Snowflake Eel and Reef Tank

U

Utah Fatman

New member
I hit the local fish store yesterday to look at some potential stock for when I get my tank up. They had a snowflake eel in stock and i really want it. I'm new to saltwater and plan on my tank being primarily a coral tank with a few fish that are coral safe. Will the snowflake work in this type of tank?

Thanks!
 
Yeah as long as you don't have any shrimp or crabs. Cleaner shrimps may be ok. They seem to know the difference. I just got a Zebra Eel for mine on Friday.
 
Everything I read said it was very rare for them to attack a fish and when they did it was usually during feeding time and a case a mistaken identity. Zebras have very very poor eyesight.

After all the reading I did I am completely comfortable putting a zebra in my reef.
 
Ok. That seems to be the same thing that I am learning through my research as well. Please keep us updated on your experience with keeping a zebra in your mixed reef tank.
 
Once I get the tank established maybe I'll try it. I just didn't want to add it and wake up the next day to find him the sole occupant of the tank.

Thanks all. I'll let you know how it goes.
 
I have a snowflake eel that came with a Solana I got. Hasn't touched the hermits that are in the tank. The guy I got the tank from said he'd never bothered any fish...just keep him fed.
 
I had a snowflake eel in my 110g. Model Citizen but an escape artist. Tank was covered but it still managed to push through and get out. I miss him!
 
Snowflakes are often model citizens for many years, but turn into problems when they reach sexual maturity at about 24 - 30."

At that point, they can catch and eat fish that are much bigger than their heads, including angels, tangs, rabbitfish, etc. They turn themselves into knots to kill and eat bigger fish. It's kind of fascinating to watch, but not if it's your prize tang that's getting eaten.

Zebras are more reliably peaceful, but they get very large.

How big is your tank?
 
I was also curious about that - I just added a baby snowflake eel to my tank (he's about 4" long and the width of a pencil) and I have small hermits and a blood shrimp. He hasn't bothered anything yet and is honestly so smalll right now I'm not too worried about it. he has found some crazy holes in my rockwork that I didn't even know about, he is awesome :)
 
I would choose golden dwarf eel instead snowflake. Long term safe as large snowflake mau turm info agressive fish eatimg machine..
 
I would think about what you've got in your tank before you go out buying one. Snowflakes are probably coral-safe, but not invert-safe, in my experience. Also, it may prey upon smaller, peaceful fish that may be in your tank (I don't know what you have). If you don't have a cover for your tank, a snowflake (like all eels) will try to escape it. So, from what you've said, I wouldn't recommend it for your tank. It's the kind of fish you'd have to plan your tank around (or just happen to have the right environment for it).

As posted, there are other safer options, though.
 
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