What's the pro's and con's of having a eel in a tank-?

[prime311]

Originally Posted by GTDAROCK
http:///forum/post/2649117
Thanks Prime. So nothing more, nothing less, right-?

If you're tank can handle the bioload you could probably fit another smaller fish. I'd have them in there for awhile and make a judgement call about whether you can add another or not.

 

[hefner413]

Originally Posted by GTDAROCK
http:///forum/post/2649084
Hefner, beautiful eel man, I love it. How is he liking the PVC-?
He loves the PVC. Spends a good amount of time in it, but always has it's head poking out one of the two sides. I goes back and forth in it too. One minute on one side, then next minute on the other. I've had it for almost a week now and it is coming out a lot more. Eats like a pig though! He's definitely my favorite out of both of my tanks.

 

[gtdarock]

Hey Harley, nice stock list. I just seen the youtube video, nice snowflake. i can't wait to get one. I have a few questions. I was wondering what kind of stick are you using to feed it -? Also how many times a day you suppose to feed them-? My work schedule is 9-7. So I get home pretty late.I do have one concern, I am a little worried that a SFE, can mistake and bite one of my fish-?
And what do you think of me covering the top of my overflow box-? Maybe with one of those nylon bags-? Also should I worry about him knocking down my rocks-? Hey Prime, I'll keep that info about the stock list in mind,thanks. Hefner, glad you eel like the PVC. I'm going out to Home Depot tomorrow to get some. What size of PVC should I get -? 2 in 2 1/2 in-?

 

[hefner413]

I was advised to get 3 in. That's what I have. Yeah, it's large, but my eel won't outgrow it. But 2.5 might be fine. And right now it can also turn around in it. I have 45deg elbows on each end. I dug a trench in the sand, place the pvc and then pushed the sand back over. When you go to home depot, make sure you get the cheaper, thin pvc. The thick stuff is overkill. And if you want to go all out, I've even seen people make more elaborate pvc tunnels, using T's and such to make an H under the sand.

 

[gtdarock]

Sounds good Hefner. i'll take a look tomorrow, and see what they have. If anything, I'll have it set up by tomorrow night, and have some pics up. I might go with the 3in pipe.

 

[gtdarock]

I am some 3 in pipe at home, it is really big, I might just go with the 2.5 in. I'll probably just leave it in the back, because whatever I do, I can't cover the entire PVC.

 

[hefner413]

Yeah, that was an issue for me too. I luckily was able to cover it all - sand and rock. But my sand bed is pretty deep.

 

[gtdarock]

I might go buy some extra sand. So you think I'll be good with a 2.5 PVC pipe for the long run-?

 

[95harley]

I was wondering what kind of stick are you using to feed it -? Also how many times a day you suppose to feed them-? My work schedule is 9-7. So I get home pretty late.I do have one concern, I am a little worried that a SFE, can mistake and bite one of my fish-?
And what do you think of me covering the top of my overflow box-? Maybe with one of those nylon bags-? Also should I worry about him knocking down my rocks-? QUOTE]
Ok, so I'll take them one by one.
Feeder stick?
I started feeding with one of those clear plastic feeding sticks. DONT DO IT! My SFE eats aggressively and broke about 2" off the end of one of these and ate it...Luckily he passed it unharmed. I now use a steel cooking Skewer rod with a loop on the end so I can firmly hold onto it.
As for how many times a day I feed?
Not a day, but you should ask how many per week. I try not to overfeed and only feed 1-3 shrimp per week. Eels have a slow motabolism and you don't want to stuff them so I either feed to saturation 1-2 times per week, or (My preferred method) is to feed them about 1 shrimp 2-3 times per week..every other day.
Other fish concerns?
I have kept a SFE, White Eye, and Golden Moray all with various clowns, Damsels, etc..down to 1" long fish ad none of them have ever went after a fish. If you keep them fed and don't train them to eat feeders but instead teach them to eat from the stick they get in a habit.
Overflow Box concerns?
I too was worried about this so I took a clear rubber hose and split it and slid it over my overflow box rim to form a seal to the top. But I have since removed them and have never had a problem with any of my eels. As long as they have plenty of rock to hide in. I have never had an eel try to escape.
Unsteady Rocks?
This was also a concern of mine. I tried to really steady up my rocks but the eels try to wave the sound around to make paths under them making them unsteady. My eels have been pretty smart...they won't put themselves at risk that I have noticed. The only time I've been concerned is at feeding time when they come 3/4 out of the rocks to grab some shrimp and use their tail to pull themselves back into the hole after they grab a hold of the stick.
If I see an unsteady rock formation I may have to "adjust" them from time to time.
I tried the PVC pipe maze but I just couldn't seem to keep it out of site and couldn't stand the unnatural look of it. I didn't go super deep on the argonite bed since I didn't want to have a nitrate build up problem.
Hope these all help.

 

[aquaknight]

Could somebody equate the load of an eel to say, fish? Like a 24" SFE is puts about as much bioload on a tank as a large Tusk? Or a 3' white mouth moray is about the same as a large lionfish and medium tang?
Don't know why, but I have a stigma in my head that eels are quite a bit of load on a tank.

 

[95harley]

Depends on how much you feed I'm sure.

