Snowflake eel?

H

HUNTER1

New member
I'm setting up my 40g 36x15x19 for snowflake eel maybe 8-10" by himself and no fish, but will get a bigger tank in a few months. The tank will have live rocks along with PVC tunnels. Will I get by with canister for mechanical filtration and regular water change? thanks
 
What do you mean by regular water changes. I love snowflake eels, they make great pets and are cool to watch. Mine made his own tunnels under the rocks.
 
They are messy eaters, so you'll have to stay on top of your water changes. He'll outgrow that tank pretty quickly.

Also, be sure to securely cover the tank to keep the eel from escaping. They can get through eggcrate, and a net cover will have to be weighted down pretty well to keep the eel from just knocking it off.
 
rssjsb said:
They are messy eaters, so you'll have to stay on top of your water changes. He'll outgrow that tank pretty quickly.

Also, be sure to securely cover the tank to keep the eel from escaping. They can get through eggcrate, and a net cover will have to be weighted down pretty well to keep the eel from just knocking it off.
Click to expand...

It is true about the messy eaters, they will attempt to rip food apart. They are also pretty strong, mine ripped the feeding stick out of my hands and dragged it into his hiding spot. If you use a feeding stick it can help avoid their escape attempts. Because snowflake eels have bad eyesight, they follow scent trails left in the water by oils coming off the food. You can help keep the scent trails down by stick feeding and putting the food in front of their face. My snowflake jumped out once because he was hocering at the top of the tank when i put in the feeding stick. Grabbed the shrimp and slithered out of the tank. Put him back in, completly fine now.
 
Snowflakes can live in tidal zones and move over rocks between pools to get back to open water. So escape isn't just a reaction to captivity - it's a behavior that is hardwired. While keeping them fed is helpful, I'm not sure that anything we do will do away with the instinct to escape the little boxes we keep them in.
 
Thanks for all the information. With all the food they I was thinking of 20% water change a week, being only him in the tank. As far as the tank goes, can't a 10" one live in a 40g design for him? and I got glass lids for the tank. I thought about this when I red this article on these eels housing requirement.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-12/fm/index.php
 
HUNTER1 said:
Thanks for all the information. With all the food they I was thinking of 20% water change a week, being only him in the tank. As far as the tank goes, can't a 10" one live in a 40g design for him? and I got glass lids for the tank. I thought about this when I red this article on these eels housing requirement.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-12/fm/index.php
Click to expand...

The problem with this statement is that he's not going to be 10" for very long. Based on my experience with my snowflake eel he grew very fast.
 
slowwrx137 said:
The problem with this statement is that he's not going to be 10" for very long. Based on my experience with my snowflake eel he grew very fast.
Click to expand...

+1...very fast... (see my post under this question in the "New to the hobby."

PS. Try to limit your thread to one topic heading. Most of us scan multiple topic headings.
 
Twistofer said:
+1...very fast... (see my post under this question in the "New to the hobby."

PS. Try to limit your thread to one topic heading. Most of us scan multiple topic headings.
Click to expand...
Sorry about the threads. Yeah I understand what you mean when he gets bigger, but I am getting bigger tank in maybe 3 months, and he'll be in the new tank by himself again. This is what I have for him now, no water yet. Im taking out the big rock on the right side leaving it more open, what do you think? Remember he's not going to be here for long.
null_zps463e4dfe.jpg
 
Last edited:
Looks great! One thing...my eel likes to burrow under the sand and move the sand around. I've propped my rocks up on PVC pipe and epoxy aquarium putty to prevent them from dropping on my eel.
 
Twistofer said:
Looks great! One thing...my eel likes to burrow under the sand and move the sand around. I've propped my rocks up on PVC pipe and epoxy aquarium putty to prevent them from dropping on my eel.
Click to expand...
I didn't think about the rocks falling. I think I'll do one 3" PVC and live rocks on top just to be sure.
 
Mine creates multiple burrows under rocks in the tank. Im not even sure how some of the rocks are holding themselves up.
 
I've had my snowflake for a couple weeks and even though I've gone through cutting up plastic grids for the back of the canopy so he doesn't escape he's shown no interest at all in leaving the tank. Maybe I'm lucky, or maybe he's planning his escape still lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Calling UK reefers – help shape the future of smart aquarium care
Replies
0
Views
310
Millsc
M
M
What’s your biggest headache in reef tank care?”
Replies
6
Views
3K
game misconduct
G
T
Trying to identify what ate my Torch Coral
Replies
12
Views
237
Uncle99
Uncle99
E
4x2x2 Acrylic reel tank and stand for sale
Replies
4
Views
254
ebe
E
E
Setting up 10g quarantine tank
Replies
9
Views
414
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
Back
Top