You wake up in the morning. You look at your tank. Your Eel is gone.
You check the rocks. You check the filter. Nothing.
Then you look down. There, dried up like a piece of Keropok Lekor on the floor, is your beautiful Eel.
This is the most common ending for the Snowflake Moray Eel (Echidna nebulosa).
They are the escape artists of the ocean. If there is a hole in your tank lid the size of a 50 sen coin, they will find it.
But if you can keep them inside, they are one of the hardiest, most interesting wet pets you can own. Here is the survival guide.
1. The “Lid” Law
I cannot stress this enough: You need a tight lid.
Eels are muscular tubes of slime. They can push lightweight lids open. They can squeeze through filter cutouts.
- The Fix: Use a heavy glass cover or a mesh screen with clips.
- The Hack: If you have gaps around your filter pipes, use duct tape or filter wool to plug them tight. Do not leave any exit open.
2. They Are Blind (But They Can Smell You)
Snowflake Eels have terrible eyesight. They are practically blind.
However, they have a nose like a Bloodhound.
- The Feeding Response: As soon as you drop food in the water, the Eel will go crazy. It will swim rapidly, snapping its jaws at anything it bumps into.
- The Finger Danger: Do not hand feed them. They aren’t trying to bite you, but in their excitement, they can’t tell the difference between a piece of prawn and your finger. Their teeth slope backwards—if they bite, they don’t let go.
3. Diet: The “Pasar” Menu
You don’t need expensive fish food. Go to the wet market (Pasar Pagi).
- Best Food: Fresh Market Prawns (Udang) or Squid (Sotong).
- Prep: Cut them into bite-sized chunks and freeze them.
- Feeding Stick: Always use long tweezers/tongs. Wiggle the food near their nose so they can smell it and strike.
4. Tank Mates: Safe vs. Snacks
Snowflake Eels are “Pebble Tooth” Eels. In the wild, they eat crabs and shrimp, not fish.
This means they are actually safer with fish than most people think.
- Safe Friends: Lionfish, Puffers, Triggers, Tangs.
- Expensive Snacks: Cleaner Shrimp, Crabs, and Snails. The Eel will crunch them up immediately.
- Small Fish: While they prefer crustaceans, a hungry eel might eat a small Clownfish or Damselfish if it sleeps near the eel’s cave.
5. The “Reef Safe” Question
Can you put them in a coral tank?
Technically, yes. They won’t eat the coral.
But: They are clumsy. A 2-foot eel swimming through your delicate corals is like a bull in a china shop. They will knock over your expensive frags. Secure your rocks with glue if you want an Eel.
The Bottom Line
The Snowflake Eel is the best “First Eel” for any hobbyist. It stays relatively small (2 feet), it is incredibly disease-resistant, and it has a beautiful white-and-black pattern.
Just remember: Before you buy the eel, fix the lid.
