Snowflake Eel

[sponge]

My son just had to have a snowflake eel that we put in a rather well established Community Tank (60 hex w/ 100lbs LR and PC) The gentleman at the LFS assured me that as the Eel was only 6-7 inches that he was very docile and was a community fish. I figured he was wrong but the boy has been begging for an Eel for months. To the point my year old cleaner shrimp is missing as are 2 monkey shrimp. Are my Chromis and other smaller fish in danger? What abotu my cleaner crew? And how do you prevent Ich if you do not have a cleaner shrimp.

 

[gasguzzler]

Shrimps and crustaceans are pretty much always toast with any eel. Granted, the SFE is the most docile when small they do grow very large and may pick on the smaller fish. However, I dont think they are the scurge you believe them to be. It is somewhat of a rarity in my experience to see an SFE attack fish. They are not its natural food source. Definately do not try to put in any more. As far as having a cleaner (Im probably going to get blasted for this) I would try a small common cleaner wrasse. I have had excellent luck with these fish in my stingray and shark tanks. There is period of the adjustment where they get turned on to frozen food. I have not yet lost a cleaner wrasse because it wont eat but I know it happens somewhat frequently. HTH.
-Gas
P.S.- Welcome to the board.

 

[yellowtail]

Originally posted by sponge
And how do you prevent Ich if you do not have a cleaner shrimp.
ohhh the lfs's............. .to prevent ich you must treat it.a cleaner will do very little to help ich.

 

[evilss]

when i had my last snowflake. he was about 20". i had a cleaner shrimp in with him and he loved it. he would open his mouth wide open let the cleaner inside to clean his mouth then let him out. they always were together. my snowflake never bothered a single fish. but we all know that with every species of fish, sometimes you get a mean one sometimes you get a nice one.

 

[irenicus]

My snowflake eel has taken out a lot of my smaller fish (Halequinn Tusk, Dragon Wrasse, a couple triggers.) He's about 2 ft.

 

[fulcrum]

I watched in horror as my snowflake eel (approx 20") killed my 6" volitan lion. He grabbed it by the head and thrashed it until it died.
It then chased my niger trigger out of the tank, and tried to kill it once I returned it to the tank.
This is just one experience.....but I wont be getting another eel.

 

[moto757]

when i had my sfe he was the first real fish i put so i had damsels and one keep getting near his cave and moving about and he just reached out and snap gone pretty cool i thought but it could happen to someone else

 

[irenicus]

The only reason I didn't get rid of my rogue SFE is because he was my first fish to my tank and he's got some really cool personality. Plus I couldn't see him go to someone else who may not take care of him as good as I do.

 

[gasguzzler]

I hear that. Im putting my female bamboo and my male cali ray up for adoption and those thoughts are floating in the back of my mind.