How often do you feed your eel?

[gomrjoe]

I recently acquired a snowflake eel, I have had him about a month and am trying to get it on a feeding schedule that won't let him grow too fast. I had one about 8 years ago but he only lasted about 2 months because he got caught in my filter. (old tank)

I have read that eels have an almost unquenchable appetite, that if you feed, they will eat. Right now I am feeding him one silverside (lancefish) every other day, and am wondering if that is enough, too much, or what?

When I bought him, he was probably about 9 to 10 inches long.

How often do you feed your eel? Or what would you recommend?

My tank:
100 gallon tank
2.6 wpg pc lighting
35 gal wet/dry/sump
Protein Skimmer
UV Sterilizer
1 yellow tang
1 pac blue tang
1 reef chromis
3 lyretail chromis
2 spotted cardinal fish
1 lawnmower blenny
1 snowflake eel
current cleanup crew: 25 turbos, 25 blue leg hermits
Inverts: star polyp, yellow colony polyp, encrusting
coral, 1 sand star

[LonersBlaze]

yay a topic with my specialty.

if you want to push it, try twice a week with the largest silversides you can pull out. should be enough.

he can be pretty violent with a lack of feedings though. take caution.

oh and contrary to popular belief, they do get full sometimes.

[gomrjoe]

I have noticed that right after I feed him, he is definitely still hungry, because that is when he is most agressive. He has turned an eye at two of my smaller lyretail chromis! They swim pretty fast, so he doesn't get that close really, but still he does show interest in them!

After about 15 minutes or so, he regresses back into his cave and just looks around at everything. For the most part, he is pretty well behaved, he has found a nice crevice in the bottom corner of my tank.

I love watching my Yellow Tang, she is the most agressive towards him, she is constantly extending her fins and swatting at him, she wants to make sure she shows him who is in charge of this tank! My Pacific Blue Tang on the other hand could care less about him.

From what I have been reading, it doesn't seem to make sense to keep them happy by feeding them, because they will just grow bigger, faster, thereby increasing their appetite, making it a viscous circle.

I have another question for everyone... can someone elaborate further on the truth or myth as to why snowflakes are NOT reef safe?? I cannot see him harming my corals, he doesn't move around the rocks or anything, my rock is very secure, and the crevice he has chosen in my tank is out of the way. If someone could elaborate further on their behavior and how it might harm a reef tank and inhabitants, it would be appreciated.

thanks,

[LonersBlaze]

i've wondered why they arent reef safe too. i mean i can understand the the rockwork might shift if they where to dig into the sand beneath a rock. As long as you maintain routine feedings they are'nt as violent as people believe. i have never had an attack on other fish. Once my eel finises eating he usually retreats back into his little crevice.

[vteel]

I have a 29 gallon salt water tank which houses my Snowflake Eel. I feed my eel whenever it tells me it's time to eat. My eel comes out of its cave and darts at me if I come near the tank, it will stay out for awhile, looking impatient. I thaw out some shrimp and sure enough, it's gone in seconds. My eel has a behavioral way of letting me know its feeding time, usually once or twice a week I feed it 2-3 shrimp (like the kind you get at the grocery store, cooked). Hope that helps!

vteel

[Germanman]

i let my eel fill himself once a week, sometimes twice, hes been happy with that for over 2 years and has grown about 8 inches in that time. they arnt reefsafe due to the fact that they will eat fish and shrimps.

[cag_rn]

Don't feed your eel cooked shrimp. The nutrients are lost when they are cooked. ( Just like when we boil vegetables first instead of eating them raw or steaming them. ) Feed fresh/frozen.

I feed my SFE about every 3 days until it stops eating, which is usually after 3-5 pieces of squid, shrimp, scallops depending on the day. It pigs out a little more with the squid, so I have to keep count.

I hope I can refer to this here. A good book I have found and refer to is Phil Purser's Keeping Moray Eels in the Home Aquarium. I was actually told it was a great book by someone on here back when I first joined. It was worth getting. It talks about feeding, overfeeding, powerfeeding - ehich no one should do to an eel, and covers many other things about Morays.

Enjoy the Eel!

[cag_rn]

I just checked out germanman's website, and his "Predator Tank video" :eek:

He refers to his deceased Frogfish that lived in his tank with his SFE. No wonder its dead, they are in a 20 gallon tank. Anyone who knows anything about eels, even as little as I do will tell you 20 gallons is too small for an SFE, let alone to add a frogfish in there.

I started out with my SFE in a 35, and that was a was of those, with the intent to move it when it got big enough things. Well, I have only had it since the end of October, and although it seems perfectly happy and is growing well, well colored, etc., I can't keep it in the 35 knowing that I want it to live a long life. It will be rehomed in my new addition of a 55 gal shortly. Morays can live for 10-20 years if well cared for. Their predatory nature requires that they have ample swimming room for their nightly prowls. There is no way that this eel can swim around enough in a 20 gallon tank.

