Setting Up A Moray Eel Tank

[fishermandave333]

Hey, completely new to SW, been doing FW (successfully) for years. I currently have to re-seal my 400 acrylic, but after that is done I will have a 175 Oceanic Bowfront I want to house a single large specimen of Moray. I was thinking gymnothorax favagineus, but many will I'm sure tell me that I cannot house it long term, which is my goal. I want a beast, a single large specimen, that would be fine with the 17" ends plus overflow boxes in the corners of this tank. If that doesn't work, I would want 1-3 slightly smaller species. Anyone have any suggestions on what to look into? Also, where is the best place to start looking to buy these hard to find guys? I may start with a tesselata regardless, the opinion on cramped quarters varies. If you have anything else to add to my project, please do, thanks.

 

[Kman]

A 175 is not large enough for that species. An Adult Gymnothorax favagineus can grow up to 300 CM (9 feet). That 400 gallon acrylic tank would be better. I would start with one of the smaller species first and see how you like them. I kept a snowflake eel years ago and got bored after a while with it because they don't do that much except eat, poop and sit in one spot.

Check out J&L for some options.

http://www.jlaquatics.com/info/129/Eels.html

 

[jeffopentax]

I have a 3ft zebra moray I've been contemplating selling. Let me know if interested.


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[Kman]

That would be perfect. The minimum for the zebra moray is a 125 gallon tank. You could even keep it with some larger fish. Unless this one has shown aggression towards fish.

 

[AdInfinitum]

A 175 is not large enough for that species. An Adult Gymnothorax favagineus can grow up to 300 CM (9 feet). That 400 gallon acrylic tank would be better. I would start with one of the smaller species first and see how you like them. I kept a snowflake eel years ago and got bored after a while with it because they don't do that much except eat, poop and sit in one spot.

Check out J&L for some options.

http://www.jlaquatics.com/info/129/Eels.html

Agree completely...

What are your plans for the 400? That is really a starting point for any of the moderately large marine species. Bear in mind that a large proportion of the "smaller" ornamental SW species of fish that you see routinely in stores will outgrow a 175.

I have always loved my Morays but they are really add-ons to a display tank since they really don't do much in between feedings.

The 175 would make a nice reef or DT for smaller predators of which there are many flashy and amazing choices....

 

[jeffopentax]

That would be perfect. The minimum for the zebra moray is a 125 gallon tank. You could even keep it with some larger fish. Unless this one has shown aggression towards fish.

Has never shown aggression towards anything. Apparently, he ate a hermit while sewerat was babysitting. Never saw him bother any inverts in my tank. He had a blood shrimp that literally lived on his back. Pretty neat when he cleaned the eels mouth. Unfortunately, the shrimp didn't survive the tank disaster.


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[scubasteve]

imo 400-600 gal is needed for the monster species to be kept long term but there are many cool smaller species you can get and having a bunch means one should be swimming around but i know my snowflake dont come out much unless i have food otherwise he just wanders through the lr

 

[scubasteve]

Has never shown aggression towards anything. Apparently, he ate a hermit while sewerat was babysitting. Never saw him bother any inverts in my tank. He had a blood shrimp that literally lived on his back. Pretty neat when he cleaned the eels mouth. Unfortunately, the shrimp didn't survive the tank disaster.


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If he dont want it i might it is a nice looking zebra

 

[reef keeper]

It's at my place and eating. Along with that cute little puffer.

 

[Sewerat]

It's a gentle eel. Hand feedable

 

[pulpfiction1]

Hey, completely new to SW, been doing FW (successfully) for years. I currently have to re-seal my 400 acrylic, but after that is done I will have a 175 Oceanic Bowfront I want to house a single large specimen of Moray. I was thinking gymnothorax favagineus, but many will I'm sure tell me that I cannot house it long term, which is my goal. I want a beast, a single large specimen, that would be fine with the 17" ends plus overflow boxes in the corners of this tank. If that doesn't work, I would want 1-3 slightly smaller species. Anyone have any suggestions on what to look into? Also, where is the best place to start looking to buy these hard to find guys? I may start with a tesselata regardless, the opinion on cramped quarters varies. If you have anything else to add to my project, please do, thanks.

wow,looks like an awesome eel,would really like to see it

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+29+133&pcatid=133

 

[fishermandave333]

