Tesselata eel

[chugga]

I've just picked up an eel, around 2.5 feet long from my LFS, the guy told me it was there on consignment from another guy because it had outgrown the tank. I've put it in my 240 gal tank with a coral cod (Miniatus grouper) and lion. I've since been tols it's a tesselata, and that it will grow to 5 feet long and kill the other fish. Any thoughts? Could it be mistaken ID? How big would it have to be to kill a fish as large as a grouper, who's at least 12 inches long? What should I do?

[leebca]

It's always best to know what it is you are buying and how it fits into your marine system BEFORE you acquire it. Most LFSs will hold a specimen for a few days while you figure it out.

I believe this is a Gymnothorax sp.) eel. Sometimes called a Snowflake, but generally known as the Tesselata Eel.

Of all the Moray Eels this is one of the most predatory. It hunts fishes AND other eels! I wouldn't be surprised to hear in the near future that it tried to or successfully took a chunk of flesh out of your Grouper.

They are very strong. Some have gotten out of tanks that were covered. As for size, you were properly informed. They get very large.

[weez1959]

Awww, he's so cute!
I did a bit of research on these guys a while back myself. I saw the cutest little guy at my LFS, he was only about 8" long so I went home, looked him up and changed my mind, I even read that they can accidentally bite you if you're not careful and it will eat anything that fits in it's mouth and more.

[chugga]

Thanks for the advice - it's kinda a long story how I got the eel, but I broke my own golden rule of listening to the LFS. He ASSURED me I'd have no probs with it. Turns out He took it for another guy who'd got it originally but had to get rid of it because it outgrew his tank. I'll definately take it back - if I can catch it again!

[Old Man Of The Sea]

How often someone has listened to their lfs and to buy a large predator that even if it were to grow no larger then 6', your a beast contained in a 240 to where I gone with a 2500 gal system instead.

The grouper or any other large fish you place in this tank is to be it meal at any giving time and with all you heard from this forum and others, if you kept this eel your asking for problems for as well, you not attempt to pet this eel that is in your tank. For its one thing to pet it in the wild, but by placing your hands in its tank, the eel in time will become known to that food will be placed in this tank for it and hands will be no exception.

One person has told me that he witnessed a 7' green fed on a 18" parrotfish and took it with no problems.

chugga, do you still think your lfs has any idea in what they are telling you? I doubt it

See if they take it back before it grows more>

And you can catch it again, just if your much LR, you best to remove some before trying and be careful for the eel moves fast in either direction.

[chugga]

I've got him confined to one end of the tank at the moment, with a plexiglass divider. I'll transfer him over to my spare 55 gal tank some time today, so he can have that to himself until i can get him back to the shop. A pity, because He is a magnificent looking eel. Thanks again

[chugga]

Well I caught him, and put him in my 55 gal tank for the time being. I can't get into the LFS until friday to take him back, so He should be ok in there for now. He hasn't got a huge amount of room but he's got some rock to hide in, and he doesn't seem too stressed. My stress levels are down too now that I don't have to worry whether he's eaten my grouper or not!

Hopefully we can find someone else with a bigger tank to take him. I'd like him to go to a good home, he's an awesome fish....Just have to catch him again!