Eel recommendation

[samdaman]

I want to get a eel, which one should I get? a Snowflake? i'm escape proofing my tank this week, will my fish be fine?... a small Niger trigger 2.5" and a 1.5" 3 stripe damsel. The Niger sleeps in a hole in a rock. the damsel, who knows where he sleeps. Thanks for your input.

 

[NewJerseyreef]

I love my snowflake. Other than it seems like having a server case of food frenzy at feeding time he leaves all my fish alone. My humu trigger sleeps in a hole about 6 inches away from his rock and they have been fine for about 2 months. I have 3 damsels and the smallest being at most an inch and I've had them for just under a month and they are fine. They are crustation feeders and normally keep fish alone unless starving. Snowflake all the way and defiantly the most affordable

 

[Watercity101]

I also have a Snowflake eel, its about 1 foot and a couple of inches......... in the tank i have included 2 damsels along.. and the snowflake eel lives fine with them.reading:due to research- the fishes that are too big than the snowflake eels mouth.. the snowflake wouldn't care for the fish/ it wont try to eat them *IF* the fishes are too big for its mouth.) :spin3:

 

[samdaman]

Sweet, is it full of character, can you see it during the day?

 

[olemiss reb]

Snowflakes and zebras are the best bet for a community eel since they mainly feed on crustaceans. However, there are numerous reports of snowflakes changing from model citizens to fish killers once they get some size, 1.5-2ft+. Dwarf goldens are fairly safe due to their small size but I would be wary of mixing one with a trigger.

 

[NewJerseyreef]

My SFE is great it's amazing to see him do anything. He has his rock which I thought was very solid but he finds the cracks and hangs out in them. I can often see him poking his headnout of his rock about 2 inches most of the day sticking out from different directions to (as I call it) protect his rock. At feeding time he's become much more active being frantic at times when he smells food but mostly just hangs out looking around

 

[rubensito]

I've had a Gymnothorax tile on multiple occasions and find them to be as outgoing as snowflakes, perhaps even more...downside is they are not as attractive

 

[DoubleM 10]

i have had a ghost ribbon eel for about 4 months now. he is really cool. has his head out a couple inches. has a Very small mother so he won touch my fish.

he will get to be 3.5-4ft long but wont get thicker than a Bic pen

matt

 

[GrendelPrime76]

i didnt see anything mentioned about tank size

 

[nuccadoc]

i didnt see anything mentioned about tank size

This is a very valid point. I have a full grown SFE in my 400 and I would dare say it really isn't enough. Beautiful creature though and he/she has picked off about 4 blue damsels, and I wish she would pick off the rest!


Scott

 

[samdaman]

Its a 125 gal.

 

[Kynigos]

A goldentail would probably work. They're very attractive and I haven't known any to be aggressive or highly predatory. The only real downside is they're a good deal more expensive.

 

[Cracken]

A goldentail is worth it, they stick their heads out and are wanting to know whats happening, and enjoy to stroll around the tank IME.