Wolf Eel
- Thread starter King Venom
- Start date
Inklinkerman
Member
I think sourcing cold water reef species to cohabit in the tank will be difficult, maybe the best thing to do if wanting to set up a temperate tank ( if youre in the south and near the coast) is to first try a local sea life tank. See how you go with it, cut your teeth and learn on that, then if your happy and confident to continue then go for a larger tank/animal like the wolf eel.
If you can go foraging in rock pools near you you will be able to find lots of interesting creatures. As said above most aquarium chillers wont help you much as they are mean to keep tropical reef tanks cool. So you may have to go DIY.
Alot of aquarists in the UK run these type of tanks and i could give you details to contact them and ask more if you so wish.
If you can go foraging in rock pools near you you will be able to find lots of interesting creatures. As said above most aquarium chillers wont help you much as they are mean to keep tropical reef tanks cool. So you may have to go DIY.
Alot of aquarists in the UK run these type of tanks and i could give you details to contact them and ask more if you so wish.
King Venom
New member
Yer but to start a baby it will be fine short term then will move to bigger. Yer were i live the water is average 15c im on the very south coast of Western Australia.
Inklinkerman
Member
But in 12-24 months time, you decide the hobby isn't for you, the wolf doesn't move so much and your tired of the condensation on the carpet, what happens to the fish? Not a lot of places for it to go in WA.
King Venom
New member
If i was going to get tierd of it i wouldnt do it, carpet what carpet, concret mate.
jjk_reef00
New member
All you have to do is google pictures of this eel and hopefully you will realize your tank is way to small for this fish. Why don't you get something that better suits your tank. There are lots of very cool eels if that is what you like.
King Venom
New member
Tank is going to be upsized massively for him rhis is a long term project.
G4546
New member
Just make sure you're doing the RIGHT thing mate. To have something just because it's "exotic" is not the right reason. To do "research" on the animal is one thing and help us better learn their captive environments is a great thing. Though it sounds like you're underprepared as far as equipment, which in return would mean you're still "learning" about coldwater aquaria. If you have experience with cold water creatures and wanted to try and understand this speices more, you would have a better backing from the community. But, with what seems to be little in the way of equipment and base understanding of the animal itself I again would follow the community here in saying "Don't do it". Sorry mate 
All the best though if you do decide to do it. Document it and keep us updated on your progress. 
All the best though if you do decide to do it. Document it and keep us updated on your progress. King Venom
New member
I have said this on more than one occasion "this is a long term project not something that will happen over night" keep in mind of had aquariums most of my life. Not salt its new and a bit scary, but i thought these forums were to encourage people to give it ago and learn. But then ive also learned people dont want to see people try something new, because they are scared of unknowen an failure. An the fact it might be bad for image. This is my rant over now.
King Venom
New member
http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/projects/msap/PS/masterlist/fish/wolfeel.html
Reading carefully this was a case study about them of sort about threat.
http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/eco/taxalab/zaheerk.htm
Both pages make reference to the being kept in aquaria.
Reading carefully this was a case study about them of sort about threat.
http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/eco/taxalab/zaheerk.htm
Both pages make reference to the being kept in aquaria.
philter4
New member
I think you misunderstand, at least in my case. From my point of view I have no problem with you trying to keep one, as long as you have the resources and ability to finish the project. You have mentioned that this is a long term project, but what about the rest of the issues you will have. Do you have a plan for the chiller? Is there room and time to get the correct size aquarium? What about the funds to accomplish everything you need to keep an adult?
You don't have to answer these questions here on the forum but before you get started you had better have answered "YES" to all of them for yourself and be willing to not waiver until it is complete.
Again, I don't know you or your experiences, I have a few suggestions for you:
First, start a saltwater aquarium and keep it for 6 months or a year and see if it is something you are willing to do. You can start up a fish tank for a lot less money and get a feel for it, the longer you keep this first tank healthy and are happy with it the better for you final project.
Next, move to a coldwater tank with the chiller and coldwater animals to see the difference, there is a difference in the types of equipment and individual animals but the maintenance will be about the same.
