SFE questions

[sepulatian]

Hey all. I have a 55 gallon tank and am thinking of getting a snow flake eel. I am a bit hesitant though. My son has wanted an eel since I started salt. I like eels myself. I am worried about Sir Quizzy, who is the Falco hawk in my avatar. I know that they grow to a little over two feet. Sir Quizzy has been with me for over a year and is roughly two inches long. Is there the slightest possibility that the eel may one day try to eat him? He is my first priority. I am interested in any opinions on this and would also like to hear from those who have one. For those that do, have they ever gone after your fish? If so, what fish and how big was it?

 

[nicetry]

I kept one a few years ago. Grew from 6 to over 20 inches. I also housed mine in a 55 with various tankmates, including chromis, small clowns, etc.. I never saw it try to molest any fish, even though it would swim around and come close to the others. I think the real risk to fish is if the eel would be trying to grab on to some food and a fish was too close. The eel might mistakenly latch onto the fish given theier poor eyesight. Target feeding the eel can minimize this, IMO.
That said, I'm not sure I would keep an eel with small bottom dwelling fish like jaws, or small gobies. While not fish eaters by nature, they are still predatory. Keeping them fed regularly might help. In your case, it might be worth a try. I'd purchase a small eel and allow it to grow into your tank. A specimen in the 5-6 inch range will be less likely to go after a larger fish.
hth.

 

[johnnyd]

i have a SFE in my 55g. my coral beauty and him would sleep in the same cave. the SFE doesnt bother my crab or any of my fish. i keep it well fed and when its hungry it comes out of the rock work and i feed it krill w/tongs. i quess its used to the tongs and it knows the smell of the krill in the water. i have read some people that have had them had there shrimps eaten, crabs, small fish etc. its def a possibly when the SFE gets 2 feet that it might eat yuor small fish, but if keep well fed this should not be a problem IMO.

 

[sepulatian]

Do they ever eat food that is dropped in or do they always need to be target fed with a feeding stick? Do they hide most of the time? My Fuzzy lion comes out in the evening, he is always looking for something. Is it like that, or does the head just come out when they are hungry? Thanks so much for posting. You all are really helping me out here.

 

[t316]

Good thread Sep...I am interested in this same homework myself.
I just recently bought a Poweder Blue and a Yellow tang, and they were being housed with a sfe. I questioned it, but was not satisfied with the answer.

 

[nicetry]

The drawback to just dropping food in the tank and hoping the eel gets it, is that if other fish are going after the same food, they might be mistakenly grabbed by the eel who is blindly trying to get a meal. Target feeding makes sure the eel gets his share (reducing predatory feeding) and also can keep other fish out of the area when the eel is feeding. I used a wooden skewer and would dangle the food just outside his den. The eel would come out and take the food from the stick and then disappear back into his den until more was offered. It was kind of fun/entertaining to stick feed it.
Mine would spend most of it's time under cover with just the head poking out. It was more active at night and could be seen doing laps/exploring after the lights went out. It could be enticed to come out during feeding time but again, would usually retreat to it's den under a pile of LR.

 

[alexmir]

If he smells the fresh shrimp or scallop or live food he will come out and look for it. My SNE was 13 inches, and never ever acted interested in the fish, even when the damsles would smack him in the face with their tail .
Just make sure he is well fed and it shouldnt be a problem. If the fish is fast, it shouldnt have a problem getting away anyway. The eel certainly wouldnt get it the first try, so you can monitor it over time. I would say you should be fine, just keep it well fed. They do get slightly more aggressive at feeding time.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by nicetry
http:///forum/post/2580948
The drawback to just dropping food in the tank and hoping the eel gets it, is that if other fish are going after the same food, they might be mistakenly grabbed by the eel who is blindly trying to get a meal. Target feeding makes sure the eel gets his share (reducing predatory feeding) and also can keep other fish out of the area when the eel is feeding. I used a wooden skewer and would dangle the food just outside his den. The eel would come out and take the food from the stick and then disappear back into his den until more was offered. It was kind of fun/entertaining to stick feed it.
Mine would spend most of it's time under cover with just the head poking out. It was more active at night and could be seen doing laps/exploring after the lights went out. It could be enticed to come out during feeding time but again, would usually retreat to it's den under a pile of LR.
The problem that I am seeing is that Quizzy runs the tank. I know exactly where the SFE would find a home. I have one rock on the end with a deep cave and a lookout spot. Quizzy hops everywhere though. My lion is twice his size and he (Quizzy) still goes for the big piece every time. He has nipped at the lion several times. He is a beast, but would be no match for a SFE. I am not sure if I should get one or not. I am sure that Quizzy would learn to back off from the stick. I am certain that he will find whatever is on the stick to be his, at least at first. I am concerned that he will hop in the way of the SFE eating though. So, your SFE only really pokes his head out to eat?
Originally Posted by alexmir
http:///forum/post/2580956
If he smells the fresh shrimp or scallop or live food he will come out and look for it. My SNE was 13 inches, and never ever acted interested in the fish, even when the damsles would smack him in the face with their tail .
Just make sure he is well fed and it shouldnt be a problem. If the fish is fast, it shouldnt have a problem getting away anyway. The eel certainly wouldnt get it the first try, so you can monitor it over time. I would say you should be fine, just keep it well fed. They do get slightly more aggressive at feeding time.
The lion isn't a problem at all, but my hawk is. He is curious and not fast. I am very concerned that an SFE may hurt him.

