need assistance with eels

[silentfox]

I just got back from the aquarium store and I'm really interested in getting a snowflake eel, they're part of the moray family. Thing is, I found out they're notorious escape artists and can slip out of tanks pretty easily. I'm looking for some advice on how to eel-proof my tank, basically what I need to get to keep my eel from ending up on the floor. Any suggestions would be great, I'm open to doing some DIY projects to make it work. Also, I need a tank cover that can withstand the heat from my metal halide bulbs, so it can't be anything that'll melt or deform.

[Marinix]

You could get a piece of acrylic cut to fit your tank and just drill some small holes in it for airflow. I'd also pick up some clamps to keep the top secure. Another option is to suspend your metal halide over the tank, that way you don't have to worry about the acrylic melting. I'm just curious, are you planning on setting up a reef tank with your moray eel?

[silentfox]

You could get a piece of acrylic cut to fit your tank and just drill some small holes in it for airflow. I'd also pick up some clamps to keep the top secure. Another option is to suspend your metal halide over the tank, that way you don't have to worry about the acrylic melting. I'm just curious, are you planning on setting up a reef tank with your moray eel?

I've had my tank for 4 years and it's already a reef. The guy at the store said eels can live in reefs because the live rock provides shelter for them.

[zenfox8]

I just got back from the aquarium store and I'm really interested in getting a snowflake eel, they're part of the moray family. Thing is, I found out they're notorious escape artists and can slip out of tanks pretty easily. I'm looking for some advice on how to eel-proof my tank, basically what I need to get to keep my eel from ending up on the floor. Any suggestions would be great, I'm open to doing some DIY projects to make it work. Also, I need a tank cover that can withstand the heat from my metal halide bulbs, so it can't be anything that'll melt or deform.

The issue here is that snowflake morays are invert feeders in the wild, so I'd expect them to go after ornamental shrimp at some point. You might also see a decline in hermit numbers over time, wouldn't be surprised if that happened.

[zenoxa]

I'm with you on this. For reef setups, I personally prefer the piscivorous morays. They're a better fit, in my opinion. The invert-eating ones, though, are ideal for tanks with small fish, but be prepared for them to go after true crabs and non-cleaner shrimp. And if the moray gets too hungry, even hermits and cleaners aren't safe.

[silentfox]

Just got my eel, pretty stoked. I'll be posting some pics in the pic forum soon, so keep an eye out.