xenon-3, Welcome to AC. Being that your tank not even ready as it might seem its not from your starting post, you would first be best that you discribe your tank setup. As the one thing all can say, is that eels are known for their abilities to be found carpet surfing. For the thing there is, peoples eel aren't really trying to escape at all, what it is that they do is that when all lights are out, most eels are often on the hunt for food and eels for one will follow up a long the side of the tank to the top and that is were a glass cover or so comes in to keep any hobbyist pet in their tanks.
Now with one saying to you, "but if you like to have one, go for it." That can be an expensive go for it. For one thing, you need this tank well setup with a good amount of LR. My experience in maintaining eel tanks, fine it best not to have so deep a sand bed. As for going for it, I can only say, if you not had so much success up to now, I would suggest that you hold off on the idea until you gained more experience.
In a 100 gal tank, you will not have that many fish with this eel. For one thing, you not want to overcrowd for which can lead to problems. For one thing is that even if you fish that should be to large for the dragon eel to swallow. still if either hungry or its space is being to cramp, it could bite the fish causing serious injury.
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?
For one thing, if you not maintained this tank for too long, you could or can develop water problem issues. For you need to understand as well that any large shift in your Ph of nitrate levels are too high, your dragon eel will have its diet affected.
The other thing as I was saying, you tank complete setup, you need not to have any openings for it to escape and die for it
Besides, all marine species that we maintain in our tanks require constant caring, as well as the best that we could offer them.
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.
The problem there is, have you ever seen the body strength of an adult? A full grown male has the ability to shift the weight of of 40-50 lbs or more that is either from the side or over head. So a lousy 10# is nothing.
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.
This species will or should live far longer then just ten years, but that will be up to you on maintaining its water quality to there best limits. Also a wide nutritional diet of fresh strips of fish, shrimp, squid, octopus and such to give it a wide range of sea foods. I had myself a pair and the female I had for over 14 years before I sold the pair to some private zoo.
BadRoma1, if his not the experience you suspect, he would or could then be paying for it with the eels life. What the thing be is, a person sees this eel and wants one, not thinking if they should really have it or not, so it might be best for him to wait while he needs to make his tank secure and such. Like does his tank have a sump? skimmer? And if this tank has a HOB equipment, it would take some doing to secure any openings. And for me, I could only see if this tank has some canister filter that the tanks nitrates could go through the roof.
The price is a little over $1000
I can get it for less>
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
For one thing, if you want a healthy eel for a long time, feeders is a bad thing to manage that!
Dragon eel is not like blue ribbon eel, however it all depends on each individual and there is no telling how well it will do in your tank
Each person maintain their tank different from the next and we all think that were the best setup and water quality to manage this. For one thing, an eel is one of the most hardy marine creatures that one could own. Still, there are downfalls due to a bad diet and specially, the tanks water quality. For do understand that any long term issues in this for ones eel, their eel problem in their health can slowly appear and when it does show itself, you may believe that your problem had just started, but the truth in the manner be is that your eel was paying for your lack of better performance from the start.
So your tank would need to be well setup and secure prior to getting any eel. Also, with a dragon moray, you will be required to use some type of feeding stick. And there be other things you would be needing to know about in feeding such eels. As it was said here, your clown fish a another story when it comes to feeding a fish eaten moray.
Buddy
