Stocking for 60 gallon - Engineer goby and small eel

[dunamis227]

Hey, Im about to buy a 3x2x2.5 foot tank from waterbox and was wondering if I could keep an engineer goby and a small eel together in the same tank? Ofc with lots of caves and rockwork. Its hard to find an answer online

 

[dunamis227]

Would it be better to just get 2-3 engineer gobies instead?

 

[Slocke]

60 gallon is too small for most eels but not for engineer gobies. I do have both in a 125

 

[dunamis227]

60 gallon is too small for most eels but not for engineer gobies. I do have both in a 125

liveaquaria says a slowflake or ghost eel is okay

 

[dunamis227]

doesnt seem right though - they get the same length as the tank

 

[Slocke]

I wouldn’t get both in a 60 gallon. A chain link eel may work though.

 

[eelman07]

I wouldn’t get both in a 60 gallon. A chain link eel may work though.

+1 your best option would either be a chain link eel or a trio of engineer goby’s.

 

[kevgib67]

Dwarf moray eels reach a maximum length of 12 inches and require a minimum of 65 gallon tank. Very close.

 

[Slocke]

Dwarf moray eels reach a maximum length of 12 inches and require a minimum of 65 gallon tank. Very close.

But live almost entirely in Hawaii and are impossible to get

 

[littlefoxx]

doesnt seem right though - they get the same length as the tank

Bingo. Thats why it shouldnt be done, the eel wont have room to move around.

 

[dunamis227]

Dwarf moray eels reach a maximum length of 12 inches and require a minimum of 65 gallon tank. Very close.

hmm okay

 

[dunamis227]

Bingo. Thats why it shouldnt be done, the eel wont have room to move around.

an lfs owner I trust said It would probably be okay as well as liveaquaria saying they are fine in 50g tanks - apparently they only get to 2 feet in captivity? But if its wrong then Im fine with just getting a school of engineer gobies, how many do you guys think is enough?

 

[Slocke]

an lfs owner I trust said It would probably be okay as well as liveaquaria saying they are fine in 50g tanks - apparently they only get to 2 feet in captivity? But if its wrong then Im fine with just getting a school of engineer gobies, how many do you guys think is enough?

One will do best. If not I suggest 5 or more. Fish tend to do bad in small groups. In larger groups aggression can be spread out. Saying that getting enough territory may be difficult. If you can find a way to make burrows for the gobies. One suggestion is to cut the ends off of PVC (less then 2”). Gluing them down on their ends and then putting rocks on top. This will mean the gobies can create burrows under rocks without causing cave ins.

 

[dunamis227]

One will do best. If not I suggest 5 or more. Fish tend to do bad in small groups. In larger groups aggression can be spread out. Saying that getting enough territory may be difficult. If you can find a way to make burrows for the gobies. One suggestion is to cut the ends off of PVC (less then 2”). Gluing them down on their ends and then putting rocks on top. This will mean the gobies can create burrows under rocks without causing cave ins.

engineer gobies arent aggressive and do better in groups even if its only 2-3

 

[Slocke]

engineer gobies arent aggressive and do better in groups even if its only 2-3

If they are of the right social group. They will fight if you get multiple males. Trust me, I've seen it.

 

[dunamis227]

If they are of the right social group. They will fight if you get multiple males. Trust me, I've seen it.

So one and a dwarf moray?

 

[Slocke]

See above. You can’t get dwarf morays anymore as they are found mostly in Hawaii. If you want a moray the best is probably a chain link.

 

[dunamis227]

See above. You can’t get dwarf morays anymore as they are found mostly in Hawaii. If you want a moray the best is probably a chain link.

liveaquaria says minimum 125 for a chain link eel, 2.5 times the tank size they say for a snowflake

 

[Slocke]

liveaquaria says minimum 125 for a chain link eel, 2.5 times the tank size they say for a snowflake

Well it’s a smaller eel

 

[dunamis227]

Well it’s a smaller eel

size doesnt mean space required though