Sweet, thank you all for your replies. My 400 has 3 freshwater stingrays (black diamond leopoldi) which I am hoping will breed soon, so unfortunately that one is spoken for. I had the same thought on the tesselata, until I had 2 or 3 people tell me they prefer cramped spaces. The one guy that owns one in town said he moved his from a 90 to a 150 and said that the eel did better in the 90, didn't quite know what to do with the room. I would have thought this was a 1 off but another guy told me that he kept his in a 180 for 5-6 years until he upgraded because he found a good deal. Apparently they grow real slow, I probably wouldn't need to sell/upgrade for 5+ years, by then I'd probably scoop a 300+. Anyway, I am still open for suggestions for a sightly smaller beast, I will be ready end of april-mid may, maybe if the zebra is still around I can scoop it to start before I look for a centrepiece (Mexican Dragon maybe? Tax return better be PHENOMINAL lol).

 

[Jewel]

Eels are cool, I like the smaller ones but really cool other wise. I wonder if that Eel is still in Hamilton at the Big Als. Good Luck, can't wait for the pics.

 

[scubasteve]

Eels are cool, I like the smaller ones but really cool other wise. I wonder if that Eel is still in Hamilton at the Big Als. Good Luck, can't wait for the pics.

was still there a month ago he is a monster ..... ive always wanted to see someone do an all eel tank if i could find another tank cheap thats what i would do but i have already maxed what i can financially support as it is

 

[fishermandave333]

I'm thinking if I really decide I can't house 1 monster and be sure I can upgrade accordingly in the future, I may go for the fimbriated moray and 2 other aggressive guys. Everyone says their fimbriated kills everything, but if I get 3 tiny guys at once I may be willing to try and see how the community does. Still really love the tesselata. I love the funebris more, but I am realistic about that one LOL

 

[Kman]

It is good to start with smaller ones because the thought of owning one verses actually owning one is totally different. Years ago I really really loved and wanted a mantis shrimp. I ended up finding one and I set up a tank. After a while when it didn't do much and ate like a pig I got bored of it and had to sell it. Stuff like that is not always easy to sell because it is more of a specialty item. People love specialty items but don't always want to buy them. So I was stuck almost 6 months with it till in the end I ended up giving it away to the local fish store.
If you have one of the smaller ones and end up wanting or needing to sell it, you will have a better chance then having some monster of an eel.

 

[fishermandave333]

I appreciate your advice Kman, I have owned a gymnothorax polyuranodon up until 2 weeks ago when I sold my growout tank, it was mine and my girlfriends favourite fish, hard to let go. It confirmed everything I knew I wanted when I saw my first funebris (atlantic green moray) in big als, ducked his head into a hole in the rocks and I stood there watching for 15-20 seconds while his incredibly long body dissapeared. I was hooked from then on. Same thing happened when I saw my first black diamond leopoldi, I knew I wanted to raise these things. I started with a reticulated and worked my way up. I fully appreciate that people get bored, but I take pride in growing out my "rare" beasts for life just like I would a dog or cat, and people spend more time in front of my tanks then socializing when I have people over. I am researching everything daily, and I think my biggest hangup will be where to get the specific morays I would want if I don't go with a tesselata. Some of the jewels or dragons I have seen ($1500+) are flipping incredible, but even if I wanted to dish out that cash and was happy with the size and beast factor, what are the chances of me coming accross what I want around here? I'm thinking road trip, and if I'm going to take a road trip, I want to make it worth it. Keep the advice coming guys, everyone here is real helpful, something you don't always get on MFK lol.

 

[Kman]

You are doing.

That is great you like to keep them for life. Nothing wrong with that. If people are willing to upgrade housing as a species grow, that is good husbandry and the welfare of what is being kept is properly looked after. If people have done their research like you have and are willing to commit long term and know what they are getting into. They are great animals to keep. Myself my passion lies in keeping a reef tank. But I do love the eels.

You might have to look online to get some of the larger species or go into your local fish store and see if they can reach out to their distributors to see what they have it can get. Sometimes they can get other species but don't bother because they can be harder to sell. If they know you want a particular one they can
always keep an eye open.

Years ago the larger ones were all you could really get besides the snowflake. But now it is mostly the smaller or medium ones. At least around here that I have seen.

 

[fishermandave333]

How much live rock do you guys anticipate would be a good amount?

 

[Kman]

The more you have in the tank the less room the larger ones have, but if you go to little you might run into water quality issues. I am a strong believer in live rocks denitrafication power and the effect it has on good water quality. I think making your own cave and rocks would be super cool. You could have mutable cave systems and open space for it to slink behind. Lots of spots it can poke the head out and beg you for food. Slowly waving in the current.