Dude, rearrange your tanks and put it in your 55 if you want it to live a long healthy life.

[Germanman]

how does the tank being a 20 gallon lead to the death of a healthy fish? u know nothing of my upkeep so please dont judge. unless u have all the facts.
also u state the tank is to small for the eel and thats why the forgfish died...if ur going by that id imagine u meant that it died of water quality issues...if so u dont have any idea of the water quality and i can assure u, even though im sure ull beg to differ, that it is always more than prime condition. i have and am currently keeping very difficult animals in my aquariums and although there is a general idea of how "u must" keep animals that isnt always true, if anything in my career as an aquariums service master and zoology/ aquatic sciences major i have learned that things always vary due to procedures. also the forum rules exclude personal attacks and i have taken ur comment as such and would appreciate if u kept ur comment to ur self regarding my aquariums and ur lack of knowledge on my procedures and background.

[jojo22]

I just find it funny that a person with 6 post that knows nothing about any of us or how we keep our tanks would come here and attack one of the more knowladgeable members. PLUS look at the eel it is in no way shape or form to large for a 20.

Thank you all and I will end my rant now, I just hate it when people do this crap without asking about the setup or takeing into concideation the size of an animal. For all this guy knows it has a nice new bigger home for when he grows up.

JOE

[gomrjoe]

Hey everyone,

It is me, the original post person for this thread. Please let everyone who reads this breathe a moment of silence for my now deceased percula clown! I believe he has been eaten by my eel because I stretched him to thin, no pun intended. I was feeding one (what I thought to be decent sized) silver side every other day. But I guess his appetite got the best of him, and he scooped up the slowest swimmer in my tank, my precious percula clown (Nemo of course), my 3 year old daughter is heart broken.

Why do I believe he was eaten by the eel... well, today, he was due to be fed, I went to feed him like I normally do, when the lights are off, and he did not come out, at all, he just sat there in his cave looking all peaceful, I thought that was wierd, because normally he races right up and takes the eel from my skewer, no questions asked.

Anyways, my lights came on and after a while, no Nemo. He generally does not dwell within the rocks, and is always out and about in my tank. I am holding out hope that he will appear out of the blue, but I doubt it. Later on, my eel did come out for a brief swim around the tank, maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me, but he even looks fat!!! I no this is sounds crazy.

Oh, well. I have learned my lesson, I know I am not the first person to try keeping an eel in a reef tank with smaller reef fish, and I know I won't be the last... for anyone who reads this post, I hope you read this Nemo obituary and think twice and learn from my misfortune.

Off to my LFS this weekend to trade in this SFE and pickup a pair of clowns! I am out of the SFE business for a whle.

[Germanman]

im so sorry for ur loss:mad:
yea eels cant really be keot with small fish....best of luck

[jojo22]

SORRY TO HEAR THAT, MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER TANK. Or at least that would be a good excuse!!

[Germanman]

SORRY TO HEAR THAT, MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER TANK. Or at least that would be a good excuse!!

lol jojo...always want another dont u

[LonersBlaze]

i have taken ur comment as such and would appreciate if u kept ur comment to ur self regarding my aquariums and ur lack of knowledge on my procedures and background.

Pwnage. You rock Germanman

[Germanman]

Pwnage. You rock Germanman

lol...:dance2:

[fish addict]

I am an admited "newbie", but I can understand where CAG RN is coming from. I kept what is often referred to as a Snowflake Eel (Gymnothorax Tile?), in a 20g and quickly realized that it wasn't a suitable environment, at least for that species. When the eel stretched out (about 18") it was nearly as long as the tank.

I don't believe in many "inch per gallon" rules, but one that seems practical to me is the one that says your tank should be at least 6 times as long as your fish to have enough swimming room. granted, this is from a FW source, but it seems fair. I understand that a 12' to 20' tank isn't reasonable, but think of it from the animal's perspective. Short pools **** me off, how about you?

[Germanman]

eels dont swim much they juts sit and lurk...at night he likes to come out and swim around a bit but not for long

[cag_rn]

Thank you Fish Addict for your support. Just because I only have 6 posts here doesn't mean I don't know anything either so both of you who made comments like that can keep those type of comments to yourself. Atleast what I was saying about the size of aquarium for an SFE is well documented in research. Hey, if tyou want to keep your eel in a 20 gallon tank go for it.

Fish addict and gomerjoe, if you want to go where others will give you supportive comments and help you more as a newbie with proven advice, there are many eel pros at another popular SWF site.

