Do Moray Eels Hide All Day?

[Puterguru]

I bought a snowflake moray on Wednesday. I could see a little bit of his head sticking out from under a rock/crevice and that is the last I have seen of him. Just wondering if anyone elses eel does the same thing or should I be worried? I realize they are noctrnal predators but I was expecting to see him especially at feeding time.

 

[JustinReef]

Over time they tend to get more comfortable and come out more and more in my experience. Then you have to be really careful though not to have anyway for them to escape or go down your overflow!

Mine used to come out and beg for food almost everytime I went near the tank.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

Most eels do hide until it's feeding time. My snowflake would be lost somewhere in the rock work until food hit the water. Then he was all over the place. My brazilian dragon moray is always out though, doesn't help that he's 32" haha. But I've heard these eels are always out and about, pretty active for a moray.

 

[joeyt66]

It will hidemost of the time, till feeding time. Just its head poping out through the rocks mostly

 

[philter4]

There are species, such as goldentail moray, which feed during the day, they are more likely to be out during the day, but as others have posted, usually after the fish becomes comfortable in your tank it should be out more often.

 

[Puterguru]

Thanks guys. I haven't seen him at feeding time. I don't see his head popping out anywhere. I've checked the overflows and the sump.

I guess I need to just give it some more time.

 

[StripestheEel]

Unfortunately, thats what eels do. Hide.

To make it more pleasurable for you, if you wish, rescape your rockwork. That way when he is hiding, he is still visible.

 

[JustinReef]

Hmmm...I guess my snowflake was an exception! He was out and about all throughout the day. He would go into the rocks a lot but also swam in the water column all the time. He also used to sit for hours out in the open, usually in the corners of the tank.

He's the only one I ever owned, so I just assumed they were quite active when comfortable. I guess the first year I had him he was smaller and a little more shy but once he hit about 20" at 3 years old or so he got really friendly.

 

[jtreefdweller]

I only have experience with snowflake morays. Unfortunately they seem to hide most of the time. Mine will come out (sometimes completely) when he smells food. When I first got my snowflake I didn't see him for almost a week. So it might take a while but he is just getting used to the new environment.

 

[myerst2]

I think that is one one of the best things about reclusive fish. When you do see them you get excited. Instead of a Puffer in your face all the time. As said previously, it heavily depends on the species of eel your dealing with. Tim

 

[bluedevils32701]

my dragons are out all day long. if they see you coming to the aquarium...they are there instantly begging to be fed!

 

[anbosu]

In my experience as snowflakes get bigger they will show themselves more and more in the aquarium.