Will a skeletor eel try to bite me (and does it matter)?

[CMO]

Maybe a silly question since I know these are pebble toothed eels, but do I need to be concerned about sticking my hands in the tank to mount coral frags if I get one of these? I'll definitely be getting one but trying to decide whether it'd be better to wait until I get most of my coral frags mounted or if I can still safely work in the tank with the eel now.

 

[P-Dub]

Maybe a silly question since I know these are pebble toothed eels, but do I need to be concerned about sticking my hands in the tank to mount coral frags if I get one of these? I'll definitely be getting one but trying to decide whether it'd be better to wait until I get most of my coral frags mounted or if I can still safely work in the tank with the eel now.

They sure can and it has happened to me, twice. Once when I was trying to get one out of the tank and once when I had my hands in the tank after feeding with the stink of shrimp still on my fingers. They can clamp and spin like any other moray and it'll hurt but you will likely survive and not bleed to death. The size of the eel seems directly proportional to the pain inflicted.

 

[CMO]

wow, glad I asked. Wouldn't have guessed. I suppose the eel will go in last in that case.

 

[eatbreakfast]

They definitely can. But your hands will still be going into the tank, because they are also quite effective at knocking frags and corals over.

 

[CMO]

Not a lot of info out there on these eels. So they're fairly active then? You mean its not going to rest peacefully in the tunnel I painstakingly built for it ;Happy

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

I might worry about the fish's safety as well. Natural response is to jerk, you could accidentally hit it against something

 

[swensos]

They sure can and it has happened to me, twice. Once when I was trying to get one out of the tank and once when I had my hands in the tank after feeding with the stink of shrimp still on my fingers. They can clamp and spin like any other moray and it'll hurt but you will likely survive and not bleed to death. The size of the eel seems directly proportional to the pain inflicted.

This is my nightmare and the reason I will never have an eel.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

I love eels! Be sure to post pics when you get him!

 

[ou12004]

I have a 2 foot Zebra that comes out every time I put my hand in the tank. It can smell me and will come out anytime I get near the tank. It always checks out what I am doing but it has only bitten me once in 2 years and that was only a nip. I am a little jumpy and only feed my eel with a claw.