I'll play
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<b>Eel 1: Dwarf Moray</b> (Gymnothorax melatremus)
As covered by Myerst, they only get 12" and are probably the best candidate for a "community eel". Very hardy and non-aggressive fish. In the 3 years I've had her (I always manage to buy eels just before they go down in price... So sad) she's only eaten a breeding pair of pistol shrimp. She was in my 155g display tank for 2.5 years and did fine. Some people recommend against keeping them in large tanks because they'll get "lost", but I had no problem. Sometimes it's fun to play hide and seek with your fish anyway lol. I moved her into my 29g sump 8 months ago, and I've noticed no decline in health or change in habits. This eel doesn't need tons of space. She is currently housed with a 1" black ocellaris clownfish down there and shows no interest in eating him. Would be good in a peaceful community tank, or even a semi-aggressive fish tank. Non-aggressive to other eels as well.
Once again I agree with Myerst that they're finicky eaters. Mine is pretty picky at times. For example, she won't go near salmon. She hates the taste/smell. She also isn't too fond of tuna, but she'll eat it if she's really hungry. Mine also won't eat octopus. If your dwarf doesn't eat one food, try something else. It may not be that it's off feed, but rather you're not offering food it likes. However, they do go off feed like any other eel sometimes. Mine will only eat once a week.
She got sick, I believe after a year of having her, and lost all of her color. She recovered on her own, but she's been white ever since. I'm pretty sure it was the zoas she was living under that did it...
<b>Eel 2: Goldentail Moray</b> (Gymnothorax miliaris)
Very peaceful eel. Had mine for just shy of 2 years, and he never acted out aggressively to any fish. Peaceful to other eels, too. It often shared a cave with my much smaller dwarf eel. Mine was easily frightened by tank mates, though. If the other fish kept trying to steal food from him, he'd retreat into the rocks and not eat for a couple weeks afterward.
Growth is moderately fast. Mine grew from 16" to about 24" in the span of a year or so.
Although he was peaceful, smaller fish would get eaten. Some fish would just disappear. One day I witnessed the eel snap up my pylei fairy wrasse, so beware. Fish too big to swallow whole were left completely alone.
It's a thick bodied eel, so it's one that needs space. A 75g would suffice as a minimum if filtration is adequate, imo.
(Excuse the algae. The tank was having hard times with red turf algae back then. The WORST algae I've ever had to deal with!)
<b>Eel 3: Brazilian Dragon Moray</b> (<i>probably</i> Muraena pavonina)
Not certain on the max size, but I would guess it doesn't get much larger than 3 feet.
It's a very fast grower, ime, but I've fed him a lot to keep him from hunting tank mates. If I kept him alone, I wouldn't feed so much. I got him on January 3rd, 8 months ago, at 17". Today he is 30-32" and really thick. Very big fish, and very beautiful.
It's aggressive towards other eels in that it will take caves by force, and try to intimidate others with posturing. It never actually bit the other eels, though. He's not aggressive towards other fish unless he perceives them as food during or around feeding time. Keep it well fed. They're very aggressive eaters and not finicky in the slightest. Feeding can be tricky at first- just know that you have to be fast. Watch how the eel eats and learn from it. I do not recommend this fish for someone who has never kept an eel before.
Mine isn't shy, and if you want an eel you'll definitely see, this is a good choice. When it's not hungry it's a lazy eel that just hangs out with 1/3-1/2 its body exposed from the rockwork. Not afraid of other fish or people walking by.
A 120g would be okay as a minimum if you keep it lightly stocked.
8 months ago:
Now:
You can see part of his tail is even on the sand.