 

[nicetry]

So, your SFE only really pokes his head out to eat?
QUOTE]
Mine would sometimes come all of the way out to get food. I could make him do it by moving the feeding stick as he emerged. He'd follow the stick. If I would drop silversides or krill in, as soo as the scent hit the water he'd be poking out looking for it, sometimes coming all the way out. As soon as he latched onto something, he'd retreat back to his cover. They're reclusive fish so hiding seems to suit them. I literally went three weeks w/o seeing a glimpse of mine once when it was small.
Given your attatchment to the hawk, I might suggest against the eel. There are risks, even though these eels are not piscivores. When they put some size on, they are thick and quite strong. They will undermine rocks digging in the sand. Even an accidental bite can result in injury to a fish. I've read accounts of them going after fish, and even if it was due to being underfed, etc..the possibility of an encounter is always there. It's one of these "your mileage may vary" situations.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2580969
So, your SFE only really pokes his head out to eat?
QUOTE]
Mine would sometimes come all of the way out to get food. I could make him do it by moving the feeding stick as he emerged. He'd follow the stick. If I would drop silversides or krill in, as soo as the scent hit the water he'd be poking out looking for it, sometimes coming all the way out. As soon as he latched onto something, he'd retreat back to his cover. They're reclusive fish so hiding seems to suit them. I literally went three weeks w/o seeing a glimpse of mine once when it was small.
Hm, I thought that I knew that about them, but wanted to check with those that have had them. Are they interesting at all? I am quite picky about what goes into my tank. It has taken me a long while to figure out what I want to have in there. I have no objection to the SFE if he won't hurt my Falco. I do plan on getting a toby puffer as well. There is a variety of meaty foods that goes into the tank at feeding time. What do you think Nicetry? Will he go for my Falco from the scent of the food? Is it likely?

 

[sepulatian]

Given your attatchment to the hawk, I might suggest against the eel. There are risks, even though these eels are not piscivores. When they put some size on, they are thick and quite strong. They will undermine rocks digging in the sand. Even an accidental bite can result in injury to a fish. I've read accounts of them going after fish, and even if it was due to being underfed, etc..the possibility of an encounter is always there. It's one of these "your mileage may vary" situations.
Sorry, I didn't see what you added on. Maybe I will decide against it. I wouldn't want anything to happen to Quizzy. Thanks!

 

[nicetry]

It's a tough call. These eels are pretty neat. Very impressive when large and the target feeding makes them more like a pet. Again, I think any mishap bewteen the eel and your fish would be purely accidental, but the risk is there regardless. If I had a small fish I was really attatched to, I don't think I'd chance it either. As an aside, I kept two cleaner shrimp in this tank and they wouldl sit on top of the rock outside the eels den. When he would come out, they would jump on his back and pick away. They'd even clean inside his mouth and the eel would let them give him a good going over. Really funny to watch.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by nicetry
http:///forum/post/2580988
It's a tough call. These eels are pretty neat. Very impressive when large and the target feeding makes them more like a pet. Again, I think any mishap bewteen the eel and your fish would be purely accidental, but the risk is there regardless. If I had a small fish I was really attatched to, I don't think I'd chance it either. As an aside, I kept two cleaner shrimp in this tank and they wouldl sit on top of the rock outside the eels den. When he would come out, they would jump on his back and pick away. They'd even clean inside his mouth and the eel would let them give him a good going over. Really funny to watch.
Nice! I had planned on setting up my 46 bow as salt and either moving Quizzy into that tank or setting that one up as the "aggressive" tank. Those plans were foiled when my sisters 50 sprang many leaks and I ended up with her five FW fish. I will have to think about it more. My son really wants an eel, and I like them as well, but Quizzy is my boy. I can't let anything happen to him. Thanks so much for your help on this!

 

[kikithemermaid]

Off topic but do you have pics of Quizzy? He sounds pretty neat, how long have you had him?

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by kikithemermaid
http:///forum/post/2581020
Off topic but do you have pics of Quizzy? He sounds pretty neat, how long have you had him?
Sure I do. He is the Falco in my avatar. I got him in February of 2007, if memory serves me correctly. He are some pics of him.

 

[kikithemermaid]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2581607
Sure I do. He is the Falco in my avatar. I got him in February of 2007, if memory serves me correctly. He are some pics of him.
Awesome! I just haven't seen pics of them before.