My parents are allowing me to convert my 40 gallon tank from freshwater to saltwater. I've already got a 187 gallon saltwater, so I do know how to take care of the water conditions. I am wondering if I can put a blue ribbon eel in the tank all by itself. If I bought one it would already be eating frozen. My LFS has a policy that all fish being sold are eating frozen food. What do you think? Is it worth a try? They've got one in right now that gobbles down frozen silversides.
Ribbon Eel
- Thread starter fishfreak2009
- Start date
fishfreak2009;3984980; said:
If they have it eating then sounds good. You need a sealed top for sure. These eels like to escape more than any other. Getting them to eat is the hardest thing about owning them i hear. Check out the Ghost ribbon eel too. Its white and is wicked. My lfs had one of these and i wanted it so bad but didn't have a tank to give to it.
Keep up on your water tests too. They are very sensitive.
^^ Agreed, the biggest problems with them are feeding and escaping. Buying FW mollies and converting them into salt, in order to keep constant live food in the tank works well.
FYI, there are two "white ribbon eel" species. The common one is Pseudechidna, which grows to 3 feet. Occasionally you'll see Strophiodon sathete, the longtail or giant slender moray that grows much larger (record is 12 feet). Longtails don't have the black spots on the face like true white ribbons.
FYI, there are two "white ribbon eel" species. The common one is Pseudechidna, which grows to 3 feet. Occasionally you'll see Strophiodon sathete, the longtail or giant slender moray that grows much larger (record is 12 feet). Longtails don't have the black spots on the face like true white ribbons.
I know I need to seal the tank, but that's what duct tape and egg crate are for right? 
I know it's gonna look awesome, and if I have to I'll give it feeders, but since it's already eating frozen I hopefully won't have to. I called earlier and the LFS owner said it's eating krill and human grade shrimp as well. All the foods have been being fed to it on a feeding stick so far. Now, to get my parents to take me to the LFS and get the sand for the tank (the tank is all black and white, and I'm replacing the freshwater black gravel with black aragonite sand). Don't worry though, I have filter sponges sitting in my 187 gallon tank's sump. I might just throw a small damsel in as well (humbug) a few days before the eel just to make sure it's safe. I don't care if the damsel gets eaten and if he gets aggressive towards the eel (lol) I'll put him in my big tank's sump.
I know it's gonna look awesome, and if I have to I'll give it feeders, but since it's already eating frozen I hopefully won't have to. I called earlier and the LFS owner said it's eating krill and human grade shrimp as well. All the foods have been being fed to it on a feeding stick so far. Now, to get my parents to take me to the LFS and get the sand for the tank (the tank is all black and white, and I'm replacing the freshwater black gravel with black aragonite sand). Don't worry though, I have filter sponges sitting in my 187 gallon tank's sump. I might just throw a small damsel in as well (humbug) a few days before the eel just to make sure it's safe. I don't care if the damsel gets eaten and if he gets aggressive towards the eel (lol) I'll put him in my big tank's sump.Please don't buy a blue ribbon eel. Do some reading on WWmedia: 99.9% do not survive more than a couple months in captivity, so even if you afre successful, you're supporting the business of killing 999 eels for your one. Further I think you're tank (40 gallons) is way too small for this species. If you absolutely must do it, do some serious reseach on setup; others that have been successful lay a network of PVC piping under the sand bed for the eel to live in. Make sure you watch the moray eat at the LFS, don't just assume it's feeding if they say so.
I don't mean to be a party pooper; I've been keeping morays for 10 years or so, and the blue ribbon seems to be the only exception to a class of amazing and hardy animals. Have you considered any other species? For a take your size a bannana moray would be absolutely awesome. I've kept them and they are incredible and hardy.
Best of luck in whatever direction you go!
I don't mean to be a party pooper; I've been keeping morays for 10 years or so, and the blue ribbon seems to be the only exception to a class of amazing and hardy animals. Have you considered any other species? For a take your size a bannana moray would be absolutely awesome. I've kept them and they are incredible and hardy.
Best of luck in whatever direction you go!
Comatose;3991501; said:
http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productDetail.asp?did=1&pid=637&cid=17
so you tell him to put a almost 3ft 600$ eel in a 40 gallon?
(bluezoo has a really good deal on these lol)
A blue ribbon would be good for this tank, the success rate of keeping this fish really isn't that bad.
And welcome to mfk comatose lol
Hey thanks buddy...maybe mail that welcome to 2005 when I joined. Apologies for not accumulating hundreds of in that time.
Aren't you an 18 year old kid living with your parents? How many of your morays have been eaten by other morays in your tank? How long have you been keeping morays? Less than a year right? Have you ever even kept a blue ribbon?
I guess you must know more than me (10 years experience), and every other expert that's documented this species dismal survival record... not to mention 99.9 percent of keepers that have the unfortunate experience of learning this first hand: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/rhinomuraenafaqs.htm
G. miliaris reaches 24" max, by the way, and most yellow form specimens can be had for less than $400 at a foot long, and will live far longer than a $60 blue ribbon.
You have a stunning tank with a bunch of cool animals and quite a bankroll, but that doesn't make you an expert. Welcome to reality. lol.
Aren't you an 18 year old kid living with your parents? How many of your morays have been eaten by other morays in your tank? How long have you been keeping morays? Less than a year right? Have you ever even kept a blue ribbon?
I guess you must know more than me (10 years experience), and every other expert that's documented this species dismal survival record... not to mention 99.9 percent of keepers that have the unfortunate experience of learning this first hand: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/rhinomuraenafaqs.htm
G. miliaris reaches 24" max, by the way, and most yellow form specimens can be had for less than $400 at a foot long, and will live far longer than a $60 blue ribbon.
You have a stunning tank with a bunch of cool animals and quite a bankroll, but that doesn't make you an expert. Welcome to reality. lol.