Morray tankmates

[Tim Marvin]

Triggers can be really brutal. Good choice. You may want a good UV for the puffer as they are notorious for getting skin infections and growths. The smooth limestone will help keep it from getting scratches. Sounds like it will be a very cool tank. I wonder if sinking some 3-4 inch PVC into the sand will be beneficial to the eels for a place to sit? I've never tried it but it sounds good. Dead space shouldn't be a problem with them going in and out constantly. I also wonder if the snowflake would become a meal when they out grow him?

[SaltyJim]

Actually, if you are able to hand select the limestone for the tank, then you can find some with really cool holes for the eels to wind themselves up in. I was able to find two pieces a long time ago, that had 1.5-2" holes running throughout, and were able to connect to make a really cool looking arch for the fish to swim in.

As for another tankmate, what about a nice fat Grouper (V-tail/Flag or Strawberry)


Jim

[SaltyJim]

I had a V-tail (Red Flag whatever) that made it up to about 9-10" in length after about 6 years of life. He was about the circumferance of a 20oz coke bottle. I fed him 3 times weekly about 20-25 ruby reds, so you may have to do lots of poop cleaning afterwards if no cleanup crew.

He'd still be in my tank and a favorite, but lost him and his buddy snowflake in what I refer to as the "Great Flood of 2001" (Lost 65gal onto the carpet. Lesson learned: always check plumbing every couple of years for leaks).

HTH

Jim

[SaltyJim]

Oh, and he was at one point with a Volitan, but the lion was too slow on the feeding/hunting scale. Removed him and watched the grouper hunt....really cool to see.

[SaltyJim]

I would sometime feed frozen krill, when the LFS ran out of Ruby's or Goldfish. So yes, frozen trainable. They will also eat any kind of other shrimp you can put in there. Not to mention clowns, tangs or wrasses (he grew fast those first years ;)

[SaltyJim]

Nice choice. I can see it now. Lion/Grouper with yellow tail sticking out of mouth. :grin:

[SaltyJim]

Jim, do you know how big those groupers get? I'd like to look into them, but checked on the panther and it's apperantly a nono.

What was the apparent problem with Panthers, if you don't mind my asking?

[SaltyJim]

Iguess that makes sense. That kind of rules out the Emperor Red Snapper too. Cute when young ugly when big.

FWIW, the grouper that I had kept its coloration for his entire lifespan. He actually would get pale pink when resting on the bottom, or rock, and deep red when about to feed. This made the V stick out very vibrantly. I miss that fish.

[Jenn]

Josh, I fed my lion live fish for about a week, then he began to eat fresh seafood, which I still feed today. I think the triggers helped show him how it was done. I buy fresh squid, scallops, clams, etc... at the local deli and he loves it - he also grabs some of the frozen cubes meant for the others.

[Henry]

Josh, on the pvc idea, I had a tank setup with a blacktip eel. I used 3" pipe with holes cut along the length so it could peek out anywhere. it was great, otherwise he would try to burrow under and knock over everything.

[Jenn]

Also forgot to add that you need to make sure that the eel can't escape. The morray I used to have got out on me and the cats played with him until, well you know :cry:
The pvc idea works out great.

[MikeP]

Josh - I would be careful with triggers and puffers , have seen them destroy sharks by nipping them to death, suppose it's possible with a moray. Volume 1 of Reef Fishes has information on all the morays and has lots of suggestions for tankmates to avoid. I can copy it down and post it here if you want.

Also dragons are total piscivores, they get large and nasty and will eventually need it's own tank unless it's signifcantly smaller than most of it's tankmates.

If it were me I'd just go with the zebra, very gentle - snowflakes get mean. I don't know if he reads this board but Ron from the Austin reefkeepers group has a dragon and a zebra in his tank you may want to ask him for feedback.

[Jenn]

Josh, just wanted to tell you that my daughter sits here w/ me and copies the pic of your son. Let him know he's got a "thumbs up" pal. :)

I know...off topic.

[Henry]

I had a porky puffer with my eel no problem, it was my hippo tang that I had to worry about. He would always nip at the eel and puffer.

[Jenn]

She will be 2 in Jan. Too cute!

[Jenn]

Heh, does that with her diaper already. Ok, I'm messing up your post, I'll quit. I will have to start a topic of pics of our kids.

[TexasState]

I had though about keeping eel, puffer, and lion fishes together. But the though of having to clean their big caca turn me away. Believe it or not but Ron bought the baby dragon in Houston for $150. That's dirt cheap. They're normaly around $500 to $1,000 each depending on sizes.