A question about eels

[matt randazzo]

Hi I've been reading up about eels for a 55gallon tank I've been planing, and the part that has been in every description of an eel is "They will eat any fish that they can fit in their mouth..." (I paraphrased a little.) Now, I have just been wondering how big can a eel's mouth get? for example a snowflake, dwarf golden, jeweled moray or a ghost eel?

 

[olemiss reb]

If you watch an eel long enough it will "yawn" giving you an idea of how big their mouth can be.

Mine have eaten some fish that I would never imagined they could. Eels are incredibly strong and can destroy a fishes inside making them pretty easy to swallow. Ex. yellow tang in avatar

Golden dwarf and ghost, I would not worry about any fish other than small gobies, basslets, firefish or any small cigar shaped fish. Snowflakes only tend to pose a risk once they reach the two foot mark. The jeweled is the only one on your list that I would be concerned with in a 55 with fish tankmates.

 

[jimmy frag]

eel

eel

the zebra eel would be a great pet for a mixed tank, they will not eat your smallest fish or shrimps. they will eat star fish. mine is 4 years old now and 24 inches long. jimmy frag

 

[palmer373]

dont zebras get big? i thought of getting one but wouldnt it outgrow the 55?

 

[rubensito]

you can probably go with a G. tile or chainlink in a 55 for quite some time...of the more common species off the top of my head...either way golden dwarf is by far your best option IMO

 

[anbosu]

dont zebras get big? i thought of getting one but wouldnt it outgrow the 55?

Yeah I think a zebra would be a poor choice for a 55. They get enormous, and even at 2.5-3' are very thick.

 

[Korrine]

I think your best bet would be a snowflake or a golden dwarf moray. Both pose little threat to fish and shouldn't outgrow your tank. I would plan to have a good skimmer and do weekly water changes. Running gfo is a good idea too.

Do you have any fish in your 55 yet? What will the set up be like? Sump?

 

[palmer373]

golden dwarf is the Gymnothorax Miliaris right?

 

[olemiss reb]

G miliaris is a goldentail
golden dwarf is G. melatremus

 

[palmer373]

oh, so the difference between the two? is a very aggressive and the other peaceful?

 

[olemiss reb]

oh, so the difference between the two? is a very aggressive and the other peaceful?

Other than looks, size is the main factor. Golden dwarfs max out around 12 inches and range in price from $300-500. The dwarf also stays thin or narrow making it much safer with fish. Goldentails max out at about 2.5 ft but get thicker allowing it to eat larger fish. They generally range 150-300. Toms carribean has them occasionally for under 100. IMO they are two of the "safer" piscivorous morays.

 

[palmer373]

oh ok so if you have the money the goldne dwarfs are great but if you dont the goldentails are a good alternative?

 

[matt randazzo]

I dont have the tank set up yet, im just trying to do some research before i get started so i can know what im doing before its too late and $50 goes down the toilet figuratively, and no, pun not intended.

 

[matt randazzo]

these are the fish im planning on housing with an eel:

1 or a pair of Dwarf/Zebra Lionfish (Dendrochirus zebra)
1 Saddleback Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium)
1 Orange Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleini)
1 Pakistan Butterflyfish (Chaetodon collare)
and 1 or a pair of Clarkii Clownfish, (Amphiprion clarkii)
with a Tube Anemone (Ceriathus sp.)

None of these fish will be introduced at their juvenile sizes...
So till me what you guys think... am i setting my self up for disappointment?

 

[palmer373]

i would think 3 butterflies would be too much in a 55 and i WAY overstock lol. i think if you stick with 1 butterfly you could do the eel, pair of dwarfs, clarkiis and a tube nem.

 

[Cracken]

What about skeletor eels?

 

[anbosu]

oh ok so if you have the money the goldne dwarfs are great but if you dont the goldentails are a good alternative?

I am pretty sure Les at WetPetsHawaii sells them for far less than that and I have heard good things from people in the past. I would find his website (sorry don't have it handy) and send him an email.

 

[matt randazzo]

oh ok, im down with that... so what would be an inexpensive eel that would be good with a single butterfly, pair of dwarfs, clarkiis and a tube nem?

inexpensive meaning that is doesn't cost more than all the other fish together. Lol...

 

[palmer373]

thanks anbosu, matt i was looking at the gymnothorax miliaris as an alterantive to the G. melatremus

 

[fishnick2401]

I had a snowflake eel that was 2' and never had a problem with it eating fish in the tank, I got it when it was only about 6". Good Luck....