snowflake eel

[shinobi9119]

has anyone ever had a snowflake eel in their reef tank? If they aren't reef safe, why not? Could this problem be avoided by keeping it well fed?
How much does one of these add to the bio load?
Thanks

 

[nereef]

snowflake eels are not considered to be reef-safe because small tankmates, especially shrimp and crabs, are potential prey. keeping the eel well-fed doesn't guarantee other tankmates to be safe.
a snowflake will add quite a bit of bioload to a tank. how big is this reef?

 

[calvertbill]

Good rule of thumb with snowflakes. If it'll fit in his mouth, he'll figure out how to put it there. Mine spent over an hour with a fish 1/2 in, 1/2 out of his maw.
He eventually swallowed it.
The sad part about mine is that the day is forseeably down the road when he'll outgrow all my tanks, including my 450.

 

[it's chuck]

They are not considered reef safe because the will eat your inverts (Snails, shrimps, crabs) and they can knock over your rockwork if it not secure. They add a very large bioload. I have one in my FLOWR thats about 18 inches long and some where between a quater and half-dolar thick, I haven't had a problem with him knocking over rockwork or eating snails or crab (I actually have a 3-4inch spider decorator crab that lives in his caves add hangs out with him), I haven't got brave enough try shrimp. I also keep him very well fed. Just like every thing else in this hobby It is on a specimen to specimen basis, with they experence I have had with mine I might try it but thats just based off of my current SFE, Also a Snowflake will not out grow a 450 gal tank

 

[chroniccoral35]

Don't they only get about 11 inches full length? or bigger?

 

[calvertbill]

Originally Posted by ChronicCoral35
http:///forum/post/2616218
Don't they only get about 11 inches full length? or bigger?
That's what I used to think. I bought some equipment from a guy in Jersey who had one that was about 32" long. It was as big around as my wrist. I don't have anything big enough to house something that big and that aggressive.

 

[nereef]

a snowflake will absolutely not outgrow a 450. also, they are among the least aggressive eels and are not naturally fisheaters.

 

[fishygurl]

i heard u can keep a golden dward moray eel in a reef tank since i believe they only get around a pencil width thick but they will eat anything they can fit in their mouth.. is this right? they are kinda rare and pricey tho..