Brazilian dragon moray eel

[LisaD]

Thanks for your experience lisa, do you have any pics of yours? How big is it? Do you feed a mixture of meaty foods to your fish? I did that to my old FO setup, fed the fish a mixture and it would drive my snowflake crazy, he'd chase the damsels around the tank trying to get food. I'm worried about feeding time, when I'm only feeding the fish a meaty mixture, the eel maybe go crazy and attack the angel. Also when I feed the eel, I know the passer is going to go after the eels food. I can't restrict the passer to just pellets, especially when I add a trigger and other fish.

I don't have any pics right now, but will try to get some up in the next week or so.

My Brazilian dragon moray is just a little over 2 feet. The zebra moray is a bit over 3.5 feet.

I feed a mixture of meaty foods and other foods. The eels almost exlusively get shrimp, crab, squid, etc. (not fish flesh though). I also feed the other fish flakes of Formula One, Formula Two, Prime Reef, SeaVeggies (algae flakes), spirulina flake, nori soaked in Vita Chem, and enriched mysis.

LukFox has done a perfect job of describing the feeding shuffle. It's not hard, you just have to know your fish and how to make sure everyone gets their fair share and no one gets their face bitten off. If everyone is really hungry, I feed the other fish flakes first, then stuff the eels with shrimp or other meaty foods, then offer some meaty foods to the other fish. My puffers are pretty aggressive feeders, but the other fish are not likely to try to take food from the eels.

My biggest challenge is making sure the zebra moray gets enough. I usually feed daily. If I skip the eels feeding for more than 2-3 days, the BDM starts looking like he is either going to try to leave the tank or take a bite out of the other fish. I have had the BDM for a while, and by keeping it well fed, have avoided any problems.

The BDM is not a particularly aggressive eel, it is just a moderately aggressive (for a moray) feeder. You have to manage its feeding response to avoid problems. I have had a much more aggressive eel, a black edged moray, which is the only animal that has ever scared me. And it was barely two feet long.

For "meaty" foods for the angels, try mysis. The eel may get frenzied, but offer bigger food pieces on a stick at around the same time. I never feed my eels loose food, always from a stick. They have learned that their food comes from the stick. Smaller, loose food for the other fish usually doesn't interest them that much.

HTH. I'll chime in too, and say I'd leave out the undy. There are quite a few other triggers that would do fine with eel. Undys stay relatively small and are perfect for their very own tank.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

The passer has been on a meaty diet since day one. I feed a variety of foods, and can't just restrict him to pellets. Angels are omnivores so they need meaty foods as well as algaes etc. I will have to feed pellets first, then use a stick to feed the angel, and then throw in some meaty foods. The eel was trained to be hand fed, but I don't think I am on that level with him just yet. Can't wait until tomorrow to go get him and my tek light for my 120 reef!

 

[LisaD]

Do you feed mysis to the angel? Piscine Energetics brand is larger than most and very meaty. You could also try Ocean Nutrition gel cubes for the angel (and the eel) for a more varied diet.

If the eel has a choice between loose mysis or a chunk of shrimp on a stick, it should go for the shrimp. I can feed my eels shrimp at the same time the angel and other fish are chowing mysis without problems.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

That's what I am hoping for, to feed both at the same time, yet different meaty foods. I do feed the passer mysis, a mix of all kinds of frozen foods, along with pellets. I feed the angel chunks of clam as well, I am worried the eel might go after them. But if you compare the size chunks he will be getting and the passer, there hopefully shouldn''t be a problem. I will feed by a stick and train the eel that way. Guess we'll find out tomorrow when I bring him home.

 

[LisaD]

It's really a matter of getting to know the personalities of and dynamics between the fish. You'll learn what's the best strategy to keep them all safe while they get fed. As I said, I don't consider the BDM to be an especially aggressive eel, though it can be an aggressive feeder. The other fish will learn to leave it alone, probably even your passer.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

I hope the passer learns to give it space during feeding time, but that has always been the passers problem. He nearly killed the same sized overly aggressive purple tang. Usually during feeding time, he took all the food and bullied the tang. I am adding about 50 more pounds of LR to the tank to mess up the passer, so he doesn't have a home to claim as his and pick on the eel.

I just found a 200g (actually 209-210) tank for sale locally. It is 7'x2'x2' perfect!!! Only problem is its about 12 years old and not drilled. I'm assuming it's probably an oceanic tank being its that old and big. I can always run two HOB overflow boxes. I am just worried about the seals on a tank that old. Anyone have any experience? It's going for $275 w/stand and crappy lights with 3 days left on ebay, 4 bids so far, so we'll see. Whats a fair price for a tank like this? This way I could add a sohal tang and clown trigger and not have to upgrade for quite some time.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

Pics as promised....