 

[hefner413]

Originally Posted by GTDAROCK
http:///forum/post/2650099
I might go buy some extra sand. So you think I'll be good with a 2.5 PVC pipe for the long run-?
Be careful about adding sand if the sand you have is established and has become "live sand". Doing too much at a time will smother the life under the new. I added sand to my 55 gal - but did just a bit at a time. I probably have about 2.5 inches in my 180, so I did have to have a slight "mound" in the back where the pvc is. But you can't see the pvc and you can't really tell that there's a mound.
Regarding whether or not a 2.5 in pipe would be ok - I guess it would depend on what type of eel you end up getting. I have a zebra moray, so it'll get up to approx 4ft in captivity and will have a decent girth, so I opted for the larger pvc. The SFE, from what I understand, will get up to around 3ft in captivity. So you probably would be fine with a smaller pvc.

 

[gtdarock]

Wow Harley, thanks for the detail info. I really appreciate it !
I will get that skewer rod this week. I got the feeding the habits.

My LFS are feeding them with a stick, silversides, shrimp and squid, so I will do the same. I'm not sure what size SFE to get. About the overflow, I'll probably cover it with some eggcrate, from Home Depot. My rocks are pretty stable, I just did over my rocks, and its well secured. I'll put a PVC in the back, and try my best to cover it up. I don't know what size to get, 2.5 or 3 in-? Do you think he'll stay in the PVC, or rather make holes under the rocks-? Thanks Hef, I'll just add some sand every other day. Maybe a cup or two.I gotta move one side of my rocks to set up the PVC. I have one overflow box in the middle, so I'll just put it on the right side, with maybe a 45 or a tee.

 

[bioneck47]

Originally Posted by GTDAROCK
http:///forum/post/2650479
Wow Harley, thanks for the detail info. I really appreciate it !
I will get that skewer rod this week. I got the feeding the habits.

My LFS are feeding them with a stick, silversides, shrimp and squid, so I will do the same. I'm not sure what size SFE to get. About the overflow, I'll probably cover it with some eggcrate, from Home Depot. My rocks are pretty stable, I just did over my rocks, and its well secured. I'll put a PVC in the back, and try my best to cover it up. I don't know what size to get, 2.5 or 3 in-? Do you think he'll stay in the PVC, or rather make holes under the rocks-? Thanks Hef, I'll just add some sand every other day. Maybe a cup or two.I gotta move one side of my rocks to set up the PVC. I have one overflow box in the middle, so I'll just put it on the right side, with maybe a 45 or a tee.
I used a skewer with my Zebra and it began to rust after a few weeks, and it is also a pain in the but to keep the food at the end of the skewer while feeding (especially when other fish are trying to eat it). I finally got some plastic mechanical claws and those work ten times better. You also won't be at risk of your eel stabbing himself with the skewer.

 

[95harley]

Originally Posted by bioneck47
http:///forum/post/2651551
I used a skewer with my Zebra and it began to rust after a few weeks, and it is also a pain in the but to keep the food at the end of the skewer while feeding (especially when other fish are trying to eat it). I finally got some plastic mechanical claws and those work ten times better. You also won't be at risk of your eel stabbing himself with the skewer.
I'd have to agree that this sounds better. Mine is starting to rust but I try to keep it wiped off. But I do worry about the eel impailing itself.
I might try to locate some smaller plastic claws as well.

 

[slackjawed]

Originally Posted by 95Harley
http:///forum/post/2649139
I don't have my Dragon just yet so I can't include him...although I'd say he will be it.
As for my other 3, tough call.
My Snowflake is probably 26"+ he is a looker at this size. When there is raw shrimp in the water he is hungry and I have never found the I'm FULL sign yet.
My White Eye is probably 16"+ at least and is a big baby although not as colorful he is very active and passive. When he's hungry he lets you know.
And lastly my Golden Moray which is also probably also 16"+. He is simply gourgous to look at and never bothers anyone, he also swims a lap or two around the open water of the tank several times a week. He thinks he's a fish I believe. Only issue is he seems to be the most finiky to feed. I almost have to force feed him by putting food right in front of his face.
So of the 3 I have in tanks I'd honestly have to say my SFE..as sad as it is.
Here he is at feeding time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6GaNG1nz0c
that vid looks like a safe way 2 that eel>

seems stupid youll be happy when he pokes himself on your feedin stick(just drop in live feeders at night when all others are sleepin

 

[hlcroghan]

Okay I have a question. a little off subject but it seems like a lot of eel experts are on here answering this thread

. When you put the pipe under the sand for the eel to go into, how do you clean the inside of the pipe out??? I imagine detritus and junk would get inside as well as algae and so how would you clean it without removing all of your sand and rocks to move it around?? blow it out? bottle brush?? just curious. may want to keep an eel.

 

[hefner413]

I haven't had mine for long, but it doesn't seem to be getting too dirty. I think my eel creates enough flow by going in/out of the tube to keep if fairly clean. As for algae, etc - it'll end up growing on the pvc, but oh well..

 

[95harley]

Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/2659738
Okay I have a question. a little off subject but it seems like a lot of eel experts are on here answering this thread

. When you put the pipe under the sand for the eel to go into, how do you clean the inside of the pipe out??? I imagine detritus and junk would get inside as well as algae and so how would you clean it without removing all of your sand and rocks to move it around?? blow it out? bottle brush?? just curious. may want to keep an eel.
When your cleaning reverse flow and insert hose into open PVC pipe in and blow it out. Or use a powerhead attached to a 1" flex hose to blow it out.
And beside a litle bit of bio load the pro's & con's will be based on the type of eel and tankmates you choose.
I simply love eels and plan one day to have a tank with several Tessy's. My wife has also fallen in love she said she would like to have a wall of tanks with a different eel in each. God love her.

 

[gtdarock]

Hey Hef ! Does your eel always stay in the PVC, or does he try to dig different holes-? I like the idea with the hose in the PVC, Harley. Flushing it out