Most suitable eel?

[TheMan]

I'm planning on purchasing one of the 4 following eels: garden eel 14" max, wolf eel 18" max, zebra eel 48" max, or a snowflake eel 2' max. The problem is i don't know which one is the most sutiable for a reef. I have a 65 gal aquarium and my smallest fish WILL be a Maroon Gold Stripe clown 6" full grown.

 

[LFS42]

most eels IMO, are too clumsy for a reef tank.

but if I were to choose, I'd take the garden eel.

 

[GSchiemer]

None of those are ideal eels for inclusion in a general reef aquarium. The snowflake comes the closest, but I would consider a dwarf species, such as Gymnothorax meltremus.

Greg

 

[FMarini]

Ditto on most of the answers.
The immediate one to skip is the wolf eel (which is not an eel but a long bodied fish eating psuedochromis). The snowflake and zebra eel should be fine as tankmates, but be aware that the zebra is clumsey as heck and might make a mess of your rockwork. Its the most fish safe eel in your list. The snowflake might be the most suited for your arrangement, but adult snowflake have been known to potshot fish.
I think greg hit the best choice not on your list the dwarf golden eels G melatrmus, these are 8-10" long dwarf morays which have mouths too small to eat most of our reeffish. The bad news about G Melatremus is that they are $$$ (www.themarincenter.com)
frank

 

[vair]

Had two Snowflakes in a reef, had a large skimmer to put up with the waste. Main problem they are fast and strong, knock every thing down all the time. Moved to another "predator" only tank. My eels never ate any other tank mates, kept well feed I guess.

Dave

 

[vair]

Oh ya. a Dwarf Golden Eel would be my choice for a eel in a reef tank, rather small, very cool, mellow. Had one lost it in a tank over heat Love those chillers... cha$$ching.

Dave

 

[Anonymous]

Garden Eels are not really a reef fish in nature - they live on flat sandy expanses - sometimes close to reefs. Regardless they need a very deep sandbed, do better in small groups and are hard to get feeding and spook easy - they would make a stunning display if you took the time to set up a tank for them but I would suggest a species tank.

Out of the ones you mentioned the snowflake is about the only one that is close to reef safe and even then you are going to have issues keeping small crustaceans - plus they are kind of pugnacious in my experience and will cause a ruckus at feeding time.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a Snowflake in my 100 gallon with fish and a few inverts. I believe he ate my Peppermint Shrimps. He and my Coral Banded Shrimp hang out like buddies. They spar a litttle sometimes and it is very interesting to watch. Wierd!!!!! He does chase my fish around a bit during feeding if I don't feed him first. They are very shy and can't see past their nose.(at least seams that way). If I place a tiny bit of Mysis in the tank he comes out looking for food. I feed him pieces of storebought fish and shrimp. He loves salad shrimp that I feed by hand or a tong. Sometimes my Niger Trigger gets it first. He climbed out once and I picked him up by hand. I was lucky he did not bite me. They are a fun fish to keep. I suppose he may eventaully eat his shrimp buddy and maybe my Percula and Royal Grama. Well that is part of Fish Life....isn't it.