum/post/2661068
I think it would be cool to be able to have a pet that you can swim with. I think you would need a bigger tank though...lol
Then get my dream fish. A freshwater airapima, try 15' long.
the egregious
Member
Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/2661066
Wow that is like having a dog but you can't take him for a walk. lol Hmm, well I guess that is a definite for me then. How much success have you had with cleaner shrimp and the eel letting the shrimp clean their teeth?
I call the tank a species only but technically there are about 4 other Cleaner shrimp with him. They have an amazing symbiotic relationship.
http:///forum/post/2661066
Wow that is like having a dog but you can't take him for a walk. lol Hmm, well I guess that is a definite for me then. How much success have you had with cleaner shrimp and the eel letting the shrimp clean their teeth?
I call the tank a species only but technically there are about 4 other Cleaner shrimp with him. They have an amazing symbiotic relationship.
otter
Member
Originally Posted by 95Harley
http:///forum/post/2660932
It's not that you can't or that you will or won't get bit. But if a moray bites into your finger then coils and rips meat backwards leaving painful rips in your finger that then set up infections and pain....is it worth it.
A man told me a saying once that may apply here. I use it all the time.
"If your gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough".
I LOVE THAT QUOTE! I collect cool quotes and that is definatley going in my book.
On a different note, I have dove in many places around the world. I have encountered a 10' long Moray in a wreck. He was so easy going and docile you could pet him. The dive masters said you could hold him, but I didn't think that was such a hot idea. I love the idea of hand feeding, but I did not raise Frosty the SFE. Maybe the next eel I get.
http:///forum/post/2660932
It's not that you can't or that you will or won't get bit. But if a moray bites into your finger then coils and rips meat backwards leaving painful rips in your finger that then set up infections and pain....is it worth it.
A man told me a saying once that may apply here. I use it all the time.
"If your gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough".
I LOVE THAT QUOTE! I collect cool quotes and that is definatley going in my book.
On a different note, I have dove in many places around the world. I have encountered a 10' long Moray in a wreck. He was so easy going and docile you could pet him. The dive masters said you could hold him, but I didn't think that was such a hot idea. I love the idea of hand feeding, but I did not raise Frosty the SFE. Maybe the next eel I get.
hlcroghan
Active Member
Okay so I will definitely get a couple cleaner shrimp then. I am planning on a mixed FOWLR though. Do you think this stocklist is acceptable? In other words, good mix and likely to work?
zebra eel
coral beauty
emperor angel
some kind of tang like a purple or yellow
australian harlequin tusk (maybe not with the cleaner shrimp)
some sort of smaller puffer
longnose butterfly
maybe a more docile trigger but i don't know with their personality?
I am kind of stuck there, but I think that might be plenty in a 150 though. My idea is to get as much color and movement as possible with the fish being comfortably housed for life and hopefully no killing sprees by any of them.
zebra eel
coral beauty
emperor angel
some kind of tang like a purple or yellow
australian harlequin tusk (maybe not with the cleaner shrimp)
some sort of smaller puffer
longnose butterfly
maybe a more docile trigger but i don't know with their personality?
I am kind of stuck there, but I think that might be plenty in a 150 though. My idea is to get as much color and movement as possible with the fish being comfortably housed for life and hopefully no killing sprees by any of them.
the egregious
Member
Ok so this is what I would suggest
Zebra Eel- Check
Coral beauty-Contingency check
Emperor Angel-Contingency check
Tang-Check
Harlequin-Like you said won't work with the shrimp
Puffer-Contingency Check
Trigger-I say bounce
Heres the contingencies.
With the Emperor, I am not entirely sure that that fish can be housed in it's entirety, in a 150. I am pretty sure they need at least a 180 or 210, as they can get VERY large. With that said it might be more pragmatic to go with the coral beauty, even though they don't really get large, they are a nice fish and quite colorful.
For the Puffer...If you've got the money to spend I would recommend (because you said you wanted color) the Golden puffer. I have heard that they have an amazing personality, similar to the porc, just not as dull as far as coloration goes.
The reason why I said bounce on the trigger is that, you said you wanted to house one for it's life, and when triggers get big they get big. Which made me wonder if there would be any issues with the trigger being a bully to smaller things, especially a zebra eel which doesn't move a lot and doesn't have the aggressiveness to counterbalance that of the trigger's.
So far we have a
Zebra eel.
Coral beauty.
Tang.
Puffer, Possibly a golden.
The butterfly should be ok after reviewing the list.
..................................
Something else I thought of, (and I know you could have some shrimp problems) is a couple colorful Anthias. I know people don't typically add them to FOs' but, they can add extreme color to a tank, especially when the tank matures and you get the nice LR coloration.
That's my 0.02
Zebra Eel- Check
Coral beauty-Contingency check
Emperor Angel-Contingency check
Tang-Check
Harlequin-Like you said won't work with the shrimp
Puffer-Contingency Check
Trigger-I say bounce
Heres the contingencies.
With the Emperor, I am not entirely sure that that fish can be housed in it's entirety, in a 150. I am pretty sure they need at least a 180 or 210, as they can get VERY large. With that said it might be more pragmatic to go with the coral beauty, even though they don't really get large, they are a nice fish and quite colorful.
For the Puffer...If you've got the money to spend I would recommend (because you said you wanted color) the Golden puffer. I have heard that they have an amazing personality, similar to the porc, just not as dull as far as coloration goes.
The reason why I said bounce on the trigger is that, you said you wanted to house one for it's life, and when triggers get big they get big. Which made me wonder if there would be any issues with the trigger being a bully to smaller things, especially a zebra eel which doesn't move a lot and doesn't have the aggressiveness to counterbalance that of the trigger's.
So far we have a
Zebra eel.
Coral beauty.
Tang.
Puffer, Possibly a golden.
The butterfly should be ok after reviewing the list.
..................................
Something else I thought of, (and I know you could have some shrimp problems) is a couple colorful Anthias. I know people don't typically add them to FOs' but, they can add extreme color to a tank, especially when the tank matures and you get the nice LR coloration.
That's my 0.02
hlcroghan
Active Member
Okay makes sense. I don't want anything outgrowing my tank and getting sick and I don't go for that "I will upgrade later" or "I will give it back to my LFS" crap. I am already dealing with this in my african cichlid tank and am feeling really sad about giving them away but I didn't realize how big my silver tip shark would get lol.........
Anyway, I didn't know that the anthias would be big enough to deal with aggressive fish. I like the square one it's really cool looking but what other ones do you recommend. I also really like the domino damsels BUT I don't want to deal with them bullying my other tank members if they become that way. I love the golden puffer but it is pretty expensive, but IMO it's worth it if it is that much better than the others. How big do the goldens get?
Anyway, I didn't know that the anthias would be big enough to deal with aggressive fish. I like the square one it's really cool looking but what other ones do you recommend. I also really like the domino damsels BUT I don't want to deal with them bullying my other tank members if they become that way. I love the golden puffer but it is pretty expensive, but IMO it's worth it if it is that much better than the others. How big do the goldens get?
the egregious
Member
the long and short of it
The golden puffers get 20 inches. As a record.
But don't expect one to get that big in your tank.
The golden puffers get 20 inches. As a record.
But don't expect one to get that big in your tank.