Moray Eels - Brackish

[Irisa]

I am looking for information on eels; I have a so called Freshwater Moray Eel who is currently being acclimated to a brackish environment after being in a pet store’s freshwater tank.
 
I have done some googling and really haven't found a lot of useful information and well at the risk of someone telling me again that the information I am looking for is BASIC 

  some things I am curious about is
 
please try to remember i am a noob at this stuff and I really would like to learn
 
General temperament - meaning activity level, aggression to other fish etc.. he seems to be very active (possibly hunting) lots of laps around the tank, but sometimes he just hangs about an inch and a half of himself out of the end of one of his pipes and (looks to be) gasping but if i move closer to make sure he's alive or what not he darts back in quickly
 
How often should they be fed - the pet store people had no clue and told me to feed the poor thing pellet food like for aquatic turtles? I know that’s not appropriate and I am feeding dried krill and frozen krill, but I am not sure on how much and how often he (it) should be feed, he is a voracious eater and seems to be hunting often, he currently gets three to four medium to large krill every other day.
 
What level a salinity is best and can they tolerate full marine conditions - I am brining his tank up to 1.015 s.g. as that seems to be the average suggestion, but if he can handle higher like 1.023 s.g.  I may like that option for tank development.
 
I think that’s it for a start.... I would be interested in any other valuable information anyone might have as well... I have become rather attached to this eel and I would like him to live for a good long time... I just couldn't leave him in that rotten shop

 

[Chad]

The eel typically sold as the freshwater moray is Gymnotorax Tile which does very well in full marine (1.025) and requires a minimum of brackish (1.010). The nice thing about keeping them in full marine is that you can keep other marine fish and the marine salts and water changes help to keep the water the proper hardness for them. In the right conditions they will grow large and live a decade. 
 
Feeding is fun time as they eat a variety of stuff. They eat best with live prey but that's a pain so most people train them on frozen. They will eat squid, fish, some crustaceans (like ghost shrimp, and crayfish), etc. They are night feeders with poor eyesight so you may have to help them out a bit by using feeding tongs. If you don't use tongs then pumps should be off so they have plenty of time to locate the food. When they are smaller I suggest feeding small amounts every day or slightly larger amounts every other day. Adults eat a pretty good meal every few days (I know someone who does once a week). 
 
Tanks need tons of rock and hiding places for the eel. Rock should be secure (not stacked) so the eel doesn't get crushed by as it will move rock around with its movements.
 
So...I recommend the marine tank for them. 1.025 if you plan on keeping corals 1.018 if you don't in my opinion.

 

[Irisa]

If I choose to go full Marine with him and his tank, what types of corals and / fish would be safe in a tank with him?

a bit more about this specific eel... who apparently does not like to have his picture taken   anyway he is just under a foot long as of now and is on his own in a 55G tank.

 

[Tongue_Flicker]

I observed that fishes 1/6 their total size is normally ignored so with cleaner type fishes such as wrasses

 

[Chad]

They are technically safe with any coral. However, I don't recommend them with SPS because they tend to break off the delicate branches. Soft corals and LPS that go on the sand such as brains should work out just fine with them. 
 
As far as other fish I agree with the above. Lion fish are also good to keep with them. That said in a smaller tank like  a 55 gallon I recommend letting him be the only thing in the tank. There are several reasons for this:
 

1. At that size it's his tank anyway and everyone else will compete for territory and space
2. They are messy eaters and it is simply easier to keep the water clean
3. Because of the above having only the eel will make keeping corals easier
4. No worries about him eating tankmates or being out-competed for food by faster fish

 

[Irisa]

Just an update, My Moray is doing great he is enjoying his tank and is taking the salt increases well (as i expected).   I will try and keep some current updates in here of how he does since i know there is not a whole lot of information available on these eels behavior wise.
 
He loves to play dead... this worried me at first but he does it all the time and otherwise appears healthy... my guess this is a hunting technique he will hang up to three inches of himself out of his tube or he will just lay across a rock and drape like he's dead

 

[Chad]

Yes, he's waiting for prey. They do well with feeder molly which can also be acclimated to the salt conditions. 

 

[sawickib]

Ive always wanted one of these guys, but ive never had the room or opportunity to do so, o well.

 

[Chad]

I've always wanted to keep garden eels but the substrate requirements would require that they have their own tank. Maybe someday.

 

[Irisa]

I just finished getting his water to full marine conditions this weekend, and moved a Hermit crab in with him.  Fingers crossed he doesn't eat him.  The crab is fairly large so I believe his chances are good. 
 
I have noticed and this is most likely my own fault BUT he will not eat the Frozen (thawed) Krill I have for him anymore.... he is eating the freeze dried krill however.  I am going to attempt to get him back on the frozen though. I am worried the freeze dried will not give him what he needs