Keeping Sand Eels

[yanros]

I want to have a go keeping sand eels in a 2ft aquarium.

Can anyone advise me on what sort of air pumps, filtration etc I need or anything else.

Thank you

[Portland Pirate]

Hi Yanros.

I have tried to keep Sand Eels without much success. One of the things that seems to kill them very easily is lack of oxygen. You will need a lot of air in the tank and you need to keep the tempreture as cool as possible. You should also aim to change the water as often as possible.

[Greenheart]

What they need is a large Bass for company. Stops them getting bored!!!

[big guy]

deffo lots of air. wouldn't gaurantee how long they'll last they may well die getting them home, or if not only a couple of days.

maybe sort of cage them( bit like a crab cage, but sealed) and leave them in a harbour. ideally off a boat if you could find someone with a boat that wouldn't mind you're cage being tied to the boat.

[yanros]

Thanks guys,

I like Greenheart's big bass best!!!

By the way, Greenheart, have a look at my reply to you Exmouth post as to why there's not any flounder in the Exe.

[Greenheart]

Glad you saw the funny side Yanros. Seriously though, you did not say if you intend keeping them as livebait or as pets. I would imagine that they would be quite an interesting species to keep & study, along with some of the other british marine mini species. You could always try phoning one of the sealife centres like the one at Weymouth, for some expert advice on correct temperature & conditions etc.

[esaa]

Surface area is the key. large shallow tank of salt water, inch or 2 deep. 2 or 3 inches of sand in the bottom. Under cover and in the shade (especially in the summer). And, hard to believe, NO NEED FOR AN AIR PUMP! That's the way to do it and believe it or not, they can stay alive for MONTHS! Many will say I am mad but this comes from a 100% reliable sourse who has caught more Bass on live eels than I have had hot dinners. TRY IT! Transport your eels in a cool box with NO water in but a well wet newspaper in the bottom covering an ice block. Make sure the 2 tempratures are not too different as the shock will kill them (so 'Mike the Crab' down Exmouth way tells me. Hope this helps and doo let us know, Si, ExmouthSAA

[yanros]

Hi Si,

That's an interesting one.

I usually transport live eel in a cool box as you say and I find they stay alive better and longer than with an air pump.

But I've not heard of keeping them in water without a pump. That's certainly an easy way to keep them.

Can't wait to try it.

Owen

[esaa]

Hi Owen. Likewise mate, I have never heared of this way but Rob at the local tackle store here swears by it. The key is the surface area I believe. I think you need to just top up the water from time to time. My mate swears that a mutual friend cleaned out his tank in the spring having not put any eels in it since Autumn. Yes, you guessed it, there was still an eel alive in the sand. Obviously,when you first put them in the tank they shoot straght into the sand, but (and here is the funny bit) for the first few days they come out of the sand and swim around at the top and bottom of each tide! Figure that one out! We mere mortals know very little about the wonders of nature eh? Regards, and do let me know how you get on. Like you say, it's gotta be easier than pumps and tubes ect. Si ExmouthSAA

[wakey16]

does any one know where i can get some live sandeels in the whitstable to dover region?