Moray growth cycles   7/16/06
I was looking for information on moray eel growth.
I bought a "freshwater" snowflake eel of the Gymnothorax tile variety that I have placed with my albino moray which due to information I have researched I am assuming it is Echidna rhodochilus. The moray "trademark" of opening and closing its mouth to breathe is not happening with my albino. The snowflake is breathing in such a manner and I was told by the owner where I buy my fish food that he was a very beautiful and healthy moray as I had just bought him from another shop and went to get some food from my favorite shop on my way home and showed them.
Does anyone know the growth cycles of morays?
<Mmm, yes... there are some very nice/useful graphs/charts of time versus SL (standard length) for many species available on fishbase.org>
I know they are born in one form called leptocephalus and around 3 yrs. change into elvers. Are there species of moray that do not breath the same way or do they eventually over time grow and change into breathing this way?
<Mmm, some "gasp" more than others in general...>
They are both approximately the same length except the snowflake is flat on the sides with fins to the tail while the albino is more or less round behind the neck with a tail that comes to a point with no fins which seems closest to the pics I have seen of the Echidna rhodochilus of the various morays I have so far researched.
<Mmm: http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=11709&genusname=Echidna&speciesname=rhodochilus
unfortunately this is one of the species that does not have "Growth" data on fishbase... Rats! Neither is there such presented for G. tile... These are typically slow growers in the wild and captive conditions (actually, likely less than one percent live a year... due to unstable, unsuitable environment mostly). Bob Fenner>

Re "FW" Moray growth cycles... dead    7/20/06
Thank you for your help but I have some bad news the snowflake died on me and I am assuming he died of starvation along with a possible disease.
<... not uncommon... You did (finally) read on WWM re these so-called freshwater eels?>
I kept track of the number of ghost shrimp and guppies accounting for X amount to be eaten by my albino and still had more than
I should have had. I had a butterfly goby that lived less than 2 weeks and followed similar patterns before the final event and both had skin
the same condition after death. I did not see either one eat. The goby I have now has been with me a while.
<... this tank is too small... one more time>
The albino is a 2nd chance for me as I bought one prior and it died but due to water quality as the aquarium was new and not enough bacteria to
break down the nitrate cycle. I tested the water 2 days ago and it tested really well for very low levels of nitrite
<Should be zero, zip, non-existent>
and I have an ammonia sensor that has not rose above good levels.
<I don't like these "sensors"... not accurate>
Is there anything else I need to check for?
<... read...>
I am considering getting another snowflake if possible but am thinking I should wait until I have a much larger tank for the shear reason that I hear when they are moved they tend to stop eating.
<Bingo>
I had this albino eating within a day of getting him, at least upon visual verification. I feel comfortable with this guy to go 55 then up to larger as the albino is still small and thinner than my pinky finger and he seems so easygoing that eating will not be one of his problems.
<Still... need more space>
I will need 2 large tanks since the albino is brackish because I also have an ornate Bichir that is right around 2"
<Wow! Tiny>
now and want to get a ropefish for his tank mate and have recently moved and need to decide if the 2 large tanks will be placed together or separately. If I leave
things as they are with the 3 fish in my brackish tank and 55 is good I would have them together but if I need something bigger for the albino I will have them placed in different places. I am planning on starting on getting the 1st tank on the successful sale of the old house to have money to get the best. I appreciate all your help.
<Do investigate, plan before purchasing livestock... Bob Fenner>

Re: brackish/marine moray growth cycles  7/19/06
Thank you have been a great help so far and I appreciate the quickness of your response. I have read various recommendations for aquarium sizes for eels. I have read that for my albino I would be lucky if it made it to 18" and 24" max and for the snowflake it may reach between 24' to 36". What size aquarium would you recommend.
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwmorayeels.htm
and the linked files above>
Do you think 55 would be ok with what I have and maybe adding a catfish?
<Mmm... no, not likely a good mix>
I would not mind adding another butterfly goby and bushfish and maybe if you could recommend some brackish catfish for the clean up crew for a total of 6 fish and which size would you recommend for these? The bushfish maybe to only problem because they may become lunch as they do not get big but the butterfly has venom to protect him.
I know that 10 gallon is way too small especially with the addition of the snowflake which I happened upon by shear accident and happened to be not much bigger than my albino except on the sides. I have been keeping extra tabs on water quality and am using a bio wheel filter which I can actually witness how good they are.
<Read... keep a close eye on water quality, get a much larger system... Bob Fenner>

Re: freshwater moray eel help
thank you for the very quick reply ive found a moray eel called the White-Cheecked Moray Eel or the Echidna  rhodochilus can you please help me find one i live in oldsmar florida if  their is any shop or website that delivers quikly please tell me thank you so  much for your help
-connor
<Not a freshwater species... did you read where you were referred? Use your Yellow Page phone directory to call about for local stores. Bob Fenner>