picked up a snowflake, now to snake proof

[hotrodolds]

Upgraded to a 90 and the first new thing other than the transferees from the 55 was a 10" SFE. The tank is definitely not a FOWL but figured Id have the best luck asking here, so whats best way to keep an eel in and minimize the amount of light lost due to a cover on the tank? Would a 2" acrylic ledge around the rim be sufficient or do i need to cover the whole tank to keep it in?

Sidenote: First fish i bought 2 years ago was a 6-7" SFE. Then i was planing on doing a fowl in my 20g in a dorm and upgrading as it grew. It died in a few weeks of unknown causes and i went reef. Hopefully this one does better.

 

[nuccadoc]

I have read about eels being escape artists but this has not been my experience, at least not yet. I do however have three lids on my 400 with slits for your hands. I do have to remove salt creep/buildup at least once a week on the lids and the cross members. Eels appear to be very hardy. I have read some amazing stories about eels escaping and the owners finding them hours later dried up on the floor and they make a full recovery.


Scott

 

[DoubleM 10]

well IME eels will escape no matter how tight somethinf is. i have a ghost ribbon eel in my 55 gallon. He is a very curious animal.

Me has made it through the teath of the overflow down to my sump.

i since re did the rockwork and now relocated his home to the other side of the tank.

now he does not come out to much unless to see what food is coming in.

now granted that my eel is thinner than ur SFE.

My advice will be never underestimate the sqeezing ability of the eel

matt

 

[hotrodolds]

How is their ability with lifting their bodies out of the water? Im thinking i might try a ~2.5" fence around the rim and angle it inward around the perimeter. Think along the lines of the angled barbed wire section on top of a chain link fence.

 

[agreeive?fish]

if there is a way out they will find it even if it seems impossible for them to get out its not the only tank that is 100% eel proof is the tank without an eel

 

[DoubleM 10]

well the canopy will stop him from going out the top.

ill bet any money sooner or later he will make it down to the sump.

matt

 

[nuccadoc]

I'm wondering if the Eel's living quarters/habitat if you will, has some influence on them wanting to escape? My SFE is buried deep inside a 3ft vertical piece of coral and only come out when it's feeding time or late at night when the lights have been off for a few hours.

She has had plenty of opportunities to escape yet she seems content where she is. I am no eel expert by any means, just thoughts.


Scott

 

[vamaro]

I had a ribbon eel for an entire day. My tank is an acrylic with a large rim and two openings. I put the lids on the openings and put so weight on the lids. The eel got through the slots on my return, down the pipes, into the sock, then across the sump and head first into an Iwaki 70 which just sucked him in and kept on going.

If you find your eel dried up on the floor, put him back in the tank, even if it looks bad. If you do a search, there is a recent thread many people having snowflakes dry up on the floors for hours and live after being put back in the tank.

 

[KafudaFish]

I found mine as straight as an arrow on the floor but sadly he did not make it back.

 

[samdaman]

Im getting a snowflake, I think I have done everything possible so it does not escape... Weights imo will not work. I have attached my hood with Nylon bolts and wing nuts at 6 different places and I have also done this to the lid. Only time will tell

 

[hotrodolds]

well the canopy will stop him from going out the top.

ill bet any money sooner or later he will make it down to the sump.

matt

Wont make it to the sump if you dont have a sump :spin2: I think im gonna build a fence around the top wait. If he really wants out hell have to jump pretty good to do so and not hit a pendent when he does.

 

[hotrodolds]

I'm wondering if the Eel's living quarters/habitat if you will, has some influence on them wanting to escape? My SFE is buried deep inside a 3ft vertical piece of coral and only come out when it's feeding time or late at night when the lights have been off for a few hours.

She has had plenty of opportunities to escape yet she seems content where she is. I am no eel expert by any means, just thoughts.


Scott

I put in about 6' of 1.5" pipe work when I set up the tank the other day. So far seems content in the rock work. I imagine its because the pipes are so big it doesnt feel secure. When he gets larger im thinking itll move into the pipes.