Characteristics , Origin , and Helpful info for Hobbyists
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If you want to get an eel for your brine fish tank , this might be the most congenial of them all . snow bunting moray eel can get large , up to 2 feet farseeing in captivity , and are very good at escape from the tankful . A big tank with a tight - fitting hood with no possible escape points is a necessity .
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Breed Overview
Common Names : Snowflake moray , Bosch ’s eel , clouded moray eel , floral eel , starry eel , livid and zebra moray eel
Scientific Name : Echidna nebulosa
Adult Size : Up to 24 inches
liveliness Expectancy:5 - 15years
Characteristics
Origin and Distribution
The snow bunting eel inhabits caves and crevices throughout the Indo - Pacific Reef from Hawaii southward to Australia , westward through the island of the Indo - Pacific to the East Indies , and across the Indian Ocean to the coast of Africa .
Colors and Markings
flake eels have an decorative pattern that resembles many unlike snow bunting across the body . Its torso is white or pick - discolour with black dendritic or teethlike black blotch that comprise one or two yellow spots . The eyes of the snowflake moray eel are jaundiced and there are yellow-bellied grading on the head . The teeth of this moray eel are perfect for crustacean prey . The conical tooth of the snow bunting moray eel are good for crushing invertebrate exoskeletons . bigger snowflake moray eels tend to eat more Pisces the Fishes in the wild .
Tankmates
Compatible tankmates for the snowflake moray eel include other comparatively large , aggressive Pisces , such as lionfish , tangs , triggerfish , wrasses , and possibly even other snowflake moray eels if they are both present to the tank at the same metre .
Although considered to be less belligerent than other saltwater moray eel , the snowflake eel can become very pugnacious at feeding sentence . With poor seeing but a keen sense of smell , when nutrient is detected it issue from hiding and aggressively searches it out . This moray is comfortably retain with Pisces larger in sizing than the eel to discourage depredation and can dwell communally with other eel if plenty of room and protection is provided .
snow bunting moray eels are not safe to keep with prawn , crabs , or lobsters since crustaceans are their natural diet . However , they are safe to keep with most other invertebrates , including starfish , anemones , and ocean urchins . Snowflake morays are reef safe and will not bother coral , though these eel are mussy eaters and will ask hard filtration and a comparatively large protein skimmer for the long - term wellness of any corals housed in their fish tank . The moray eel will likely consume very small fish such as damselfish .
Snowflake Eel Habitat and Care
A snowflake eel can outgrow a small aquarium in a rather unforesightful menses of clock time , so get a large tank of at least 50 gallons per eel from the onset . The snowflake eel generally adapt well to fish tank conditions and is disease - resistant .
The snowflake moray eel can often be a number shy during the first few weeks in a new marine museum . offer it with many places to blot out , and sizeable way to move around . Equip the tank car with at least one suitably sized cave . If potential , put up it with several caves and decorate in such a elbow room that it is possible for it to move from one side of the marine museum to the other without being exposed . Due to this eel ’s size and strength , rock formationsshould be stack firm to prevent structures from becoming dislodged .
This is a very hardy eel , but an escape creative person ; a tightly - fitting canopy is idealistic . Most of the eels that do break ( or get lose ) in hobbyist aquariums fell victim to poorly seal army tank . The snowflake moray eel eel has the power to find and creep out of the modest hollow in the fish tank top , so make certain all of these holes are well - covered . They can slide out and may make their style through PVC bathymetry into filter travelling bag or the aquarium cesspool .
Snowflake Eel Diet
The wild snowflake eel is a carnivorous , nocturnal predator , ambushing Pisces and crustaceans . In the armoured combat vehicle , it will take rooted or freeze - dried krill , fish , peewee , lucre , squid , octopus , scallops , feeder fish , and most meaty nutrient enrich with vitamins . It can be teach to hand provender , although this should be done with caution , as it can inflict a painful bite . Unless already acclimated to glacial solid food , the moray eel will likely involve to be fertilise with liveghost shrimpwhen first acquire . ablactation can be accomplished over time . The feeding of freshwater feeder Pisces ( like goldfish and rose-colored reds ) maycause liver disease if feed too , so such food items should be specify .
A snowflake eel usually ignores other storage tank dweller if it is well fed , at least several times a calendar week . It is not uncommon for eel to go into a " hibernation " time period , often hide and not eating for several workweek or longer .
Sexual Differences
There is no noticeable difference between the gender . Keeping multiple eels is typically more of a challenge than a breeder will want to deal with . Snowflake eels are protogynous , mean the more predominant eel will change from distaff to male person . Again this brings more issues , as eels are in the main peaceable toward one another . Gender exchange can take several months to a year , which is far longer than most breeders are willing to wait .
Breeding the Snowflake Eel
Plectrophenax nivalis eels are egg scatterers that bring about nut often in midwater pairing rite . Their eggs and larvae drift with plankton in the water column and go down back onto a Witwatersrand at about the clip of hatch . Snowflake eels are among the most intriguing types of marine fish to distribute in captivity .
More Pet Fish Breeds and Further Research
If Plectrophenax nivalis eels invoke to you , and you are concerned in similar fish for your fish tank , read up on :
mark off out additional fish stock profiles for more information on othersaltwaterfish .
