Moray Eels - Creepy or Cool?

Slayvoff · Sep 13, 2017

What makes them appeal so much to you? Part of me thinks they are cool but majority of me is creeped out by them and their faces/slithering bodies. I want to like them because I can totally see them being a fun addition to a tank.

Was anyone else who is now a fan of moray eels originally creeped out by them? If so, what changed your opinion?

S-t-r-e-t-c-h · Sep 13, 2017

Is "both" a good answer? LOL...

I love moray eels; they're really different from any other fish out there and some of the more ornate types are truly beautiful. That said, my first thought when I see a 2-3' moray in a tank is "there's no way I'm sticking my hand in there"...

sfin52 · Sep 13, 2017

I have a snowflake and I love it. I really became interested with an eel after my wonderful wife nixed my idea having a ball python The compromise was she would let me get an eel.

spscrackhead · Sep 13, 2017

They are definitely interesting... LOL
We make an effort to have as diverse tanks as possible to some extent. And there is nothing else in your tank that will behave like an eel. IMO moray are a bit more creepy than slowflakes or something like a blue ribbon.

Homewrecker · Sep 13, 2017

Ehh I've always found them an irresponsible purchase/ sale. Most of the time they outgrow the tank they're in and people try to get rid of them at stores...
I had some guy trying to sell me his Hawaiian dragon eel for about 3 months now and I don't want anything to do with that beast....

Slayvoff · Sep 13, 2017

Homewrecker said:
Ehh I've always found them an irresponsible purchase/ sale. Most of the time they outgrow the tank they're in and people try to get rid of them at stores...
I had some guy trying to sell me his Hawaiian dragon eel for about 3 months now and I don't want anything to do with that beast....

Wow. That thing is straight out of Hell.

SDReefer · Sep 13, 2017

I think they look pretty cool but I don't see one in my tank in the foreseeable future since I like to work a lot in my tank and I don't want the chance of getting bit. But they are so cool to look at.

sfin52 · Sep 13, 2017

The great thing about my snowflake is that it is a pebble toothed moray eel. Eats small crustaceans. Never has it been interested in my hands. I love olaf.

DSC reef · Sep 13, 2017

I think eels are awesome. Just like anything else if bought and put in an appropriate sized tank with proper filtration then I can't see how it's a irresponsible purchase?? If that's the case then I guess most fish we buy can be considered irresponsible. I'd buy a Japanese dragon eel in a heartbeat if I could house him properly. Gotta love a big predator tank!

sfin52 · Sep 13, 2017

Homewrecker said:
Ehh I've always found them an irresponsible purchase/ sale. Most of the time they outgrow the tank they're in and people try to get rid of them at stores...
I had some guy trying to sell me his Hawaiian dragon eel for about 3 months now and I don't want anything to do with that beast....

If I had a tank big enough I would take one. Those things look amazing.

Idoc · Sep 13, 2017

Creepy..and...cool.

But, you usually only see their head, if that, since they seem to like to stay hidden away in daylight!

SDReefer · Sep 13, 2017

sfin52 said:
The great thing about my snowflake is that it is a pebble toothed moray eel. Eats small crustaceans. Never has it been interested in my hands. I love olaf.

I have to say that Olaf is one of the best names I've ever heard for a snowflake moray.

Crabs McJones · Sep 13, 2017

I like eels. I think they are interesting. I love reptiles including snakes so these would combine both hobbies for me

However I don't have a large enough tank to keep an eel

frank@wall · Sep 13, 2017

I love my 2 golden dwarfs. They are always curious and do not bother any of the other tank mates. Feeding them is fun.

sfin52 · Sep 13, 2017

SDReefer said:
I have to say that Olaf is one of the best names I've ever heard for a snowflake moray.

Thanks my three kids came up with it.

sfin52 · Sep 13, 2017

crabs_mcjones said:
I like eels. I think they are interesting. I love reptiles including snakes so these would combine both hobbies for me However I don't have a large enough tank to keep an eel

My son still begs my wife for a snake. She just won't bend on No snakes in the house