Snowflake Moray

[Sanfernando]

I have an empty 55 gallon tank I'm going to set up this summer for FOWLR and was interested in getting a snowflake moray for it. Is this tank too small for an adult snowflake moray and if not would the bioload be too great to add any other fish?

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think it would be too small, not for quite a while, at least. However, I would indeed be careful about what else I added. I would keep it to relatively inactive animals: lions and such are good. And then, keep the numbers very low, only one, maybe two others at most.

 

[Sanfernando]

I also wanted to get a flame angel, would this not be a good idea even if the eel was small and the flame was 2"-3"?

 

[Jiggaboowhat]

I currently have a 5 1/2' Green Moray Tessalata eel in a 65 Gal. He as actually done very well in there, he curls up around a big piece of live rock that i have, and i've had him about 9 months. I would def. not get another fish in your 55 gal, especially one as small as a Flame Angel. At the store that i bought this moray eel, there was a 3' snowflake in a 180 w/ a 2 1/2' leopard shark and 12" show red volitan lion, and the eel killed the shark and the lion after about 3 weeks. A flame angel would be nothing but a treat. Hope I was to some help...


Randy Waterman :idea:

 

[Anonymous]

Well, if the eel thinks it can fit it in its mouth, it will try. Personally, I would be quite hesitant, as the angel doesn't quite have the same tools for defense as something like a dwarf lion might, or even a tang (but I know of no tang that would perform well in a system of that size--it would have to start very small and if it performed well it would soon outgrow the sys).

I'll suggest you decide which animal you want more. The eel will be much more restrictive, in terms of stocking buddies, whereas with the angel you would simply have to avoid other pygmies, but could add basslets, grammas, hawks, etc.

I also don't normally recommend folks go with animals that I know are wont to outgrow the system in a relatively short period of time, thusly I cannot recommend any puffers or triggers, not even the more docile ones.

I have to think about this--a Foxface would do fine with the eel, but they can be pigs and would soon outgrow the tank. Same thing with Pomacanthids. Filefishes might be a consideration, but having been doinked by the unpredictable Snowflake, I can't give them the "seal of approval". And that's the big problem with Snowflakes, they are unpredictable. I've known so many people, more than I can recount, who had a group of residents together for months or even years, and one day the Snowflake just "turns", and eats someone up.

Others that would house respectably with a Snowflake would be many of the larger wrasses (the Coris gaimard is a personal fave), but they would only do so well for so long in a 55.

Sorry I can't be of more help here, if I had me a "bible" I'd be able to better jog my memory, maybe there's someone else who has other ideas on it. Or, you can reconsider the Snowflake itself.

 

[Sanfernando]

Thanks for all the help. Looks like the moray is out, I'd rather have the flame angel anway.

 

[teevee]

I currently have a 5 1/2' Green Moray Tessalata eel in a 65 Gal. He as actually done very well in there, he curls up around a big piece of live rock that i have, and i've had him about 9 months.

imho your tank is far too small for such a large animal.

 

[Anonymous]

Mine too.

 

[Anonymous]

I think these are neat as far as eels go. So, we have established they can bite, are not safe with small fish or crustacea of any kind. And for an adult 75 gallons sufficient (thinking of putting him in with my niger trigger and regal tang - yes regal is going to a 180 in a few years when I finish grad school)?

Any tricks for keeping them from slithering out ? maybe lowering water level an inch or two from top???

 

[Anonymous]

A tight cover.

 

[Anonymous]

I have had a snowflake in my 37G FOWLR for almost 2 years without any problems. He was originally housed with a huma huma triggerfish and a lionfish. The lionfish outgrew the tank and I got rid of the trigger because he was a mean SOB. Now the snowflake is housed with a firefish, a blue accessor, and an orchid dottyback. He doesn't show any interest in the fish whatsoever.

Hopefully, he wont turn on them one day!

Louey

 

[beerbaron]

I currently have a 5 1/2' Green Moray Tessalata eel in a 65 Gal.

8O

you probably dont even need a rock structure. he could just curl up in his own densely packed knot of a body and pretend its a cave.

 

[M.E.Milz]

Maybe I am the exception, but when it comes to eels, I worry more about adding fish that might pick on the eel then I do about what types of fish the eel might eat. For example, I have a 2' dragon moray, a 2' white mouth moray, and a 3' zebra moray in the same tank with several damsels (along with triggers and tangs). Maybe my eels have become to domesticated?

I would also be more concerned about the ability of your tank to process large amounts and flucuations of wastes that are produced by eels, which taned to eat larger, less often meals. A deep sand bed, lots of live rock, and a protein skimmer are a must, IMO.

And as already mentioned, a tight fitting cover. I keep mine taped down just to be sure.

 

[Anonymous]

The issue is specific to species...:? Snowflakes are notoriously aggressive, while the Zebra is one of my own pet favorites, they can literally become just like any other pet for you.

Then again, maybe it is just you, eh?

 

[M.E.Milz]

The issue is specific to species...:? Snowflakes are notoriously aggressive, while the Zebra is one of my own pet favorites, they can literally become just like any other pet for you.

Then again, maybe it is just you, eh?

Sure, the zebra has a rep (and actually is) a pussy cat. But the White Mouth and the Hawaiian Dragon do not have such an easy going rep. I would say that these two types of morays are as agressive, or more so, than snowflakes.

FWIW, by far the most agressiive fish I have in my FOWLR tank (the one with the eels and the triggers) is my Annularis Angel. And in my reef tank, it is a Sailfin tang.

 

[Will C1]

i dident want to post here yet as i have only had my snowflake for 2weeks now. he is a pussy cat. he dosent even think about going after the school of 8 1-1 1/2" green chromis feeds by hand or a feeder. loves squid and clams. and the occasional mysis. hes pretty easy to care for so far. no aggresions yet and my little sob damsel the yellow one thats about 1 1/2" pushes him around! 8O

 

[Anonymous]

Sure, the zebra has a rep (and actually is) a pussy cat. But the White Mouth and the Hawaiian Dragon do not have such an easy going rep. I would say that these two types of morays are as agressive, or more so, than snowflakes.

FWIW, by far the most agressiive fish I have in my FOWLR tank (the one with the eels and the triggers) is my Annularis Angel. And in my reef tank, it is a Sailfin tang.

Indeed, they are aggressive for sure. The angel, no doubt. The most difficult fish I ever had to service a tank with was a rather pugnacious Emperor Snapper, though I think it was peculiar to this one fish, they don't seem to be so nippy as a matter of course.