Western_reefer
Reef keeper
Are there any Eel's that will do fine in a 28 gallon HQI Nano? Will a Ghost eel do fine or perhaps a ribbon eel? Or is a 28 gallon nano just way too small for an eel?
Eel in a 28 gallon HQI Nano?
- Thread starter Western_reefer
- Start date
Western_reefer
Reef keeper
When you say cover any holes, do you mean in the canopy as they might jump out? What about the Ghost Eel?
LukFox
Active member
Yeah, as the small eels can fit through nearly anything. I was including the ghost when I said ribbon 
. Some people have done it (if they kept them to their max size in nanos, I don't know), but they're just such long fish it could be hard for them to find a cave of comfortable size in a tank so small. An eel longer than 3 feet, even if it's a thin ribbon sort, could still produce quite a lot of waste, too. The other two eels are much better choices.
. Some people have done it (if they kept them to their max size in nanos, I don't know), but they're just such long fish it could be hard for them to find a cave of comfortable size in a tank so small. An eel longer than 3 feet, even if it's a thin ribbon sort, could still produce quite a lot of waste, too. The other two eels are much better choices.
Western_reefer
Reef keeper
Yeah, as the small eels can fit through nearly anything. I was including the ghost when I said ribbon
Oh, ok. I couldn't find much on the Chestnut eel (Enchelycore carychroa). This is the Chestnut eel (Enchelycore carychroa) right?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smithsonian/2848430899/
Are the 2 eels you listed reef safe as in cleaner shrimps, smaller fish like gobies and what not?
LukFox
Active member
Small gobies, no. The Enchelycore is made for eating fish, and the Gold Dwarf probably wouldn't turn away from an easy meal, either. Cleaner shrimp have a good enough chance of working, though. For the Gold Dwarf, a pair of percula or ocellaris clowns might fit in there, too. Just nothing super small to avoid being a likely meal, really.
That is E. carychroa, yep. You can tell them apart from small vipers (a much larger eel, but similar looking when small) by the color of the eye. The vipers have a brown eye, and chestnuts have that yellow and red ring around the pupil. The chestnuts also have those nicely spaced white spots around the jaw, as well. The chestnuts can be hard to find, but they're amazing little fish.
That is E. carychroa, yep. You can tell them apart from small vipers (a much larger eel, but similar looking when small) by the color of the eye. The vipers have a brown eye, and chestnuts have that yellow and red ring around the pupil. The chestnuts also have those nicely spaced white spots around the jaw, as well. The chestnuts can be hard to find, but they're amazing little fish.
Western_reefer
Reef keeper
Oh, ok. How much do the Chestnut eel (Enchelycore carychroa) sell for and what color are they when full grown?(they get a max of about 9-10 inches right?)
LukFox
Active member
When you can actually find them they're very cheap, averaging $40-60. The problem is finding them.
They're brown as adults just as the one in that picture. They can get up to about 13". They have an amazing set of teeth, but if you aren't a fan of the jaws found in Enchelycores you'd likely be more interested in the Gold Dwarf. G. melatremus has more color, is easier to find, and is safer with fish.
They're brown as adults just as the one in that picture. They can get up to about 13". They have an amazing set of teeth, but if you aren't a fan of the jaws found in Enchelycores you'd likely be more interested in the Gold Dwarf. G. melatremus has more color, is easier to find, and is safer with fish.
Western_reefer
Reef keeper
That's pretty cheap.
Oh, ok. Dwarf eel (Gymnothorax melatremus) sell for quite a bit $100-$150 each or so which is too much for me.
Matt_Wandell
New member
A ghost ribbon eel (Pseudechidna brummeri) would do fine in a 28g tank by itself. Just make a nice cave with lots of rock, and of course a tight lid.
Western_reefer
Reef keeper
Can ribbon eels eat Cleaner Shrimp?
Matt_Wandell
New member
Yes.
Western_reefer
Reef keeper
What if I a small ribbon eel? The Cleaner shrimp I have are jumbo sized as far as cleaner shrimp go. lol They are 2.5-3 inches long from the tip of their face to the end of their tail not including their antenna which is another 2-3 inches. If I were to get a Ribbon Eel, it would be the only fish in the tank.
Western_reefer
Reef keeper
Also, my nano has a tone of holes in the rockwork and there is plenty space under the rock. I currently have a snapping/pistol shrimp living in the rockwork.
Western_reefer
Reef keeper
Is a Ghost Ribbon eel pretty much the same as a Blue Ribbon eel?
LukFox
Active member
No. Entirely different. Different species, different requirements and sizes, and different difficulty levels.
Western_reefer
Reef keeper
Oh, ok. Doesn't the Ghost Eel get bigger/longer than the blue ribbon eel?
LukFox
Active member
Western_reefer
Reef keeper
I'm reading that Ghost Ribbon Eel gets 36-40 inches and I'm reading a few sites who say Blue Ribbon Eels get 30 inches, or even 50 inches. Every page I read, they show different information on the length. Not sure which one is true...