I thought maybe I would come here for a differnt opinion or two, but if members here are going to shoot someone for voicing an opinion made based on research and reading, than I'll go back to where hobbyists appreciate research that is in the best of interest of their fish and the hobby.

[jojo22]

First of all once again you know nothing of the size of the eel or the circumstance, so why speak about something when you don't know the whole story. You came here and started talking like you where all high and mighty. This is a great place with lots of frienly advice for those that come here and act in a decent manner, i.e. not downtalking someone elses tank or ideas.

Second you showed your true colors when you blatintly TROLLED the board asking other members to leave and go to another site. it is one thing to show another site for people to enjoy, but another to talk down the site you are on and ask others to leave.

[gomrjoe]

Thanks for the offer CAG RN,

I happen to like this site just fine actually, I have gotten some great advice from many of the more experienced members of this site in the past... two of them on this posting here have helped me before, as a matter of fact!

Anyways, I think this goes to show that we are all in this together and take our hobbies very seriously and personally. I don't think anyone means any ill will here, just dedicated people to an addicting hobby.

I will say this, it should be a habit for everyone posting here to try and qualify their remarks before posting them, in other words gathering info before rendering a verdict... I can honestly vouch for Germanman, Jojo, and several others from this site, as I often read the posts, and they are almost always asking for more info, unless they know the person posting from experience.

As an FYI, I may only have 90 some odd postings on this site, but I have actually been at this for nearly 10 years! I just don't post as much because I don't have the wide rang of experience that some of these guys have, nor the time that I wish I could have to do so. Kudos to the rest of the people that can post by the way, I don't know how you do it... I have two kids, both under 4 years old, how I find time for my tank or this site, is beyond me sometimes.

That is my two cents worth, I will stop boring everyone now.

[Germanman]

not boring at all. we love to share and hear:)

[cag_rn]

Gomrjoe very good point and advice well worth taking. I did not mean to come off all high and mighty like one of the board posters states. I was simply shocked that someone would have an SFE in such a small tank. As Germanman stated in his follow up, his level of experience may allow him to do things that most of us wouldn't want to try.

[Germanman]

Gomrjoe very good point and advice well worth taking. I did not mean to come off all high and mighty like one of the board posters states. I was simply shocked that someone would have an SFE in such a small tank. As Germanman stated in his follow up, his level of experience may allow him to do things that most of us wouldn't want to try.
well thx for clearing it up man...i love my fish like babies and i only do what works best.

[cag_rn]

Alright, here's my white flag. Hows about starting over here guys. I didn't mean to offend anyone as I said. I do get a little defensive at times so I was upset at the TROLL comment. I apologize for the response to that.

I don't want to get banned, I would like to benefit just as much from others who come here in search of information sharing for the hobby.

Sorry I started out on the wrong foot!

cag

[Dangerdoll]

Well I'm glad we can come full circle and get back on track here. Note that this thread had almost closed due to the attacks and will be watched. This thread is filled with valuable opinions and it'd be great if we could all recognize that not all of us agree on the same keeping habits. We can help with our experiences and with each, is their own. Not one is better than the other and nothing is nothing without knowing all the things involved.

Now back to our program... ;)

[jojo22]

So back to the question at hand!! I feed mine Just about every day!!!!! He loves his food. I do however feed smaller portions than most here due to the fact that I do feed every day, I just like to see him come out and eat, or should I say eat and run!

[gomrjoe]

I am torn between trading him in or keeping him... I can't believe I am waffling on this now. The other day I wanted to definitely get rid of him for eating Nemo.

I only have my 100 gallon, thanks for the idea of another tank excuse Jojo, but I would probably be sleeping outside if I tried that. Anyways, I definitely want to keep my tank as a reef tank, I have to much invested in it to let an eel change my mind, and the beauty of it, so he will be off to the LFS where I bought him on Saturday.

Since I am still trying to save my Star Polyp (another thread), I will trade him in and load up on hermit crabs.

[Germanman]

im so sorry u have to get rid of him but i think its for the best it will open up so many potabilities.

[devil san]

my eels only get fed twice a week, they are happy with that, but i do occasionally have to feed them more, but you can usualy tell by the way they act, but to "read" your eel, you need to keep him a little longer. :P

[gomrjoe]

Well,

Today I caught my eel, that was a lot of fun actually. I used a syphon tube, a skewer to spear a fish, and a net. I lured him up the tube and scooped him from behind with a net. It was fun he was a tricky fella to catch. I actually gave him to a friend of mine who has a 75 gallon FOWLR tank, he wanted it, and he is experienced, I know he will be taken care of.

I bought two clown fish and 100 blue-leg hermits to restock my cleanup crew. The clowns are so little, barely an inch long, but very cute, one of them makes my smallest lyretail chromis look big!

[Germanman]

sounds cool man..at first i was like wait..u speared ur eel...lol