Eel Questions

watertight

watertight

Member
A while back my LFS "Did me a favour" and got me a good Moray for cheap. Stupid me, took his word that it was just a Moray, and would be harmless to my Miniatus Grouper and V. Lion. Later I found out it was a Tesselata, thanks to this site, and the regular posters. Anyway, I ended up selling it to a good home, but now I would like to get another eel. My problem is, I need something that's big and aggressive enough to not get eaten by my Grouper, but not big or aggressive enough to turn the tables!
Does anything fit the bill? Is there an eel that would fit the criteria? Also, would an eel find any uneaten food on the bottom of the tank? I have had a few problems with this lately - clean up crews are hard to find with 2 large predatory fish in your tank!
The tank is a 220 gallon (8' x 2' x 2'), with just a grouper and V. lion. I am debating what to do with the tank at the moment - I've got a thick perspex divider that I can put in, with lots of small holes for water flow, and was thinking about putting it back in about 2' from 1 end and putting a couple of smaller fish in that end, with the 2 bigger fish in the remainder - or leaving it out and putting an eel of some sort in - or both. The tank is "Old style" CC substrate, with 2 canister filters. (No skimmer at the moment, but will have one set up very soon)
 
jp30338

jp30338

Member
If you can find one, look for a sharptail eel, which is part of the snake eel family. I have one and they are very docile yet grow to about 40 inches. It will eat the food on the floor as it relies on its nostrils to find food. I have mine in with a porc. puffer, and a radiata lion. It is quite an active swimmer as well.
You could also look at a zebra eel.
 
hlcroghan

hlcroghan

Active Member
I would recommend the zebra eel. You use a feeding stick to get the food to them. They are the largest "docile" eel.
 
nigerbang

nigerbang

Active Member
The tessie will need all the space it can get as they grow pretty fast. It will prolly take a bite at the other fish sooner or later.. Prolly sooner since eels have terrible eyesight to the point of almost being blind. During feeding is the best time for them to snap at the other fish since they hunt by smell..
 
watertight

watertight

Member
Originally Posted by NigerBang
http:///forum/post/2773838
The tessie will need all the space it can get as they grow pretty fast. It will prolly take a bite at the other fish sooner or later.. Prolly sooner since eels have terrible eyesight to the point of almost being blind. During feeding is the best time for them to snap at the other fish since they hunt by smell..
Yeah, I had to get rid of him, unfortunately. A pity, because he was an awsome creature, but I didn't want to lose my fish! Anyway, he went to a good home, so I guess all's well that ends well.
I'm interested in the Zebra eels or a sharptail - they both look pretty cool (I googled them both). Any problems with keeping them with a V. lion and a M.grouper? How well would I have to seal the top of the tank? Which of the 2would be the easiest to look after? I'm definately in the market for one of them
 
salt210

salt210

Active Member
im not saying it will happen, but with the zebra being docile he might end up being a target for the grouper. when feeding my zebra does come out and does touch the fish in the tank with him with his nose but has never should any signs of attacking a fish mistaking it for food
 
95harley

95harley

Active Member
Depending on the size of your Miniatus....
I actually kept a large 20"+ snowflake with an 8" minatus without any threat or worry. ANy of the docile eels with some size should be fine:
Goldentail
Snowflake
Zebra
maybe even a Brazilain Dragon as they are clam lovers.
My bigger fear would be that an eel during feeding time would swim into the Lions fins and get stung. My large SFE did just this and took a week or so to recover.
Good luck on what ever you decide.
 
A

arlene1995

Guest
I would try a Fimbriated Eel. I have mine in a 125 with a few aggressive fish and a 4" Javanese Damsel. Of all things, it is actually the Damsel that bugs the 20" Fimby. I don't believe they get very large and don't grow too fast. HTH!
 
nigerbang

nigerbang

Active Member
Originally Posted by 95Harley
http:///forum/post/2776625
Fibby's are notourious fish eaters.....bad suggestion IMHO. DO a google on you tube there is a video of a fib taking out a 5-6 damsel for food.
+1
Fimbys are almost as nasty as Greens..
 
jp30338

jp30338

Member
No problems thus far keeping my eel with the lion. I would only assume any problems would be if the eel ran into the lion accidently as it does all the time with my puffer. Then again my puffer is always sitting by a rock where the eel like to go in and out of
 
A

arlene1995

Guest
Oh! I guess I assumed wrong... Huh. Mine is very laid back and hasn't made any attempt to take out anything...
 
95harley

95harley

Active Member
Originally Posted by Arlene1995
http:///forum/post/2777133
Oh! I guess I assumed wrong... Huh. Mine is very laid back and hasn't made any attempt to take out anything...
Watch the 2 video's I just posted back in my post. If yours is laid back your lucky..they are bad dude's.
 
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