Eel minimum tank size

[SeattleReefer]

Hello everyone, I have been getting a lot of different answers online but I wanted to know if there are any Eels that could fit in a 15 gallon tank if it had significant rock to hide in. Thanks in advance.

 

[TX_REEF]

in my experienced opinion - no. 55 gallons could be a good starting point for a small eel, like a snowflake eel perhaps.

 

[Should I]

research how big eels get

 

[littlefoxx]

Hello everyone, I have been getting a lot of different answers online but I wanted to know if there are any Eels that could fit in a 15 gallon tank if it had significant rock to hide in. Thanks in advance.

No, there isnt any eels you can get in a 15 gallon. I say 75 minimum for snowflakes, anything else would need bigger. I have 4 morays and they swim in open waters a lot more than people think they do

 

[SeattleReefer]

Hello everyone, I have been getting a lot of different answers online but I wanted to know if there are any Eels that could fit in a 15 gallon tank if it had significant rock to hide in. Thanks in advance.

No, there isnt any eels you can get in a 15 gallon. I say 75 minimum for snowflakes, anything else would need bigger. I have 4 morays and they swim in open waters a lot more than people think they do

Thanks for the advice, I was getting some conflicting answers online.

 

[SeattleReefer]

research how big eels get

I have, I have also researched minimum tank size, some websites say 15 gallons is the minimum so I just wanted to ask this forum.

 

[Should I]

I have, I have also researched minimum tank size, some websites say 15 gallons is the minimum so I just wanted to ask this forum.

look at live aquaria tank size 15 gallon is no place for a eel

 

[Should I]

get some garden eels deep sand bed

and what eels in the aquarium trade are smaller than 2ft apart from the GDM that isn't available anymore

 

[littlefoxx]

Thanks for the advice, I was getting some conflicting answers online.

Yeah, a lot of people dont really understand morays. They are like “oh its fine they just sit in the rocks”. I got my first moray in a 125 gallon six foot long tank. I was so glad I did as he grew. He was about 10 inches when I got him and I thought they just stayed in their den and got longer. They not only get longer fast, they get REALLY thick! My eels love to stretch out and I often see them either curled up in a den/cave or stretched out swimming through the rocks at the bottom of the tank. When they are hungry they will come out and free swim.

Honestly all I learned about morays is from my 4 amazing eels and watching them interact and their behaviors.

Smallest moray in the hobby is a golden dwarf, about 12 inches but Ive never seen one for sale. The next smallest are your 2 feet eels.

Here are pictures of mine (all of them are full grown adults except the zebra eel, she is my biggest and shes a little over 3 feet long now)

 

[JayM]

look at live aquaria tank size 15 gallon is no place for a eel

Live Aquaria also says the minimum tank size for a clownfish is 50 gallons. They aren't always right.

 

[littlefoxx]

Also OP dont get garden eels, they are hard to keep and honestly are really not a true eel, they are super delicate like seahorses. Lots of people actually keep them with sea horses.

 

[SeattleReefer]

Thanks for the advice, I was getting some conflicting answers online.

Yeah, a lot of people dont really understand morays. They are like “oh its fine they just sit in the rocks”. I got my first moray in a 125 gallon six foot long tank. I was so glad I did as he grew. He was about 10 inches when I got him and I thought they just stayed in their den and got longer. They not only get longer fast, they get REALLY thick! My eels love to stretch out and I often see them either curled up in a den/cave or stretched out swimming through the rocks at the bottom of the tank. When they are hungry they will come out and free swim.

Honestly all I learned about morays is from my 4 amazing eels and watching them interact and their behaviors.

Smallest moray in the hobby is a golden dwarf, about 12 inches but Ive never seen one for sale. The next smallest are your 2 feet eels.

Here are pictures of mine (all of them are full grown adults except the zebra eel, she is my biggest and shes a little over 3 feet long now)

Wow those are some great pictures, thanks for sharing those, and thanks for the advice!

 

[Kasrift]

get some garden eels deep sand bed

and what eels in the aquarium trade are smaller than 2ft apart from the GDM that isn't available anymore

Garden eels need a deep or wide sand bed and get up to 18 inches long, those won't work in a 15 gallon either.

Your best bet would be some "eel like" fish. Banded pipefish, curious wormfish, cusk eel (technically a blenny) or something like that.

 

[littlefoxx]

Wow those are some great pictures, thanks for sharing those, and thanks for the advice!

Youre welcome! I love them, they are the highlight of my tank!

 

[SeattleReefer]

Wow those are some great pictures, thanks for sharing those, and thanks for the advice!

Youre welcome! I love them, they are the highlight of my tank!

How large is the tank you keep them in, and is it a reef or a FO?

 

[littlefoxx]

How large is the tank you keep them in, and is it a reef or a FO?

My tank is a 300 gallon, 8 feet long

 

[Kasrift]

My tank is a 300 gallon, 8 feet long

Just a tiny bit bigger than a 15g.

 

[SeattleReefer]

How large is the tank you keep them in, and is it a reef or a FO?

My tank is a 300 gallon, 8 feet long

Wow that’s pretty large!

 

[littlefoxx]

Wow that’s pretty large!

Yeah! They love the room. I had two in my old 125 and upgraded. Then I got my zebra eel. They are really thick and get about 5 feet but are so gentle. Shes a sweet heart! She makes the other 3 look tiny though.

This is Ivar my Jeweled moray when he was a baby and him now

 

[littlefoxx]

Just a tiny bit bigger than a 15g.

just a bit!!