Finally, once you have decided to make the financial commitment, start the build on the big tank at the same time you get the young fish. There are several reasons for this, first you will be caught off guard as to how fast these guys grow. Remember in captivity all of the energy they get from the food will go to growth, they don't have to hunt, avoid predators, or fight off rivals or disease, all of the things that take up calories from food in the wild will be used to grow. The other reason is the fish will live a lot longer then it should in a small tank. We as hobbyists tend to see our animals activity and health and we are happy with that while in reality the animal has outgrown the space and should be kept in something much bigger. If you have started the tank build and put up the money you will not be caught trying to make temporary fixes to any problems you may have as he grows.
If you are here to learn, then use the information to make an informed decision, don't just assume everyone is just putting you down or discouraging you to try something that hasn't been done, a lot of people have kept wolf eels in aquariums but I would bet very few them got one before they had a place to put an adult.
Braxibear
New member
Sounds like a major project you got going on. Hope you can do the project well. If it looks like it is becoming too much to handle, maybe a smaller species of wolf eel?
Anarrhichthys ocellatus are the big boys (80in, 40lbs)
Congrogadus subducens are small. (18in)
Big difference in the two species. Ocellatus just looks fearsome!!
I know you said this will be a long term project you are doing. Would it be easier to spend more on the bigger tank and prep that now than to have one and slowly work on the bigger tank? I'm sure Ocellatus grows as fast as my kids do....
Anarrhichthys ocellatus are the big boys (80in, 40lbs)
Congrogadus subducens are small. (18in)
Big difference in the two species. Ocellatus just looks fearsome!!
I know you said this will be a long term project you are doing. Would it be easier to spend more on the bigger tank and prep that now than to have one and slowly work on the bigger tank? I'm sure Ocellatus grows as fast as my kids do....
King Venom
New member
Ok 2 emails from the team at Oregon Coast Aquarium, they have said they need a monster aquarium like 7250 liters or 2000gallons. This is workable long term project i now know they like are higher salinty also workable since the natural ocean is about the same. Temp 7.5 - 13.5 C or 45-55 F. So yer i unserstand alot more now then i did when i looked at the project. Yer im starting out at this salt water game but im asking these questions so i can learn and not make huge stuff up that cost animals their lives. Im also looking for other local cold water animals like. Long snouted Boarfish.
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=l...Aw&biw=768&bih=928&sei=qxHYT9jSN66ciAfMqZiSAw
An John Dory.
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=j...Aw&biw=768&bih=928&sei=6BHYT4KCK-KpiAfcntSSAw
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=l...Aw&biw=768&bih=928&sei=qxHYT9jSN66ciAfMqZiSAw
An John Dory.
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=j...Aw&biw=768&bih=928&sei=6BHYT4KCK-KpiAfcntSSAw
revaltion131
New member
If you do end up building a massive and appropriate system like this, you should definitely make a build thread if not a blog site. It would be extremely interesting to follow and educational for anyone else that would want to do something like this but doesn't understand just how much would go into it.
King Venom
New member
Yer owning my own home will be a must.
King Venom
New member
I will not even think of building a system unless it is to this scale it has to be fair on them.
AquaticEngineer
New member
I can get them, as a matter of fact I could pick up 10 of them all around 2-3 feet long next week
I was debating on getting one anyways for myself, but I wanted one smaller to start with.If you are up for the challenge than it is a very rewarding niche hobby. Not a lot of us coldys out there, but if you are looking for good info there is a large following of coldwater marine aquarists in New Zealand that keep local species. Or hit me up
Both of the previous companys that did are out of business. Coldwater Marine Aquatics is the only company currently doing any temperate animals out of oregon to the public.
Thats probably a good idea, honestly if you have access to the animals down there thats what I would do. Or if you can get a place like Cairns Marine to sell to you they do a lot of collecting in the south of Australia.
I run all commercial grade chillers on my large tanks, try and find something that is used in labs for cooling water if you want a chiller that will last. Definitely DO NOT DIY a chiller. Your biggest investment should be your chiller, your chiller will be the heart of your coldwater system.
They are trying to aquacultur them for the seafood industry, apparently they dont taste as bad as people assume. So I guess you could always eat it
