Free Eel?

When I brought home a large peace of cured live rock and placed it in my 90gal tank I was shocked to find a hitchhiker. A snow flake eel was hiding inside. It is quite health and about 6” long. When I was thinking about the tank set up I wanted to have more of a reef tank. What should I do? The eel is really fun for now but I am concurred about its mature size and it’s compatibility with my idea of a coral tank with fish. My wife and I have grown to like it and friends also. Should I take him back to the LFS?

 

It will start to eat your clean up crew and possibly fish if its not what you want then take it back get some credit and get what you want

 

Wow, never heard of a Snowflake Eel being considered as a hitchhiker...! hahahaha
that is awesome, I guess! For me it would be a great hitchhiker as I have the ability to house a Snowflake, whereas someone in your shoes is having doubts!
What do you have for inhabitants?
Size of your tank?
I have kept a Snowflake eel in my reef tank containing all sorts of scleractinia,and alcyonacea with great results as they don't bother corals. They will become more clumsy due to size and strength and tend to knock over things , especially during feeding time.
Small fish may pose a problem though more concern should be placed on invertebrates, since their diet is primarilly invertebrate in nature based on their head and tooth design!

 

Talk about a hitchhiker..... Sweet>>>>>>

 

WOW, that is a great hitchhiker, talk about luck. CR said it all, so it really boils down to you. If you keep it, you wont be able to have small fish or inverts. If you trade it in, you wont have the ell anymore. Hum......I have an idea, If its possible, get another tank and keep him. They only need at least a 30g tank.

 

im with luna, keep it for a while till it gets bigger, then trade it back into the lfs for free credit!!

 

DITTO! whoops I make 3

 

Yup, bring him back in for credit a later date if you plan on having hermit crabs and shrimp - But don't tell the store that they accidentally gave it to you for free, because then they'll suggest they take it back for free. Do you think they knew the eel was in the LR tank? Or did they get it free with the LR shipment? The only hitch-hikers I ever got was a snail and some little bristle worms.

 

+1 on set up a new tank lol I'm biased in an "I don't have to spend the money" sort of way

GL on your decision. It's not an easy one.

Evan.