reefcam Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 My son asked me if I bought a snowflake eel for my tank. Ummm.. no son, I have many small fishes (i.e. mandarin, anthias, etc.), Fire shrimp, hermit crabs and other inverts. Why would I buy an eel for my tank... so I went to take a look and sure enough, a snowflake eel is swimming around in the tank. He's about 6" long and about the size of a #2 pencil. I remember catching one and bring one home from Maui when I was there last August. But didn't see if after the end of August. So what are the chances the eel could survive a recirc pump (Dolphin 4000), since that's the only way it can get into the main tank from the holding tank that I had a snowflake and a spotted white mouth quarantine... well permanent home for now. And do Snowflake eels grow fast? The one I caught from Maui was about 4" long. Now the snowflake is twice the size of the white mouth eel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snooopidydoo Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Just a little heads up, i'd watch what you say about catching wild animals, i dont know the laws, but i know its a touchy subject. Cool find! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Snowflake eels grow very fast! I actually have one in the reef tank and he has been a model citizen. He doesn't eat the shrimp and leaves the other fish alone. I think it's probably because I have had him since he was a tiny little baby eel and he only knows that food comes in tongs. He was nose to nose with a fireshrimp that tried to clean him and he left it alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnkrcklives Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 They grow really fast. I bought one once at about 6". Within a year it was pushing 18". They can be sneaky little buggers getting through the tinest holes. And swimming through plumbing. Lucky so far my dwarf moray doesnt like to try and sneak out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefcam Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 Just a little heads up, i'd watch what you say about catching wild animals, i dont know the laws, but i know its a touchy subject. Cool find! HI laws says you can catch fish (i.e. fish, eels, hermits, etc) for personal use, but not for resale. Given the low number, I felt comfortable. I was actually challenged by TSA, but given I read the Fish and Wild Life laws there, they let me go. But had to check my stuff in due to the fluid regulation. But you cannot take live rocks, algae that are holdfast, and corals. So I brought home eels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefcam Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 THanks for the info on growth rate. It's been a while since I had one. I like them, but also worried about my missing fish. Think it might be my brittle star. Just when I thought an auto feeder was sufficient. Now back to feeding my tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee77 Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Are going to keep it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Jim- If you are worried at all about it I would remove it now while small. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefcam Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 Mike, if he's cool with his friends in the tank, I'll keep him.. If he is indeed the one I caught, then he's been perfect.. so far. But do agree I should take him out soon. dee77, for now, he's a permanent fixture. But someday I'll have to setup another tank for the white mouth eel and will put them both together. I was a Rose City a couple of weekends ago and he was watching a snowflake and white mouth for another reefer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubberduck9 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 HI laws says you can catch fish (i.e. fish' date=' eels, hermits, etc) for personal use, but not for resale. Given the low number, I felt comfortable. I was actually challenged by TSA, but given I read the Fish and Wild Life laws there, they let me go. But had to check my stuff in due to the fluid regulation. But you cannot take live rocks, algae that are holdfast, and corals. So I brought home eels. [/quote'] Definatley dont want to take any of the lava rock home! BAD medicine my friend! All the volcanic rock stays with the island! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr S Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Jim, bad Hawaiian mojo!!! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefcam Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 Definatley dont want to take any of the lava rock home! BAD medicine my friend! All the volcanic rock stays with the island! Know what you mean. BTW, Thanks for the shrooms and zoas. They are looking great in the tank. Meaning to say thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefcam Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 Jim' date=' bad Hawaiian mojo!!! LOL[/quote'] Who me??? C'mon, I fed the algae with nitrate rich fluid...DOH! Always wonder what if you took a frag over there and put it in the waters there. Would it grow or die or become an infestation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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