Freshwater Moray Eel

[sra4ever]

hello, i have been reading some of the fourms here on this web site trying to find out stuff about freshwater moray eels (really brackish). i am going to buy one as soon as my pet store gets them in (they say they are about 10-12 in long when they get them). i was planning on getting a 29 gal tank, air fliter, heater, lid, and some sort of cleaning fish.

i am not sure of what else i need. i read somewhere that i should get a home ph testing kit, and a gravle cleaner. which i dont know if that will be needed. i dont plan on haveing a alot of fish, 1 maybe 2 moray eels and a cleaner fish.

if i get more than one will a 29 gal tank be big enough? and should i get my tank now and prepare it for its homecoming? what would happen if i bought everything all at once and did it in all in one day (that is what i was planing on doing until i came here)? how fast do they grow, how long could i keep 1-2 morays in a 29 gal tank? and if not a moray eel then what kind (i would like one that grows a least 14 in, i would rather have a fire eel but nowhere around my house gets them or can order them in for me)?

not sure what i am doing that is whay i came here.

any and all info will help thanks.

[William]

Moray eels can due to their nature be kept in relativly small aquariums and a 29 gallon might be ok even if a larger aquarium would be better. Make sure that you cover it well without openings or the morays might escape.

You shouldn't get everything at once as you first thought as that might end up in disaster and make it very hard to keep good water quality in the aquarium. You should instead setup the aquarium and let it run 2 weeks before getting the morays for it. In other words getting the tank now and start praparing is the better choice.

Note that freshwater morays are much easier to keep in brackish water where they are found naturally so I strongly recommend adding some salt to the water.

Some test kits (pH and Nitrite/nitrate) is very good to have as it will help you track down problems if they arises. You should get a gravle cleaner. They are cheap and will help you keep the tank clean.

I don't know where you live but you might be able to find fire eels for sale on the internet that are shipped to your home with garanteed live arrival.

[sra4ever]

so would i be ok to get two? i read that they like company. and which web site would you suggest?

thanks.

[DemonShark]

if you get two you will proubly need a bigger aquarmuim

[William]

With just about any other type of fish I would agree and even suggest that your aquarium was to small for one fish but Eels do better in smaller aquariums than many other type of species due to their fleixible natur (like a snake). If you combine this with the total lack of aggression I have seen in these fishes when I have kept them (they share caves) I'll say that two fish most likely will work. I do however still think it would be better with a larger aquarium and would go for a 50 gallon tank if you can afford it/ have room for it.

Any small fish you put in with them will be eaten.

[sra4ever]

i think i am going to get a 55 gal, it is only $50.00 more. and how often is it ok to feed them small fish. from what i understand they eat mostly frozen fish.


just wondring are there any cool brackish sharks that i could put in with them, if so what ones?

[William]

A 55 gallon is better not to mention a lot easier to care for. You could feed them frozen fish but you can also keep platy or similar with them and let them hunt for themself.

I kept mine with livebearers that are a renewable source of food and feed them frozen fish and shrimps on a daily to semi daily basis. Each of mine ate about 8-10 shrimp without shells during each feeding. Let them eat whatever they eat within 5 min and remove any remains.

If you want you can teach them to come and take their food from your hand and even to come an collect it above the surface at a certain location. They will then raise a part of their body above the waters surface. You might however end up biten once in a while as they sometimes frenzy and doesn't se that well. But its a cool trick.

[DemonShark]

yea but wont that hurt bad?

[William]

It isn't pleasent ;-)

They have tiny teeth that make tiny small wounds fish bruns for a few hours after you have been biten.

[sra4ever]

thanks for all the info, it has been very helpful. one last question. what if i want a sand bottom instead of a gravel bottom. how would i clean that up?

[DemonShark]

i dont think so