Looking for dwarf golden eel info

[FishInABarrel]

One of the places I order from has a pair of dwarf golden eels. That I am interested in and hoping they might fit into one of my other tanks.

What size tank would be needed for a pair? I have read anywhere from 20g to 50g for a dwarf golden eel.

What is needed for a top? I have read they are about the diameter of a pencil. So do the squares in the top/mesh need to be smaller than that?

What are good tankmates? and tankmates to avoid?

 

[FishInABarrel]

Ideally I'd like to put them in my 75 with 2 toby puffers, a fu manchu lion and a pair of clowns. Do I need to worry about my lion eating the eels?

The tank has a 2" lip around the inside. Is that enough to keep them in or would I need some fine screen? Would I need to do something with the overflow so they can't get over it and into the sump?

 

[LukFox]

The adults should be closer to the diameter of a dry erase marker. However I still think you need a fine mesh top, they can squeeze through tiny places and the 2" lip will do nothing. Look at the tops people make in the "reef fish' forum to keep their fairy wrasses in the tank.

The lion shouldn't be able to eat them unless they're tiny tiny. Fus are small guys, too.

The most problematic tank mate would be the puffers, in case they nip at the eels. Eels don't move much and are easy targets for nippy puffers.

I would probably do a pair in a 20-30g if they really are a bonded pair. I've heard of others pairing two random goldens together and they fight to the death. Make sure it's an actual bonded pair.

 

[FishInABarrel]

Thanks. The tank does have plastic mesh with about 3/8" square openings. The puffers have nipped a clown fin a couple times. I think it's my blue spotted toby, my valentini seems pretty docile. They have never nipped the lion, even though I have read this can be a problem. The puffers and lion seem to have a healthy respect for each other and usually don't get too close to one another.

 

[FishInABarrel]

What are current prices for an adult (10-12") bonded pair?

 

[LukFox]

I don't see bonded pairs a lot, and it isn't something you can really do yourself in the aquarium too easily, so I'd say the current price is whatever they're asking. If I had to guess like $400-600 sounds reasonable.

 

[FishInABarrel]

Lol. Alright. They have a bonded pair that are 10-12". I did end up ordering them. They should be leaving tonight and here tomorrow.

 

[Megistos]

The adults should be closer to the diameter of a dry erase marker.

Not sure where you're getting that from. That's more like Caribbean golden morays (G. miliaris). Dwarf Goldens (G. melatremus) don't get much thicker than a pencil.

 

[LukFox]

Not sure where you're getting that from. That's more like Caribbean golden morays (G. miliaris). Dwarf Goldens (G. melatremus) don't get much thicker than a pencil.

Had one for over 5 years. G. miliaris gets quite a bit thicker than that, another species I had.

 

[LukFox]

Maybe we're just talking about different pencils though. This baby chestnut (Enchelycore carychroa) I had is what I'd call pencil sized. The blurry thing in the picture is a toothpick, for size reference. Gold dwarf eels are much more filled out at adulthood, miliaris even more so.

 

[Megistos]

I've had a miliaris for the last 6 years. Then again when I think of dry erase markers, I'm thinking of fairly thick ones.

Where did you get that E. carychroa from? Want.

 

[LukFox]

My miliaris felt more like as thick as my wrist. I have tiny wrists, but they're a quite a bit thicker than dry erase markers from what I've seen haha. I ended up having to sell my miliaris because the M. pavonina was getting too aggressive with him.

I got the E. carychroa from a forum member who found a shop in NY that could get them. He shipped the eel to me himself! Unfortunately, I can't recall what the shop was called. I could never find one around me or online, and I had looked everywhere... Now I'm starting to look again because I lost him in a stupid accident after only having him for 6 months. :/ Been 4 years since then and I'm still kicking myself.

 

[Megistos]

Your miliaris looks a lot like mine. I will have to see if I can find some pictures (don't currently have a camera).