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Just a curiousity question, are there any eels that can live happily in freshwater? I know they probably get way to big to fit in any of my tanks but ive never seen or heard of one. Anybody heard of or have a freshwater eel?
thanks
-Andrew

Yup! The tiretrack eel and the fire eel both live in FW. we have them at work. There are def. FW eels. If you do a google search I bet you'll be able to find more information. This sounds like something Shini would like to post about...
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Last edited by FerretFanatic at 30-Dec-2004 07:37

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Fishyandrew45

I have seen many land locked fresh water eels and I am sure many fisher person will say the same think. But some of these monsters can grow over 6ft.

Keith

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I used to pull them from the Mississippi on trout lines. Ugly, black things that scare the dickens out of you when running the lines in the middle of the night.

I'm afraid that though I have a taste for oddballs, eels are not my forte.:%)

Truthfully, Mastacemblids such as Spiny Eels and Tiretracks are not true eels. Some stay at about 8" if I'm not mistaken, but some get enormous, so choose wisely.

In the way of true eels (Order Anguilliformes), there are very few that make into the hobby that are purely freshwater fish. As in almost none. There are virtually no true freshwater eels that are common in the fish trade to my knowledge. If you're looking for true eels, the only types you will commonly find are the moray eels, be they brackish or saltwater (and some "snake eel" species in saltwater, but no need to get into that). I believe there is a single Moray species that even rarely gets in the fish hobby that may be purely freshwater. AggieMarine keeps one and can give more details if he drops by.:%)

Last edited by Shinigami at 30-Dec-2004 11:49

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Yes, shini there is spiny eel that hits about 8in. It it the yellow tail spiny eel if im not mistakin. I was thinking of gettting one but i discided not too.

It depends if you want true eels or just fish that are known as eels. Spiny Eels, Fire Eels and those are not ture eels, they are just really long fish (if I remember correctly) and true eels are usually SW or Brackish, there are a few true eels that are FW, just have to find some and make sure they are definatley ture FW eels, not SW being sold as FW.