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Hey all,
I recently saw the cutest thing, a little freshwater eel! I cant remember what type it was, but it had a very pointy snout, was reddish in color, and had white or yellow spots on the tail end. Very cute! What kind of requirements tank wise do these little guys need, and how big do they get, what do they eat etc. The LFS guy said he keeps one in a 10g with some Balloon Mollies. I kept thinking they probably get too big, but I am not sure so can someone help me out. The one I saw was about 4 inches long maybe.

I also saw a neat snakehead fish, I cant find a picture of it online, its long, very laterally compressed, with red and yellow/white stripes lengthwise. Looks very "snakey" in the face end. What do these fish require?
I was thinking about in the future, like down the road someways turning my tank/getting a new tank for A big cichlid or two, maybe an oscar, or a Midas cichlid, or a flowerhorn, or severums or something like that. Would this snakehead fish be a suitable tankmate? Tank would be 90g or larger.
Thanks!

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Fire eel---grows to 3+ feet in length.

Also, I wouldn't get snakeheads if I were you---if they are the asian preadatory species I'm thinking of. I'm surprised they were admitted into Canada.

Last edited by Cup_of_Lifenoodles at 03-Dec-2004 09:29

if you can afford housing for an eel, go for it! they hide a lot, but they're the cutest things when they eat!!!

look up some other kinds though if you're not ready for the 90g yet. some don't grow quite THAT big.

The pottery that growls!

Most snakeheads get pretty big....especially the redline snakehead you are describing (3'+). There are a number of smaller spiney eels that will work well for you, such as the barred spiney and peacock eels.

I went back to the pet store today, and the little eel was listed as "Zig Zag Spiny Eel".
Does this help any in the ID? How big do these ones get?
Do they eat fish? and if so, how small of fish would be a likely culprit? Glowlights? WCMM? Guppies?


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I wouldn't house them with anything smaller than a krib, and even then, I'd be wary. Zig zags/tire trakcs/whatever you want to call them still grow to a large, hefty size (past 2'), and are highly preadatory. Peacocks are a good choice, as toirtis stated.

yes, the zig-zags/tyretracks get quite decently large, and are capable of eating things the size of large female mollies. Stick with the peacocks and barred spineys....they are a danger only to guppies, WCMM, smaller tetras, etc.

Ah, the dreaded Tyre Track and Fire Eels. Yes, they're all big ones. If you're seriously thinking of branching out into Mastacembelids, look for something a good deal smaller to start with, as the big ones have appetites to match their size, and a habit of swallowing smaller tankmates in the middle of the night ...

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002