Here's the passer letting him know this is his house!

A little tail fanning, no harm done. Eel didn't mind it much. He eventually moved away from the passers cave. Seems like they will get along great, but only time will tell.

Here's the king himself

After putting this eel in the tank, seeing how huge he is and active, I need to get him a bigger tank. Hopefully by the end of the year, he will be in atleast a 180.

 

[cichlid333]

great shot in the 4th pic, he looks ready

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

Thanks, I took those pics on my phone. I am going to borrow a digital camera (nothing great) and see if I can get a little better shots.

 

[Grouperhead]

Very nice. That passer is quite beautiful - how large is it?

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

Thanks, he is 6" and fat! Definitely a cool fish. Can't wait to upgrade and add a clown trigger and sohal tang, maybe a lunare wrasse as well.

Here's the fatty tail fanning the eel, you can kinda see how thick he is in this pic

I've always wanted to get an undy tank. I have a spare 75g laying around I could use for one, hmmm....

 

[Grouperhead]

A 75g would be ample for an undy. They stay small and honestly don't use as much room as other triggers. Mine is usually content to stay on the side of the tank with her cave on it, unless she wants to go to the other side to attack filters and powerheads

 

[LisaD]

That is a gorgeous BDM, you got a great deal. My emperor is about the same size as your passer and did the same with my eel. No damage to anybody. He will still occasionally fan the eel's head just to remind him who is boss of the tank.

I found an old post of mine where I wrote about getting the eel at under 15 inches around a year and a half ago. He is over 2 feet now, and getting really thick.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

She will really go to the other side to attach the filters? Thats my main concern, how to provide appropriate filter thats "undy" proof.

Lisa, yeah there's no harm done. Funny your emperor and BDM are the same, although every emperor I've owned was always the boss. Mine is right around 32" and very thick, unbelievable how heavy he was getting him into the tank!

 

[Grouperhead]

My undy tank has two powerheads, an emp400, and a cheapo hob skimmer. Not really what you would consider state of the art filtration, lol. I change 10-15g of water two to three times a month. The intake tube of the emp 400 and both powerheads are all scarred up from her chewing them and whatnot. Occasionally she'll pull the heater suction cups off also. She mainly spends her time digging and redecorating. Always carrying little bits of rock, etc. and making her cave perfect. I honestly love the fish to death - their beauty and unique behavior and personality make them a special fish to me.

 

[LisaD]

Now I am seriously considering an undy tank! How fast do they grow? I could put one in my 55, but would have to move some fish. I'd rather start a smaller one out in a 29, then move it later. Do you think yours is okay in a 55 for life, or will you eventually upgrade to a 75 or 90?

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

I've always wanted an undy tank, such personality. I'm assuming you can't put your hands in the tank either? I have a nice 50g (taller 40b) I could start the undy in. Does she leave the heater alone for the most part? I would worry about that the most. Should you have a sandbed in the tank? I'd prefer to run bare bottom on all my aggressive FO tanks because it's easier to clean.

 

[Grouperhead]

Oh no, I can put my hands in the tank. When my hand goes in, she goes straight to her cave and stays there until I'm done. She leaves the actual heater alone, just likes to chew the suction cups occasionally. I got her in late '04 as a 2.5" or so juvie. She's close to 5.5 or 6" now. She hasn't been a really fast grower - once she got around 4.5-5" her growth slowed pretty dramatically. A 29 would be fine for a small one (which are usually the only size available) for a while. She really doesn't take up a lot of room (a humu of her size for example would go crazy in a 55 imo) and like I said usually chills around the main cave (but not actually in it during the day.) If she continues to get larger and more active, I'll put her in a 75 for sure, but she still has a lot of room to turn around comfortably. I don't see bb being a problem either. I really just have a sandbed for looks. When the tank started, there was a solid 2-2.5" sandbed across the bottom. Now there is very little sand on the far side of the tank where her main cave is, and piles of 4"+ on the other side. Just make sure you have lots of rockwork for her to hide in, they can be quite shy at first.

Sorry for kinda stealing this thread.

Bo

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

That's cool, I've always wanted a fish to do that, make their own "home". No worries on stealing the thread, I like the undy's and want one pretty bad. I wonder if sand will be better for an undy though, more to play with. I will definitely have lots of rock and a cave for her to hide in, also rubble so she can pick them up and play with it. Maybe after I get my bigger FO tank I can set one up, for now I have to concentrate on what I have now, then when I am ready, get another tank for the undy.

 

[Grouperhead]

If you have a lot of rock and plenty of rubble, I think everything will be cool if you want to go bb. The cave mine sleeps in has no sand in it - you can view her sleeping from beneath the tank which is always cool. Let us know when you take the plunge and join the undy club!