blue Ribbon Eels?

dhost · 04/20/2006, 09:01 PM

Has anyone had any luck keeping a blue ribbon eel longer than 6 months? any advise before I buy one, or should I buy one? Are they reef safe?

Wolverine · 04/20/2006, 09:04 PM

Don't buy one. Basically, if these are the questions you're asking, you're not ready to attempt keeping one. There are many who feel that these should simply be left in the ocean. Some make the argument that advanced aquarists only should keep them.

They may eat some of your motile crustaceans before they die.

Dave

dhost · 04/20/2006, 09:07 PM

Is there an eel that is easy to keep in a reef tank.
Man that is a pretty eel, and I sure would like to get it. any advise if i do breakdown and buy it?

Bret61081 · 04/20/2006, 09:38 PM

Don't buy it! its a waste of $$ unless you actually see it eating before. If its a good store they won't even stock it!I wil try and find some pics of my eel. Its a white ghost eel. I've had it in my reef for over a year now and its doing great. looks very simliar to a ribbon eel but these guys eat! Mine loves silversides. here is the link for more info

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...ry.php?id=7283

I had to have my LFS special order it for me and now he stocks them regularly. cost about 35$ I will see if I can find any pictures for you...

kenny77 · 04/20/2006, 10:16 PM

If you want to invest your money with out killing a creature that won't eat in your tank get a snowflake eel. they get very nice when big and can be hand feeded. Mine use to eat on my hand. But please don't buy a ribbon eel.

Please!

dhost · 04/20/2006, 11:03 PM

Thanks I will stay away. They sure are pretty. I guess some things just belong in the Ocean.

technoshaman · 04/21/2006, 09:03 AM

If you aren't planning on keeping crustaceans and have a solid rockscape consider a zebra eel - very 'pet' like and gentle compared to snowflakes.

reefdom · 04/26/2006, 12:35 PM

I had one for 2 years (5 foot) before he got out...

They will eat your shrimp, gobies and snails at times.. It's a financial gamble.. If you get one start it off in your reef overflow box if you have one.. You'll be surprised they will get in and out of there on there own.. You'll see him in there and then next he'll be swimming across the tank..

They are one of the most incredible eels IMO (The colors duke the colors)..

Chihuahua6 · 04/26/2006, 04:29 PM

Years ago I had a snowflake. He was big, tame and beautiful until one day he went carpet surfing. The tank needs to be covered tightly. I imagine any eel would eat small fish and shrimp in your tank but not corals so it depends on what else you want to keep.

Quatro · 04/26/2006, 09:28 PM

I've had one for a little over a year in our 55 gallon fish only tank. She (dark colored, not blue) was eating at the fish store, so my mom gave her a try and she's been eating silversides in our tank ever since. I would say this is 1 in 1000, so don't try it unless you want to go through lots of eels! The white ribbon eel mentioned earlier is a much better choice because of it's hardiness. I'll try to find a picture just for fun and post later.

04/20/2006, 09:01 PM	#1
dhost Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Statesboro Georgia Posts: 74	blue Ribbon Eels? Has anyone had any luck keeping a blue ribbon eel longer than 6 months? any advise before I buy one, or should I buy one? Are they reef safe? __________________ Thanks for your kindness Dan Current Tank Info: 110 gallon, 35 gallon sump

04/20/2006, 09:04 PM	#2
Wolverine RC Mod Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: West Bloomfield, MI Posts: 17,732	Don't buy one. Basically, if these are the questions you're asking, you're not ready to attempt keeping one. There are many who feel that these should simply be left in the ocean. Some make the argument that advanced aquarists only should keep them. They may eat some of your motile crustaceans before they die. Dave __________________ Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. -Douglas Adams Current Tank Info: 14g, 29g nano reefs

04/20/2006, 09:07 PM	#3
dhost Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Statesboro Georgia Posts: 74	Is there an eel that is easy to keep in a reef tank. Man that is a pretty eel, and I sure would like to get it. any advise if i do breakdown and buy it? __________________ Thanks for your kindness Dan Current Tank Info: 110 gallon, 35 gallon sump

04/20/2006, 10:16 PM	#5
kenny77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 2,792	If you want to invest your money with out killing a creature that won't eat in your tank get a snowflake eel. they get very nice when big and can be hand feeded. Mine use to eat on my hand. But please don't buy a ribbon eel. Please! __________________ "There's plenty of water in the universe without life, but nowere is there life without water" - Sylvia A. Farle, Project Director Sustainable Seas Expedition Kenny Current Tank Info: 24g nano. 60 cube in progress

04/20/2006, 11:03 PM	#6
dhost Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Statesboro Georgia Posts: 74	Thanks I will stay away. They sure are pretty. I guess some things just belong in the Ocean. __________________ Thanks for your kindness Dan Current Tank Info: 110 gallon, 35 gallon sump

04/20/2006, 09:38 PM	#4
Bret61081 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 2,078	Don't buy it! its a waste of $$ unless you actually see it eating before. If its a good store they won't even stock it!I wil try and find some pics of my eel. Its a white ghost eel. I've had it in my reef for over a year now and its doing great. looks very simliar to a ribbon eel but these guys eat! Mine loves silversides. here is the link for more info http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...ry.php?id=7283 I had to have my LFS special order it for me and now he stocks them regularly. cost about 35$ I will see if I can find any pictures for you...

04/21/2006, 09:03 AM	#7
technoshaman Reefer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,275	If you aren't planning on keeping crustaceans and have a solid rockscape consider a zebra eel - very 'pet' like and gentle compared to snowflakes.

04/26/2006, 12:35 PM	#8
reefdom Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 153	I had one for 2 years (5 foot) before he got out... They will eat your shrimp, gobies and snails at times.. It's a financial gamble.. If you get one start it off in your reef overflow box if you have one.. You'll be surprised they will get in and out of there on there own.. You'll see him in there and then next he'll be swimming across the tank.. They are one of the most incredible eels IMO (The colors duke the colors).. __________________ 125g Tank, 30g Sump, 15g Hang-on, Refugium, EV-180 Skimmer, Schuran Cal. Reactor, 3 IceCap 250W, 3 14K Pheonix DE Bulbs, IceCap 660, 2 72" VHO/10K tubes, Dimmer, 3 SEIO 820 AquaController II

04/26/2006, 04:29 PM	#9
Chihuahua6 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Hempstead, NY Posts: 2,124	Years ago I had a snowflake. He was big, tame and beautiful until one day he went carpet surfing. The tank needs to be covered tightly. I imagine any eel would eat small fish and shrimp in your tank but not corals so it depends on what else you want to keep. __________________ Leah Amanda Current Tank Info: First salt tank 1985, current tank 150 g acrylic

04/26/2006, 09:28 PM	#10
Quatro Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 541	I've had one for a little over a year in our 55 gallon fish only tank. She (dark colored, not blue) was eating at the fish store, so my mom gave her a try and she's been eating silversides in our tank ever since. I would say this is 1 in 1000, so don't try it unless you want to go through lots of eels! The white ribbon eel mentioned earlier is a much better choice because of it's hardiness. I'll try to find a picture just for fun and post later.