Golden Dwarf Moray Eel (Gymnothorax melatremus)

[Delphinus]

Day 35.. not that I'm counting anymore though (I had to look it up on a calendar). Still no eating. Buh. I wonder if I should move him into a tank with other fish (he's on his own). That way there's more activity and that might draw him out more (like a dither fish effect?). And that way there's always food being added to the tank every day, so there's a better chance of getting used to the idea of "humans bring you food."

Only thing is I'm a bit worried about the escape artist potential. There are 2 tanks I could move him into. The cube tank now has Michika's fish in there and two of those are small chromis (ie., probably a bite sized snack if he ever decides he's hungry), so that tank is out. That leaves a 75g, which is actually fairly well sealed up (strainer on the overflow, canopy with few holes). The main worry is that I have fans in the canopy for airflow with no guards. Maybe this is a silly question, but since eels are known for being escape artists, how far out of the water will they poke out? The fans are only a couple inches above the tank, if he was really motivated he could reach them. Is that a realistic worry?

[kipsix]

Have you tried the Silversides yet??

I think mine ate my peppermint shrimp..... you could always try that. If you're concerned just have something in the tank for him to eat should he get that hungry, like a clown goby or shrimp that's roughly bite sized. My now deceased peppermint shrimp was easily 2-3 mouthfuls and it's completely gone.

When I had mine in my BC29 he got in the back even thru my über custom eel guard netcontraption. So he must have come an inch or so out of the water. Yesterday when I was transferring him from a temp tank to my 65gal he got out the container and it must have been a solid couple inches out to the floor. The last thing I would do is underestimate these guys.... damn cunning.

[Delphinus]

Yeah, I've tried silversides. I even chopped a few heads off, skewered them and had them "peek" into his cave like a puppet. Gruesome but oh well.

To be honest the peppermint shrimp idea did occur to me. I also might try ghost shrimp if I can find any... I hear if you acclimate them real slow they'll last a couple days in SW.

[Borderjumper]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Yeah, I've tried silversides. I even chopped a few heads off, skewered them and had them "peek" into his cave like a puppet. Gruesome but oh well.

To be honest the peppermint shrimp idea did occur to me. I also might try ghost shrimp if I can find any... I hear if you acclimate them real slow they'll last a couple days in SW.

Get a couple of big fat female mollys. Acclimate them slowly, and they do really well in salt water. The are livebearers and provide tasty snacks.

[Oceanic]

Originally Posted by Borderjumper

Get a couple of big fat female mollys. Acclimate them slowly, and they do really well in salt water. The are livebearers and provide tasty snacks.

I am going to try these Molly's some day. Good suggestion.

[kipsix]

So do the mollies actually survive in SW? Or do they just not die right away?

[Delphinus]

My understanding is they can be acclimated to SW as their natural habitat is brackish estuaries or something like that.

[Borderjumper]

Originally Posted by kipsix

So do the mollies actually survive in SW? Or do they just not die right away?

I have kept them in SW and they did very well. I had them for 1.5 years then gave them away.