Eel in 150

[gotaggressive?]

Hey all I am new to world of eel keeping and I had a question. I have a 150 that I am thinking about putting a tesselata eel in from my lfs. Right now it is around 8-9 inches or so. My questions are:
1. I know these eels get to be a max of around 5'10". Would this tank be alright for life? It is a 6 foot tank.
2. Could I put anything else with the eel? I was thinking either a clown trigger or maybe a lionfish. Or if those would not work maybe just a bunch of damsels or chromis or other small fish to add some color. (I know they would more than likely not last forever). For that matter would another eel work if introduced around the same time?
Thanks for all the help!

 

[ponyta810]

dont quote me here but i think the eel and a trigger would be all good in that tank

 

[baileyaa]

IF i were you...
i would put either 7 green chromis or 5 domino damsels with
the eel, trigger and lion. i would have a tight stack of branch corals for the damsels to hide in. a large mound of rock for the eel. hopefully the damsels would last but worst case scenario they're a tasty meal. but that's just me. i would add the damsels first (to give them a chance to find spots), then the lion, then the eel. OR if you get the lion and eel on a good schedule then put the damsels in last and maybe they won't be noticed.

 

[doggiepuffer]

Not sure how agressive the Telsated (sp?) is, but some eels and lions are not neccesarrily a good match, let alone adding the trigger.... I have seen a Fimbrated take both of those fish out.

 

[gotaggressive?]

Yeah I was not thinking of doing the lion and the trigger together, I know that would not work. I am thinking of doing one of the following with the tess I am just trying to get a consensus of which is the most compatible.
A-lion
B-clown trigger
C-several damsels or other small fish
D-maybe another eel
Thanks again for any input.

 

[95harley]

As the eel grows it will try to eat the Lion and/or Trigger..in addition....
Lions can sting eels by accident as the eel is active during feeding time. The trigger may also try to munch on your eel.
If you want an eel only tank then get a bunch of Chromis and various Damsels and keep JUST the eel. You will be happier long term.
I would choose which of the 3 you like more and make it the centerpiece...Lion, Trigger, or Eel.

 

[crypt keeper]

I have been talking to everybody who listen about these eels. The 150 is about 90 to 100 gallons too small for a tessie for life. You need a longer tank. Im doing a tessalata only tank. Im buying a 10 foot long tank. These animals grow very fast and will eat anything that is in its tank with it. Or atleast try.
If you want to keep your current set up get another eel. Like a Dragon eel or a fimbriated which the 150 would be fine for the life of the animal.

 

[gotaggressive?]

Alright so if I keep just the tess and various small fish would I be able to keep the tess for its lifetime?

 

[crypt keeper]

A small tess would be fine in a 150 for about two years. Im talking like a 12 inch eel. Something that small yes you could keep other fish to start out. But why do that to the eel or the other fish? You will have to either find the eel a new home or the other fish. After two years you will have to upgrade your tank regardless for the eel to have a good life in captivity. 150 for a full sized tessalata is just too small.
Eventually anything and everything you put in the tank with the tessalata including other smaller eels will get eatin. They will knock over anything it can to find any food hiding. These animals not only get long but they get thick and big bodied. It will get 6 to 7 inches tall over 5 feet long and probably thicker than a 2 liter soda bottle.

 

[gotaggressive?]

Thanks for the info. Now I thought I had read somewhere that once they reach around 30" they dramatically slow in growth. Is that not true? I don't have a problem upgrading in a couple years I just thought it would last a little longer in a 150 because it is only 8-9 inches long right now. Also I was planning on having around 150lbs of liverock should I use less to make more room for the tess? Thanks.

 

[crypt keeper]

In my tank Im placing pvc pipe along the bottom and every 2 feet a "T" piece whithe a hole that allows the eel to come out at different spots. I then plan on adding large pieces of rock covering the pipe. At each opening I will have a few pieces a rock so it looks like a natural opening. You dont want to stack loose pieces. They will get knocked over and could kill your eel. Place the pvc pipe in if you choose to use it. Then Place your rock. Then put in sand. These animals dig. Any unsettled rock sitting on top of sand will topple over shift move do whatever and can kill your eel or fall over and just look stupid and you have to go in and fix it.
Is your tank set up and running? what is in it?

 

[gotaggressive?]

All I have in it now is some sand, liverock, dogface puffer and a handful of damsels. It has been running for a few months now I was going to stock it with fish but have been holding off thinking about an eel. I am taking the dogface back to the lfs and then will rearrange my liverock and add some pvc to make it more eel friendly. My sand is very fine live sand combined with aragonite. Is that alright? Also if I add some pvc pipes underneath the sand now, will that cause an ammonia spike by disturbing the sand? Thanks again.

