Yellow headed eel vs. feather duster

mgoos

mgoos

New Member
I just bought a yellow headed moray who I'm crazy about. He's going in my 75 gallon temporarily while my 220gallon cycles. He's in there with just a little damsel and a ton of rock. I also bought a feather duster which I put in my 180. I was not told that my pearlscale butterfly eats feather dusters. Can I put it in with my eel for now or will he eat it too? Right now I'm just trying to keep the feather duster safe so it's back in a bag.
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
The moray should leave the duster alone. The yellow headed moray, aka Fimbriated moray, are more fish/squid/octopus eaters, then hard-shelled crustacean eaters. I have not owned one, and there are a few Fimby owners on here, so hopefully they will chime in as well.
That said, if you are still concerned about the duster, I would just go ahead and get a large strawberry basket, or build a box out of eggcrate (lighting grid) to protect the duster.
 
R

rcreations

Guest
lol, I just re-read his post. I thought he was asking if he can put the butterfly with the eel. doh!
 
mgoos

mgoos

New Member
Yeah I meant put the feather duster in with the eel not the butterfly. The butterfly is my husband's he's in to the coral and friendly fish. I like the aggresive "Don't stick your hand in there" fish. Do you guys think an australian lime green wrasse will be ok with the eel? I know the wrasse isn't a "don't stick your hand in there" fish but he's SOOO pretty! Would either of these fish have a problem with a porcupine puffer?
 
vegas702

vegas702

New Member
I had a lunar wrasse that was pretty good size that was attacked a couple times and later died due to the yellow head. I woud like to try a lion if anyone has had them together with success or not.
 
mgoos

mgoos

New Member
OMG I hate to hear that! I just paid a pretty penny for that wrasse and I'm crazy about him! Do you think if I keep the eel well fed he'll leave it alone or is it just an additude problem that I won't likely be able to avoid?
 
R

rcreations

Guest
From what I understand no fish is safe from a yellow head eel. There's a chance it'll attack larger fish, any fish. I really wanted to get one of these eels for my 125gal but didn't want to risk it killing my other fish and I didn't want to have just one eel in the whole tank. So I went with a more peaceful eel instead.
 
vegas702

vegas702

New Member
I have had my yellow head for only 4 months but I think its the nature of that type of eel. If you keep him fed he will be less likely to attack your fish but there is always a chance. I have been hoping mine would get the damsel in my tank but I guess he is to quick for the eel.
 
mgoos

mgoos

New Member
I am NEVER buying aother fish just because I like it EVER again! I'm coming here from now on. I've learned from talking to other hobbyist that the people at the store just want to sell me something, they don't care what or what it's going in with or how experienced or inexperienced I am. I'm getting very discouraged. They also told me the yellow headed eel was a very active and curious animal. It has stayed in the same piece of rock since I got it. He doesn't come out at all. Disappointing. I feel like I'm doing everything wrong right now
 
vegas702

vegas702

New Member
My eels are more active at night than during the day or when they are hungry. How big is the fish you bought? I have a blonde naso that doesnt get bothered at all but he is pretty big in size. My zebra eel stays in the rock all the time unless he is hungry. He is really boring and thinking about finding him a new home. I have learned in this hobby that you have to take your time and do your research.
 
R

rcreations

Guest
Plus you have to realize that the fish store actually wants your fish to die, so you can buy more from them. If they sold everyone fish that lived for 10 years, then they'd go out of business. So definitely don't trust the LFS and don't get discouraged. Just make sure to do research before buying any fish.
Some eels are more active than others. Zebra eels are known to be very reclusive, hardly ever come out. I had one that was the same way.
 
mgoos

mgoos

New Member
I just went to feed the yellow head and he's out going crazy over the squid. I honestly thought he had vanished into the rockwork and died. But he's alive and well. The eel is 14 inches and the wrasse is 8 inches long. I really hope they do well. The eel has been pretty aggressive towards the damsel that's in his tank but after he ate he stopped and the damsel's too fast for him anyway so I think the damsel's safe. How long is the wrasse life span? From what I'm seeing he's pretty much full grown so is he going to live much longer? The store didn't even know what kind of wrasse he was, I had to look it up so I'm not going to ask them.
 
olemiss

olemiss

Member
IME fish are "safe" as long as the eel is well fed If he wants to eat the damsel or wrasse he will but as long as he is well fed the tankmates should ok. I used to add damsels 25 at a time and half would be gone the next morning, he gets them at night. I've had the same 9 damsels with him for about two months but the fimby gets 1 or 2 large meals a week. No idea on the wrasse lifespan but placing it with a fimby shortened it greatly. Try offering him octopus, this seems to be my fimbies favorite.
 
R

rcreations

Guest
Most marine fish can live 20 or more years but it all depends on how old the wrasse was when you got him.
 
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