Help with new Baby Skeletor Eel

R

Red_Ant

New member
I just bought a 5 1/2" Skeletor Moray Eel from DD. He will be here tomorrow. I plan on putting him in my 300 gallon tank (already have pvc tunnels under and behind rock) that has a sealed canopy and I have covered the overflow as well. A couple of questions:

1. Should I go ahead and put him in my 300 gallon? I have a 75 gallon frag tank I can put him in as well, but I will need to put some pipe in the bottom as well as a netted top. I'm afraid to put him in the 75 gallon because even with the netted top I think he will be small enough to fit through the holes.

2. I read since he is so small I should feed daily. Should I feed daily until it is a foot long or how long until I should be feeding 2-3 times a day?

3. Any suggestions on tongs to use or easy ways to get him to start eating? I plan on feeding mainly squid and scallops. Any other suggestions? I was thinking of avoiding shrimp so he doesn't get a taste for shrimp.

Thanks for your help.
 
I would grow him out in a smaller tank, or even a critter keeper in the 300. I tried one, and it kept getting into all the plumbing constantly, and when he did stay in the tank, he was impossible to find and feed, and this was in a 150g.
 
1. Depends on if he is eating and what fish are in the tank. If he can compete for food and won't get eaten put him in the 300. They are a pain to catch and he can rearrange your frag tank for you.

2. I assume you mean 2-3x a week not day. You should just observe the eel and you will know when you should start cutting back. You will see him out less looking for food or won't be as aggressive when you feed him.

3. Any tong will work. You can also use a wooden skewer. I feed my eels shrimp and they won't eat ornamental shrimps. I understand your logic for not wanting to use it for food. I don't feed fish for the same reason. You should look into adding vitamins such as vitachem or selcon. Both are pretty cheap. Other things you can feed are clams, muscles or crabs. I also feed Larry's Fish Frenzy and pellets.
 
Thanks all. In my 300g I have a flame angel, starry blenny, 3 small black ice clowns, 3 pj cardinals and a goby. So don't think it would get eaten. Looks like the 75 g is out because of the frags and trying to catch later. I like the critter keeper idea. I may need to do that in the 75 or 300 until it gets bigger. I can even put it on the frag rack to reach easier.

I have some Larry's I could feed. This is going to be fun. How big of a critter keeper should I get? How long before I let him loose in the big tank? When he reaches a foot?
 
Definitely go smaller, I purchased one that was about 12" from dd about a year or so ago, put him in a 110 a couldn't find him for almost a week. Then he started getting into my plumbing, and one day wiggled his way into my skimmer and that was the end of that. DEFINITELY eel proof your tank - he is going to come to you about the length of a pencil and probably not any wider than your toothbrush handle. Cover every opening to your overflow that you can and make sure he can't get down to your pumps. Mine loved PE mysis btw - once I found where he was hiding I would just blast some of that near the hole and he would come out and eat.
 
Cool. Sounds like the critter box is the plan. I try to get the biggest one they have. I'll set it up in the frag tank to reach it easier. How fast do they grow? How long before it goes from 6" to 12"?
 
I picked up a yellow mouth about 9 months ago. It was around 3 inches and no thicker than a pencil. It still lives in a critter container and is now about 12 inches and can no longer fit in 3/4" PVC pipe. I highly recommend it. It was one of three that came in and the other two perished within weeks in peoples DTs. In the container you have a sealed space and can feed without any competition.
 
How big is the critter box? Do you just set it in the display tank with the lid on and just take the lid off to feed? Btw, all you guys are awesome. I would have never thought about the critter box.
 
Ok, I put him in a large critter box that is now sitting inside my 75g. Do I need to put any airstones or small powerhead in the box? I know the top has the holes, but there is a lot of flow around and on top of the box, but not much inside.
 
So he has been loving the tank in a tank and eating daily off a tooth pick. Quick question. Would I be able to put him in a Nuvo 16 while he is so small(6") by himself? It is larger than the critter box. If so, how long can I keep him in there before moving him to my 300 gallon.
 
I really don't think you have to worry about moving him until he gets SIGNIFICANTLY larger, IMO.
 
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