 

[crypt keeper]

You dont have to do PVC pipe. You also dont have to bury the pipe. You can lay the pipe on the sand and just push it down some. The only thing Id watch out for is the live rock. If you plan on stacking it make sure it doest move. At 9 inches the eel shouldnt be able to knock over heavy pieces that are set firm. But it will dig to make his "home" to his likings. Just make sure whatever pieces you use as your base for the rocks are placed firmly and wont move. Then make sure the pieces you stack wont move either. Build the tank the correct way the first time with many places to hide and the eel will be happy. They like their entire body to be hidden. If you do use pvc pipe. Get 5 or 6 inch in diameter pieces. Not 3 inch thinking that will be fine. This animal is going to get big.

 

[gotaggressive?]

Okay I am a little confused. I have read conflicting reports on the size of the tank for a tessalata. Earlier today I was reading on WWM and I found where it said a 6ft tank would be big enough. Has anyone seen a full grown tessalata in a home aquarium environment? I know I have seen many sites that say they reach a max of 5'10" but from what I understand eels are rarely fully stretched out. Can someone clarify things for me? thanks.

 

[crypt keeper]

You tell me you would stick this in a measly 6 foot tank and think its good for it. Look at the size of some of those fish. Those are huge triggers and angels its swimming past and those fish would be cramped up in a 150.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_-7upShFYk
If you were 5'10" and had 6 foot ceilings in your house how pissed off everyday would be?

 

[gotaggressive?]

Look all I said is that I have read conflicting information. For example I just read about someone who got a tess at around 16in and had it for almost 8 years in a 150 before it got too big and bought a bigger tank. I was asking if there was any one on this board who has actually kept them or seen them in a home aquarium and can describe the size and behavioral patterns. Thanks

 

[crypt keeper]

You cant go off 1 person. You dont know how they fed it.IE. How often. How long it had outgrown the tank and he just put it off because in his mind it was doing fine. There is a guy on here who has a near full grown one and its in a 300 gallon tank.
I have talked too many people. Few of them had them almost full grown at 5 years. Power feeding it. You're an adult I would assume. You can do as you please. You came on here and asked some questions and I tried to help you out by answering them. I have been around large animals such as snakes and large monitor lizards and caimens.
I had two 14 feet reticulated pythons 1 tiger 1 yellow head. Pair of yellow anacondas. 1 Green Ananconda. Scrub python. Water Monitor. Nile monitor and Argus monitor. You can go online and look at reviews of what people say and you can read Oh Joe Brown had a 12 foot snake that he kept in a 125 gallon tank. I gave my snakes an entire room. I built 8'x4'x4' for my other animals. Any person can meet the bare needs of an animal or they can go above and beyond be responsible and give it the size cage it should have. Not the minimum

 

[gotaggressive?]

Hey man don't get me wrong I have not even bought this eel nor do I plan on keeping it in a situation that would not be a good fit for it. I am merely trying to gather as much information as I can from as many different sources as I can. If I do get the tess I would not have a problem upgrading when the time would come. Let's say I decide against the tess what would you recommend to put in a 150 that could stay there? Could there be more than one? I appreciate all of your feedback so far and trust me I do care about the animals I keep they are not just showpieces.

 

[crypt keeper]

I was where you are not too long ago. I even made a thread not too long ago asking the same questions. Trust me I understand where you are coming from. It sucks but the turth is tessie's just dont make good tankmates. They will eat them.
To answer your other questions, almost any other eel. They stay smaller little over 3 feet. Fimbriated is a mean looking gorgeous animal. Jeweled Eel is really neat and gets about 2 feet long. If you keep them well fed you can get other fish. There is a guy on here who has a fimby and a snowfalke. You can mix eels. Just not tessies with other eels.
You could get triggers. Puffers. Angels and have those fish keeping the tank busy and colorful along with the eel.
Im doing both. keeping my trigger puffer and snowflake. Putting them in a 150. Then getting another trigger and maybe two angels. Lots of rock work on each side then free in the middle so they can swim.
Then the 240 is going in the basement for the eel.

 

[95harley]

Think of it this way. You get the eel and say when he outgrows you will move him to a bigger tank that you do not have yet and has not cycled yet...ok...BUT
Think of the logistics of catching, lifting, and moving a 5' snapping toothed eel that probably weighs around 50#'s. Or trying to find a home for your favorite pet that you cannot keep and nobody will take...If you learn to love your eel that will suck either way. You don't want to hurt him, leave him in a cramped home, or sacrifice him to a LFS who will surely kill him or sell him to a kid that will kill him in a week.
We would all love to have a pet Tessy or a Green but the truth is unless you can house it long term it's just not worth all the long term stress and aggrevation.
I say go with a DME or some other eel in your 150 that maxes at around 3' and can live with fish that are too big for it to eat.