I'm a BAD impulse buyer , so when I found a Dwarf Golden Moray for a great deal at a LFS, mislabeled as a "wine eel", I had to buy it. Apparently he'd been there from a baby for EIGHT MONTHS- they didn't know what kind of eel it was and couldn't sell it. The bright blue cat-eyes gave it away! So he's home in my 29g biocube right now- guess I'll have to do extra water changes to make up for the bioload. My question is will he get along with my cleaner shrimp? It's a small shrimpy too.... If it's between my shrimp or an eel, I would honestly rather have my manicuring shrimp. What have people's experiences been as far as invertebrate compatibility? I have a green mandarin (eating frozen mysis, don't kill me for having him such a small tank...he even nibbles on pellets!) in there too and they seem to be ignoring each other; do you think there will be any issues with these guys? Would adding a pvc cave down low in the rock structure/sandbed while the shrimp always stays at the very top could help them ignore each other/get along?

Thanks!

Casey

I am pretty sure your shrimp is going to get eaten. Especially since the shrimp is small. I don't think he will eat the mandarin, but he might outcompete him for food. It is up to you, there is also a chance they may all live in harmony and you will never have a problem. How important is the shrimp to you? I mean if you would really want to have it more, and the Eel was an impulse buy, maybe you should pass, but then again those Eels are pretty awesome


You are so lucky, I really want one of those Eels, congrats on the find.

I have always wanted one of the eels, but 1) I wanted to be able to see the eel I was getting and they are HARD to find locally 2) they're pretty pricey, but this was such a good deal!

I can't decide; I LOVE my inverts, so if they don't get along, he's gotta go, but he's so cool! He's very active and not very shy so far! He's always sticking his head out and looking around! If I don't see the mandarin eating, I'll find the eel a new home too; so far he seems very peaceful and my mandarin has been scooting all around completely unaffected. The shrimp is steering clear! What personal experiences have people had with these eels and their shrimp?

are you kiddin? I'd be more happy than worried...

let nature do it's thing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuW6UppG8cM...feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6z4h3nDFXk

As long as you keep him well fed he should leave the shrimp alone since the cleaning will be beneficial and most fish and shrimp will let cleaners be unless they are hungry. But a 29g is small for a dwarf moray. It would be better if you could upgrade to a 40 or 50, otherwise I hope you have a good skimmer and do plenty of water changes.

check dave's thread should have some awnsers for you.
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=185701

Lucky

Dude if you dont want the eel ill take him XD

You should be fine, especially since it is a cleaner shrimp. The golden dwarf moray is part of the fish-eating group of eels. The mandarin on the other hand may be on the menu...

My Golden Dwarf just arrived today! Ordered him from Wet Pets Hawaii for 135.00 shipped!! Les was great to work with. These eels won't add to much more bio-load to your tank. Mine eats mysis just like the other inhabitants. I do weekly 3 gallon water changes so he should not cause a problem with my tank even if he does add a little more bio-load

EEP! You think my mandarin could be on the menu? The LFS seemed to think although they sort of live in the same area of the tank, the shouldn't bother each other; and I can't imagine the mandarin fitting in his mouth! They don't seem to pay attention to each other at all; whenever they bump into each other the goby freezes, the eel goes the other way, and mandarin scoots along like nothing happened. The shrimp is pretty good at steering clear; he nearly lept out of his skin during feeding time and the eel popped out of a rock in front of him! My eel is eating fine, a day after I got him; little frozen mysis for now, and I'll get bigger food for him tomorrow. The LFS was feeding him mosquito fish; what's the nutrition like in these? I have a pond full of them and wouldn't really mind sacrificing a few... I'm thinking I'll do a 3 gallon water change every 5 days.

He nearly ate a nassarius snail today too; the snail popped up during feeding time and the eel put his mouth on him...seemed to register what it was and backed off. I don't know how long Mr. Snail will last...hah.