Snowflake Eel

ron burgandy · 03/06/2006, 12:09 AM

I have a 72gal bowfront with the following;
5 green chromis
1 magnificant foxface
1 false perc.
1 copperband butterfly
1 yellow choris wrasse
1 mystery wrasse
4 crocea clams
3 green bta
150lb. of live rock
live sand
and a mix of corals(lps,sps,softies)
I'm wanting to add a small snowflake. Everything I've read seems to be o.k. and I do have a glass top. What do you think??

Jerry W · 03/06/2006, 12:12 AM

Your tank is, IMO, heavily stocked as is. I think adding the eel would be pushing it. They grow fairly large and make a lot of waste. I wouldn't if it were my tank.

ledford1 · 03/06/2006, 12:42 AM

I agree. I think a SFE would be too much, and some of the corals may not appreciate the extra waste.

Serioussnaps · 03/06/2006, 01:41 AM

The snowflake that i kept very successfully was in the same size tank by himself and I noticed he put out more waste than the three fish i have in my new tank. I wouldnt push it because of the stringent water quality standards you should be keeping. Also, it will despite what you may hear start harassing fish to some degree and with a CBB, this my not be the ideal situation. Thats alot of fish my friend. Also, if you get one despite this advice, cover the overflows in the tank they can get through and into your sump, which is not a fun experience especially when the get larger.

Serioussnaps · 03/06/2006, 01:42 AM

Tank sounds gorgeous, dont risk it would be my thoughtpattern.

Blown 346 · 03/06/2006, 03:08 AM

Also you better hope your rockwork is very stabile, eels liek to burrow and make tunnels under rock. If they arent sturdy they can fall and crush the eel, knock corals off and even kill them.

They get big pretty fast and your chromis,perc and your wrasses's will be lunch.

ron burgandy · 03/06/2006, 09:01 AM

Well, I guess it'll be a no go. Many of you have been in the hobby much longer than myself, therefor, I will follow your advice. Thanks for your input, I'm sure you have saved me many a headache in the future. There are so many more things I want to add to my tank, I need a larger tank. I just don't have the fundage right now.

I've already invested over 8 grand in my 72gal. I just can't ditch it and start over, even though I would love too.

Anemonebuff · 03/06/2006, 09:07 AM

rjwilson had to move his snowflake to a diiferent tank. I wouldn't do it either.

The_Nexis_One · 03/06/2006, 09:49 AM

I have a SFE in my lagoon. At the time I added the Eel, I had a 4" dwarf Lion and 2 Leaf fish (the Eel was barely ~15") The eel grew very quickly and the other fish stayed on the opposite side of the tank from him. Both leaf fish became distressed, one stopped eating all togethor just by it's presence. Within a 2 months, one leaf fish was dead and the Lion had vanished. I don't think it was eaton as it would have been noticable with the eel looking like he swollowed a couple golf balls. Within a couple months, the other Leaf fish contracted a 'bloat' condition from not eating/stress and died.

Mind you, the SFE never tried to actively eat any of these fish, but would nip at them or lunge out toward them if they were near. The leaf fish don't really swim, but they flutter when trying to escape and the eel would bump them into the water column as they tried to escape in sort of an experimental "what are you" sort of way.

Now, he lives in the 27gal lagoon portion of my system by himself. I've considered adding a trigger, but I have my reservations about that as well.

I have some corals, macro's, and Mangroves in the lagoon as well and the eel goes on a weekly 'fun run' where he digs like crazy and throws sand from the DSB everywhere!... LR shifts/falls/moves and the tank becomes cloudy... There's been many a time when I've walked into the room to find a milky tank and upon approaching the SFE emerges from the cloud and stares at me from the other side of the glass with sand trickling off his head/neck... Not exactly reef friendly IMHO.

John.

03/06/2006, 12:09 AM	#1
ron burgandy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 101	Snowflake Eel I have a 72gal bowfront with the following; 5 green chromis 1 magnificant foxface 1 false perc. 1 copperband butterfly 1 yellow choris wrasse 1 mystery wrasse 4 crocea clams 3 green bta 150lb. of live rock live sand and a mix of corals(lps,sps,softies) I'm wanting to add a small snowflake. Everything I've read seems to be o.k. and I do have a glass top. What do you think?? __________________ 60% of the time, it works every time. Current Tank Info: 180 gal starphire mixed reef, 75gal sump, 3 250 mh w/10k Reeflux bulbs, Coralvue e-ballasts,and lumenarc reflectors, MR2 skimmer, MRC CR-5 calcium reactor, Two Little Fishies phosban reactor closed loop with a Dart, Barracuda for system.

