So, I was thinking about getting a snowflake eel for my tank, but I don't have a 'secure lid' per say. I have a canopy yes, but do I need a solid piece of acrylic over the top of the tank as well? I talked to a fellow customer at the LFS the other day, and he showed me a picture of his tank, a 300 gallon with 4 eels in it, and no lid. He just a hanging light fixture above his tank. However, the guy at the LFS said he wouldn't sell anyone an eel knowing they didn't have a 'secure' lid, claiming it would readily slither out. I believe that with my canopy, I won’t need one as he'll just fall back into the water if he tries anything, but maybe I'm mistaken. Any thoughts on the matter?

I'd make sure it's secure. Eels are escape artists and I have heard about someone's escaping and being eaten by his cats.

Better to be safe than sorry.

Ive got 3 in a tank with openings in my lid where the filters are, havent lost one. BUT, better to be safe than sorry.

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I had a moray for 2 years, had the simple lid on it, he never tried to escape. Infact i was dumb and left them off multiple times, never say him anywhere near the top. But id suggest it just to be safe

we had a small snowflake moray eel until the triggerfish ate him (i was not happy that they added the eel in the first place, but that is a different story). We were too lazy to fit a real lid to the fishtank so we secured plastic grating on top, which worked for several months. It's easier than adding an acrylic/glass top.