Snowflake eel In reef tank, good or bad?

whatcaneyedo · #1 10-21-2014, 12:24 AM

I've been keeping snowflakes for about 9 years. I'm on my second one which I've only had for a little more than a year. The first one died last year and was around 8 years old (it had a tumour growing just behind its head for a year prior). I've kept them in a 120gal reef since 2006 with only a few issues. My advice is pretty much the same as everyone else's: Build your aquascape out of only medium to large size rocks. Volleyball size or bigger works well for me. Fasten/cement all of your coral well. And forget about keeping any small slender fish, shrimp or crabs. You'll also need an adequate skimmer.

I personally love having them in a reef tank because I don't have to worry about them picking at or bothering any coral unlike butterflies, tangs, clowns, gobies, angels etc. My clownfish is actually much worse than the eel for pushing coral and sand around. Perhaps I'm just lucky but the one thing I haven't had an issue yet that is always brought up is the whole escape thing. Knock on wood but after 9 years in an open topped tank I've never had an eel jump out.

btymens · #2 10-21-2014, 03:15 AM

Thanks for the info and replies guys. I never thought about upgrading my skimmer to account for waste. More research is still
Required on my part but it's good to have info
From those with experience

Skimmerking · #3 10-21-2014, 07:26 PM

ya that who is was whatcaneyedo thanks man

whatcaneyedo · #4 10-22-2014, 01:06 AM

I should re phrase something I said there. I don't want to promote keeping an eel in an open topped tank... never mind about my situation. In small store holding tanks I've watched them slip from tank to tank when many were placed in a row, I've also seen a few dead ones on the ground and I've heard plenty of jumping stories.

btymens · #5 10-22-2014, 01:39 AM

If I do get one I'm would make my take escape proof to protect
The eel and my investment

monza · #6 10-22-2014, 01:08 PM

They don't really jump they explore, sticking their head out of the tank looking and pushing up, seeing what's out there. They also go into over flows swim up returns basically anywhere they can and places you'd think they could not possibly go. Whatcan I'm pretty amazed you've had none escape, that's great, I have found snowflakes a little less on the exploring side, maybe that's it.