Snowflake eels!

[abbeyspal]

Hey everyone. I aboslutley love snowflake eels. I am really considering having a species tank with one. All of the live fish websites I have seen say that the snowflakes need at leat a 30 gal. I really can't imagine that to be true. I am cycling my 60 gal. Is this still too small. Can they be housed with any other fish9 (obviousley larger)? Anyone with experience with dudes please share your thought. Thanks alot.

 

[PeeJ]

Well as with most eels/predators, they aren't very active. They, for the most part, just lay around so space isn't a very big issues. 60 gallon should be enough for one. I have several small fish in my tank. The eel really isn't quick enough to snag one. Just keep it well fed.

 

[abbeyspal]

Thanks for the reply. What abot inverts will they prey on those? BTW my new tank is 60 gal. Also what is the max size for these guys? I have been getting very conflicting info. Thanks!

 

[PeeJ]

They can get fairly large. I would imagine maybe 2.5 feet? Not really sure.

Yes they will eat small inverts like ornamental shrimps and small crabs.

 

[abbeyspal]

Will they only take fish that they can eat whole? Or will they just take a chunk out of a tankmate like my pirranas used to?

 

[PeeJ]

I've honestly never seen my eel bit anything but what I feed him. Their teeth are designed for crushing rather their ripping and tearing.

 

[abbeyspal]

Thans for all of your help. BTW what size tank is yours housed in? Is it a reef style tank? Waht other kinds of fish are in there? Im becoming very tempted. Thanks again!

 

[PeeJ]

He is with a couple of tangs, a lion fish, baby panther grouper, coral beauty, and neon damsel in a 100 gallon tank.

It is about to be reef, as soon as my halides get here.

 

[eddi]

I have had three snowflakes over the years. They are some of least aggressive eels available. I handfed mine every time. They usually get between 24 and 30 inches in length but have been known to exceed 36 (rarely). They can get quite thick across though.

They should not bother bigger fish, but will eat most inverts. Your 60 will be fine for a while, but eventually it will outgrow it. Give it lots of rocks to hide under, fine grain sand and not too much light. feed teo or three times a week or it will grow rapidly.

Overall, a very nice addition to a tank if you know its limitations.


Eddi

 

[PeeJ]

See I've had a complete oppisite experience. I find my snowflake to be faitly aggressive. My zebra moray is much more docile than the snowflake. The snowflake has bitten me twice.

 

[PeeJ]

Oh yea, the zebra is about 2 and a half feet

 

[eddi]

Define biting. My snowflake would come out and wrap iyself around my hand while I fed it and it would 'bite' my finger. But it was only seeing if it was food, it would not hurt me.

I can't believe your snowflake was more aggreesive than a zebra!


Eddi

 

[PeeJ]

Well to put it in perspective, I can basically stick my figers in the zebras mouth and he just lays there like a dork.

However, the last time my snowflake bit me, he was still attatched to my hand after i jerked it out of the tank. I bled for quite some time.

 

[eddi]

Damn PeeJ... you must have gotten one pissed off snowflake! LOL


Eddi

 

[Anonymous]

Same experience here. Zebras are incredibly docile. FWIW, my zebra will not touch fish flesh. He spits it out. I've seen a couple snowflakes grab smaller fish as well, and they will definitely consume fish flesh if they can get it.

 

[eddi]

Wow... maybe I just got lucky then. One of my Snowfake was 20" and about as thick as a gardenhose! I guess I am lucky I have all my fingers then.

Right now I have a small geomteric and a Yellow Tail.


Eddi

 

[PeeJ]

Thats funny Matt, becuase my zebra will not either. Won't eat silversides. I have to give him big gulf shrimp. Picky bastard.

 

[Sneaker]

Will they only take fish that they can eat whole? Or will they just take a chunk out of a tankmate like my pirranas used to?

When I shut down my fish only tank I gave my Niger Trigger to my friend for his 100 gallon tank. He added a smaller Snowflake and it did try to take a bit out of the trigger oce or twice, but it was a little slow.

I would also advise keeping it well fed.