Feeding Snowflake Morays

[votek]

I just picked up a really small Snowflake moray for my tank. I'm just curious what/how you guys feed yours.

He seems to do ok with some shrip pellets when I put it near his coral home.

I know the feeder fish you get at the lfs are ok to feed them - but I'm not sure that they are the best diet to keep him on.

I'm just looking for some experienced owners and what worked.

Thanks.

[MonoSebaelover]

PLEASE DO NOT FEED HIM LIVE FEEDERS, IT IS NOT OKAY FOR THEM!!!! Live feeders have 20% more fat in their bodies than an average saltwater fish. It is basically like letting a person eat at McDonalds for the rest of their lives. Their liver expands and crushes the other organs due to fatty liver disease (which is also caused since marine predators can not digest the skulls of feeders). I'm not trying to be mean or yell at you because MANY people in the hobby feed feeders but there is so much other healthy food available that it frustrates me to see people feed them live feeders. Anyway I got my Snowflake when he was about 7" and now 4 months later is 16". He likes to eat Formula One (by Ocean Nutrition), Scallops and Shrimp from the grocery store. As long as you vary their diet between Crab meat, Scallops and Shrimp it should do fine for them for their lifetime. I have my little Snowflake and a 3ft Zebra Moray Eel that eats scallops and shrimp. Hope this helps and keep the tank covered very well. Snowflakes are escape artists!

[votek]

Thank you.

See now I'm glad I asked. I was told they were ok, but I remembered reading somewhere that a strict diet of feeders was not ok.

I know about the hybernation/non-eating periods they have, so I wont worry if he stops for a little while.

Thanks for the advice :)

[MonoSebaelover]

A year and a half ago I had my 55 gallon tank crash right as I was coming back from vacation and killed a couple of fish but my Zebra Moray survived and went on an eating binge of at least 3 weeks. I was getting worried and desperate after 3 weeks and tried crab and shrimp. Then I thought what his favorite food was (though pretty expensive :( ) scallops. He came right off his eating binge even though I did try scallops in the beginning. The Snow that I have now is a pig and I think he will die the day that he stops eating! He eats anything and everything. Eels are great so really enjoy them even if you can only see their head peering from rock work :D!

[votek]

So I take it the Shrimp pellets (wardley) will not hurt him?

[Boogiechillin]

Pellets are nutritionally a little weak, not to mention difficult for the average fish to consume. Pony up the money to buy a small bag of shrimp at the grocery store (or better yet, a wholesale club like Sam's or BJ's)...this shouldn't run more than $8-10 and will feed the eel for months. Feed appropriately-sized chunks with a skewer to make sure that the eel gets all of the food and none is missed.

[votek]

I assume it is better un-cooked.

But is it still better than pellets when cooked?