Tess eel questions

[dme]

jr2857, you can take it from me if anyone, if people do all the right things for the Tess moray, in the highest water quality, a huge variety in their diet as well as highly nutritious, give it a huge tank and I do mean huge and maintain very low nitrate levels and then you will get as normal growing tess moray. So people do all this and you have it grow to as near to its normal growth rate and I have to guess you all can figure that out.

 

[sunburnt]

Yes, DME, you're right. That's why I used the scientific name of M. melanotis , and not just a common one (honeycomb), and made sure to say that they are very different. In reading many posts by you, it seems to me that you are correct and that the common names too often get changed and confused. I am trying to learn as much as possible through internet searches, but even if I find specimens I might like to have, I don't know if they are commonly seen in the aquarium trade, and that is why I was asking. For instance, I have yet in the past 6 months to come across a M. pavonina, which I thought I might consider having. I thought you might know more.

 

[dme]

reading many posts by you
Im going to have to call the police, you are stalking me :scared:
it seems to me that you are correct and that the common names too often get changed and confused
Accidents will happen
I am trying to learn as much as possible through internet searches
I honestly have to say that you best be aware that info could differ from site to site and if you are following me around, you know the rest what I would tell you on this.
I don't know if they are commonly seen in the aquarium trade
I not know anyone who had one for a very long time, except many years ago just this one person who lived near my house up in NY and I have to think that the reason you not see this eel is because of the confusing of their common names.
I mean, you not want to mail order for a honeycomb and learn that you have a Tess

 

[aw2]

Originally Posted by jr2857
those are beautiful tesses. unleashed i just want to point out that they do grow HUMUNGO look at your's already but AW2 i don't think they grow to 8 feet. i thought they max at 5.9ft or have i been looking up wrong info

I've seen numerous specimens, in captivity and in the wild...
As Buddy said...if given proper water conditions, room, food, etc., it can AND will reach that length or very close to it.

 

[sunburnt]

Stalking?! Honest, I'm just a disciple! Trying to learn from all of you who have more eel experience than I do! I had a zebra for 3 years, and my G. kidako is still alive, but that hardly means I know anything!

Actually, it's kind of annoying! I find a species to research, and when I google it, there you are, having blabbed about it on various sites! You're reverse stalking ME!

 

[dme]

I had a zebra for 3 years, and my G. kidako is still alive, but that hardly means I know anything!
You do know something! You kept a SFE and a Kidako for few years now and are feeding. That lists you as one who could advise on what fish your keeping with those eels as well as what you feed for their diet. Gosh man, before you know it you will be right up there amount the top ten moray eel experts

 

[sunburnt]

LOL!
No, no, no. I had a ZEBRA, not a SFE, for a few years... I've only had the kidako a few weeks... And I doubt I'll ever have the time, space, or finances to be an expert. I'd settle for finding a good-looking horned moray I like for now!
"Gosh, man." :thinking: And... I'm a girl.

I think we need more pics of your tanks, DME! I never get tired of those Dragons, specifically. Speaking of which... Andy! Where are you with your Dragons? I can't wait to see each one!
Unleashed - don't forget about us! I'm anxious to hear about your new boy and how he's doing!

 

[dme]

No, no, no. I had a ZEBRA
OK then you offer your opinions to members who a Zebra moray, is that better and sorry, your dog avatar should had lip sick or something :hilarious
I doubt I'll ever have the time, space, or finances to be an expert.
All it takes is one tank, one eel and in time like three years, you should know something

I think we need more pics of your tanks, DME! I never get tired of those Dragons
I not take as many pics of th dragons just to post for at most, you seen a few in a certain period of time, you seen them all and I will be planning to take a erius of pics of the twin eel tanks and I am still waiting on for when that reef tank will finally be ready
Unleashed - don't forget about us! I'm anxious to hear about your new boy and how he's doing!
I have to say that I am worried of the eels health conditions.

 

[unleashed]

hi all
ed is doing great hes been eating good and very active i got him a few herrmit crab to keep his house clean lol ....
by the way excuse the typos this is lynn hubby

 

[sunburnt]

LOL! Typos excused.
Glad to hear ED's doing well. Funny name. He's absolutely magnificent. I'm so jealous of anyone who has one of these beautiful creatures. Good luck!

 

[unleashed]

eds a pig lol as for his name my LFS said to hubby whjen we got him just toss him in the tank and call him ed. just a phrase he always uses, so hubby named him Ed lol as for feeding him yes hes eating every day now about 5-6 silverslides hes not to keen on the .squid yet but we're working on it.we know hes hungry when he tries to catch the damsels Btw they are too fast for him lol. as for reference to comparing to a snakes dietary habits I also have a ball python 4 11/2 ft long 15 yr old female she has different feeding scheduls through out the yr some times she will want food weekly other times bi weekly and sometimes every few months she will go without food for up to 4 months at times.I just watch behavior of my fish and other pets to know when its a time to feed or not.yes i baught damsels as feeders for just in case i could not get him to eat dead foods .but if hes fed before he catches the damsels it makes him realize more that they are not his food and he will be fed .fish can be trained to a point to scheduling or habit.we think them to be mindless creatures that work on the force of instinct but they realy are much more than that. my fish recognize me as ther food source when any other family member walks near my tanks they either ignore them of hide.but if I walk within fish eye sight of any of my tanks they go nuts come to the glass and go craZy its kinda cute they have me trained lol

 

[d0ch0liday]

eels have a hard time seeing them..........they are also extremely fast (like you said) and eels are oportunistic so they usually do not waste much energy....but in captivity its always different

 

[unleashed]

i dont think the tess has as much sight problem as alot of other eels my other eels are more nocternal than he is very alert during the day time when the lights go off he goes to bed.my other eels tend to be more active at night.you can accually see him watching the fish as they move around him he comes to the feeding stick also unlike my others .hes a bit different but very cool to watch

 

[d0ch0liday]

i am not saying they can not see...some can see better then others......but eels in general are not known for there keen ability of sight lol

 

[aw2]

As DME suggested...be careful with your feeding schedule.
In the wild, eating every day or every other day, gorging themselves is ok because they have room to swim and move, etc. and work that energy off.
In the home aquarium, they have no where to do and cant as easily work off that energy.
Eels, especially more aggresive species, are extremely easy to overfeed and you'll end up with a fat ass, dying of liver disease.
Since I've had to put my guys into a temp. 90gal, I'm feeding every 2 weeks. Dont forget...eels are different than fish. They dont need to eat all the time. My DME has gone 3 months without eating and my Whitemouth has gone over 5, without eating.
With as big as Ed is, you need to be feeding once a week, at most. During that once a week feeding, feed him until he refuses more food, whether it be 2 peices or 25 pieces.