Dragon Eel

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xenon-3

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Jun 2, 2008
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There's a pet store near where I live and they just got some Dragon Eels. I really wanted to get one but I heard that some Eels like the Blue Ribbon don't do well at all in captivity. Is this also true for the Dragon Eel?

I wouldn't really consider myself an expert on aquariums, but I have kept some Clownfish before in my 100 gallon fish tank in the past. I still have the fish tank (minus the fishes).
 
dragon eels should be kept alone for the most part. but if you like to have one, go for it. however, fish tank - fish = dead dragon eel. cycle before you get it, because you don't want $1000.00+ fish turn belly up. considering that you only had clown fish before, I don't think you are experienced enough to have a dragon eel, to be honest with you.
 
dragon eels are so sweet looking yet to scary to keep in my house thinking where it could travel
 
Why do you think I might not have the required experience for keeping a Dragon Eel? Do they too need constant caring like Sharks and Rays? And what are the reasons for Eel deaths in captivity anyway?
 
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Eels are infamous for jumping. My LFS has had a Dragon eel for about 6 months. THe tank was covered by egg crate and weighed down with 10 lbs of rocks.
 
Why only six months?

The more questions I ask the more unsure I am of myself. I really wanted to get a Dragon Eel, but there's no point in getting one if it isn't going to live for at least 10 years.
 
Okay. The reason I say that you are not experienced enough is because keeping clown fish is not the same as keeping dragon eel. However, I don't think that dragon eel would be difficult to keep. Keep tide lead on the tank and don't hand feed, but use tonsils. It just you can't run out and get him but you need to cycle first. I wasn't trying to be negative, I just had eels before and they all eventualy ascaped. and considering the price...
 
The price is a little over $1000. That's why I wanted to make sure that it'll survive in captivity. I don't get how an Eel would escape from an aquarium, though. My tank has sort of a hinged lid with two latches to help secure it. Do you think that'd be enough?
 
check ANY hole where the filter intake(S) and output(S) enter the tank. Bad wants to make sure your tank has gone through the nitrogen cycle. Test water params, and see what they look like.Eels can escape even the narrowest of crevices.and you cannot forget to close the latches,or something silly like that.Bad means that fish dont hop out AS often as eels,and therefore require more care to keep.Dont forget feeding an eel is totally different than feeding some flakes or pellets to your clownfish.
 
Yes, I also heard somewhere that a Zebra Eel got its head caught in one of those holes and got itself killed. If securing the tank and feeding it live fish with one of those elongated forceps type things is all I need to worry about, then I think I've got it covered. I won't be with it 24/7, but there'll be someone home most of the time to keep an eye on the bugger just to make sure it isn't trying to get itself killed somehow.
 
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