03/06/2006, 12:12 AM	#2
Jerry W Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: PA. Posts: 2,873	Your tank is, IMO, heavily stocked as is. I think adding the eel would be pushing it. They grow fairly large and make a lot of waste. I wouldn't if it were my tank. __________________ Americans sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. Current Tank Info: 37 gal; pair of mocha clowns, ywg and tiger pistol shrimp

03/06/2006, 09:01 AM	#7
ron burgandy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 101	Well, I guess it'll be a no go. Many of you have been in the hobby much longer than myself, therefor, I will follow your advice. Thanks for your input, I'm sure you have saved me many a headache in the future. There are so many more things I want to add to my tank, I need a larger tank. I just don't have the fundage right now. I've already invested over 8 grand in my 72gal. I just can't ditch it and start over, even though I would love too. __________________ 60% of the time, it works every time. Current Tank Info: 180 gal starphire mixed reef, 75gal sump, 3 250 mh w/10k Reeflux bulbs, Coralvue e-ballasts,and lumenarc reflectors, MR2 skimmer, MRC CR-5 calcium reactor, Two Little Fishies phosban reactor closed loop with a Dart, Barracuda for system.

03/06/2006, 09:49 AM	#9
The_Nexis_One Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 416	I have a SFE in my lagoon. At the time I added the Eel, I had a 4" dwarf Lion and 2 Leaf fish (the Eel was barely ~15") The eel grew very quickly and the other fish stayed on the opposite side of the tank from him. Both leaf fish became distressed, one stopped eating all togethor just by it's presence. Within a 2 months, one leaf fish was dead and the Lion had vanished. I don't think it was eaton as it would have been noticable with the eel looking like he swollowed a couple golf balls. Within a couple months, the other Leaf fish contracted a 'bloat' condition from not eating/stress and died. Mind you, the SFE never tried to actively eat any of these fish, but would nip at them or lunge out toward them if they were near. The leaf fish don't really swim, but they flutter when trying to escape and the eel would bump them into the water column as they tried to escape in sort of an experimental "what are you" sort of way. Now, he lives in the 27gal lagoon portion of my system by himself. I've considered adding a trigger, but I have my reservations about that as well. I have some corals, macro's, and Mangroves in the lagoon as well and the eel goes on a weekly 'fun run' where he digs like crazy and throws sand from the DSB everywhere!... LR shifts/falls/moves and the tank becomes cloudy... There's been many a time when I've walked into the room to find a milky tank and upon approaching the SFE emerges from the cloud and stares at me from the other side of the glass with sand trickling off his head/neck... Not exactly reef friendly IMHO. John. __________________ Killing is easy, Keeping things alive is a Challenge Current Tank Info: 40B Display, 27g Lagoon, 12g Rock Box....

03/06/2006, 12:42 AM	#3
ledford1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 2,241	I agree. I think a SFE would be too much, and some of the corals may not appreciate the extra waste.

03/06/2006, 01:41 AM	#4
Serioussnaps Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,703	The snowflake that i kept very successfully was in the same size tank by himself and I noticed he put out more waste than the three fish i have in my new tank. I wouldnt push it because of the stringent water quality standards you should be keeping. Also, it will despite what you may hear start harassing fish to some degree and with a CBB, this my not be the ideal situation. Thats alot of fish my friend. Also, if you get one despite this advice, cover the overflows in the tank they can get through and into your sump, which is not a fun experience especially when the get larger.

03/06/2006, 01:42 AM	#5
Serioussnaps Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,703	Tank sounds gorgeous, dont risk it would be my thoughtpattern.

03/06/2006, 03:08 AM	#6
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Also you better hope your rockwork is very stabile, eels liek to burrow and make tunnels under rock. If they arent sturdy they can fall and crush the eel, knock corals off and even kill them. They get big pretty fast and your chromis,perc and your wrasses's will be lunch.

03/06/2006, 09:07 AM	#8
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	rjwilson had to move his snowflake to a diiferent tank. I wouldn't do it either.