FOWLER/ Predator Tank questions

[Grace2023]

Hello everyone,

Currently, I am getting ready to purchase and set up a Predator tank. I am back and Forth between two tanks- one is around 90 gallon and the other 100 gallons. So it will be a minimum of 90 gallons.

The stocking list that I want is:
1 Valentini puffer
1 Foxface Rabbitfish
1 Tomini tang
1 snowflake eel
Potentially 1 banana wrasse (I know these get huge, so if I did get one, I would get it young and upgrade my tank or rehome him/her when the time comes). Still not 100% on getting the banana wrasse yet. The other fish, I for sure want though. If anyone has experience with a banana wrasse, I would love to hear about that as well!

My question is what to add first and what to add later? I was thinking of adding the Valentini puffer first and snowflake eel last but I know the Tomini can be aggressive as well, so should I add that one after the snowflake? Any and all advice is appreciated. I want the tank to be successful and minimize/ eliminate any potential aggression.

 

[lapin]

You do know eels make a big mess while feeding.

 

[Evil1]

You do know eels make a big mess while feeding.

And you need a completely sealed off top. Not even a smidgen of space because they will get out

 

[scooterh928]

And you need a completely sealed off top. Not even a smidgen of space because they will get out

My eel go out once when younger and I still haven’t put a top yet. But he was lost I guess for a day or so and when we finally found him I picked him up and put him in water and away he went and hasn’t jumped out yet

 

[Grace2023]

You do know eels make a big mess while feeding.

And you need a completely sealed off top. Not even a smidgen of space because they will get out

I did read they are major escape artists. I plan on having a custom lid made, with locks and I may even add stuff to weigh it down for more security. I have read they can get out of even the smallest gap. I definitely plan to lock it down!

 

[Grace2023]

And you need a completely sealed off top. Not even a smidgen of space because they will get out

My eel go out once when younger and I still haven’t put a top yet. But he was lost I guess for a day or so and when we finally found him I picked him up and put him in water and away he went and hasn’t jumped out yet

That’s good you found him and he’s okay! I’ve heard some have had success and some have lost theirs due to escape. I plan to add a tight, locking lid to mine just in case mine is one of the ones that tries to escape.

 

[Grace2023]

You do know eels make a big mess while feeding.

I did see that. I know there is a lot that comes with having an eel but I do plan on taking the measures to have one. I plan on getting long tongs and target feeding mine. And I plan to have my husband feeding the others at the same time- opposite end of the tank just in case so there is no chance of any of the other fish accidentally getting nipped or bit. I’m hoping eventually, they’ll all learn where their “spots” are for feeding if I create a routine.

 

[Evil1]

My eel go out once when younger and I still haven’t put a top yet. But he was lost I guess for a day or so and when we finally found him I picked him up and put him in water and away he went and hasn’t jumped out yet

Well I’m a “Rather be safe than sorry” kinda guy. Kudos to you and your eel but I would cover my tank when keeping eels.

 

[vlangel]

I am guessing that you are getting a small snowflake eel? I misjudged my snowflake eel's ability to eat bigger food and it downed a clown tang the first night I put the tang in the tank! However if you get a smallish eel and put it in last I don't think any of the fish that you want will bother the eel, even if it is juvenile sized. I would probably start with the puffer, then the foxface (although you want some algae in the tank for it to graze on or nori), then the tang and finally the snowflake eel.

 

[scooterh928]

Well I’m a “Rather be safe than sorry” kinda guy. Kudos to you and your eel but I would cover my tank when keeping eels.

Oh I know I kinda have a partia lid to hopefully deter if anything but yeah I need to get a lid made for it

 

[Grace2023]

I am guessing that you are getting a small snowflake eel? I misjudged my snowflake eel's ability to eat bigger food and it downed a clown tang the first night I put the tang in the tank! However if you get a smallish eel and put it in last I don't think any of the fish that you want will bother the eel, even if it is juvenile sized. I would probably start with the puffer, then the foxface (although you want some algae in the tank for it to graze on or nori), then the tang and finally the snowflake eel.

Yes, I am going to try to get a juvenile if I can! I want it to be small- medium in size, preferably smaller though. I did plan to add it towards the end, the tang last. But I may swap them and add the eel last after hearing about yours! Thank you!

 

[vlangel]

Yes, I am going to try to get a juvenile if I can! I want it to be small- medium in size, preferably smaller though. I did plan to add it towards the end, the tang last. But I may swap them and add the eel last after hearing about yours! Thank you!

My eel was not small anymore when it ate the tang. It was probably 3ft long by then.

 

[littlefoxx]

If you want two morays the biggest you can get for filtration and space is the best option. I have 4 morays currently in my 300 gallon. Before I had a 6 foot 125 gallon with my jeweled and snowflake. I now have those two with a zebra and a white eye. All are super thick now and get along just fine. Only one out of the 4 has eaten a few fish. My jeweled eats cleaner wrasses… other than that they are well behaved and no issues with them!

 

[littlefoxx]

Yes, I am going to try to get a juvenile if I can! I want it to be small- medium in size, preferably smaller though. I did plan to add it towards the end, the tang last. But I may swap them and add the eel last after hearing about yours! Thank you!

If you get a juvenile, they are easy to train to eat frozen. All mine were juveniles and dont eat fish now that they are big enough (adult size) too! Except Ivar my jeweled. He eats cleaner wrasses his favorite food are frozen silversides so anything that looks like a silverside like the cleaner wrasses is fair game to him. I have a baby atlantic blue tang in with my 4 morays now and they leave her alone. Also have a hawkfish, tomato clown, and a 3 stripe damsel as my smallest fish.