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What would be minimum tank size for these guys? Assuming say, the fish in question would be something along the size of dinosaur "eels", i.e. 12 inches.

I'd most likely insist that he get his own tank for his eel-y friends, cause I don't believe in feeder fish... especially when they're MY pets!

Might make an interesting tankmate for the electric blue crayfish he was looking at, too... two creatures that would be looking out to eat any sleepy fish! (Actually that's completely in jest... I have no idea of compatibility and have little info on either animal. *chuckles*)

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

I know I'm coming in a bi tlate, but here is some info on FW eels.

http://www.petco.com/assets/articles/caresheets/pdf/AQFFreshwaterEels052003.pdf
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/matacembelids.htm
http://sunflower.bio.indiana.edu/~sholtzma/fish.html

I have also done several profiles on this site for eels, mainly SW eels. If you want to keep eels, you really need to set the tank up for them. You can't simply drop it in and look at it. The tank needs caves and other hiding places or it simply will not be happy.

Questions can be sent to me in PM, I will be happy to provide any help I can.



Dan

gd point

the way in which they move makes a difference to eel like fish can turn alot easier then say a 12" frontosa

I`ve been told Fire Eels reach 40 cm, soz for bad info.

I thought a 12inch fish would need a tank of around 55g so it could turn easily?

I must be wrong like coz Toirtis is like the expert on Birchirs but just what I thought

What would be minimum tank size for these guys? Assuming say, the fish in question would be something along the size of dinosaur "eels", i.e. 12 inches.

For a spiny eel of 12", around 15-20 gallons, for a senegal bichir ('dinosaur eel') 33-40 gallons.

For a Fire Eel (40cm) I would say a 100g tank is around minimum

It should be...since fire eels usually hit 40" (102cm) not 40 cm (15" ) ....I have two fires that are 40cm and still growing fast.

Last edited by Toirtis at 27-Dec-2004 16:16

For a Fire Eel (40cm) I would say a 100g tank is around minimum. They are the best looking "eel" you can get IMO.

You could get a Polypteus and a 12 inch one should fit in a 75g and for more information on them ask Toirtis, he the expert on them!

For an asian eel of around 8 inches I would say a 55g tank would be fine, probably get away with a smaller tank.

I wouldn`t try keeping a Crayfish with an eel as the crayfish would slice right through an eel and the polypterus would probs eat the caryfish

I've kept yellowtail spiney eels before. They stay pretty small, and don't move around too much. They're really hard to see during the day, as they like to burrow into the substrate with only their heads protruding from the gravel. I got one for livebearer population control, and he did the job pretty well.
I've also kept, and still keep, freshwater moray eels. Now those will impress your boyfriend. All of my friends (except maybe a few of my female friends) love my white-cheecked moray. He'll only get about 14 inches long, which is suitable for a 20 gallon long aquarium, as morays are quite sedetary. They require a little more fish-keeping knowledge than spiney eels, but I wouldn't classify them as a hard-to-care-for fish if you've got the know-how to take care of one. They're very self-sufficient. I actually never have to feed mine anymore. I've got some livebearers in his tank that reproduce just fast enough for him to eat. Well, I do have to add a couple more livebearers every four months or so, and I throw in some ghost shrimp once a month or so, but really, that's not too bad for a predator. If you're interested in morays, let me know. I'm a Fishbase collaborator for the family and I know more about the whole family than probably anyone else here. Morays are kinda my aquatic specialty.

Why is it that the guys I know are obsessed with eels? o.O Both my boyfriend and my sis's fiance think they are the coolest thing ever.

I took my boyfriend to my fav LFS yesterday and now I've somehow converted him from "eh, fish are okay" to "I want THAT one and THAT one! And eels!" Oi.

He was obsessed with a zebra eel in the saltwater section, but I told him flat out that I'm not interested in salt water. I saw dinosaur eels at another store the other day that were kept in freshwater tanks... What other SMALL eels are freshwater? I believe the dinosaur eel said 12" adult size. Unless I get the 55+ gallon tank I want, that's not going to happen.

I have NO clue about eels... they're unique and all, but not exactly something that I'm all like "I've GOT to have one of those!" At least I don't get the willies just from looking at them (like my sis). Is there any special care eels need? From what I can tell, they like places to hide and curl up around and/or in. What sort of capatability issues am I dealing with? And diet?

Of course, this is all planning for the future, as I don't have the room for any more fish... I reeeeeally want that lovely, big tank I saw at the store last night.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

I would go for a small asian eel species, they are not true eels as they are really just extremely long fish but are commonly called eels. There are lots and lots of species, just make sure you don`t get some of the 18 inch species like Tire Tracks Eels. The best looking fw eel commonly available is the Fire Eel but grows 40cm easily and will eat anything that gets in it`s mouth, but considering it is 40cm the mouth of eels ain`t very large compared to normal fish of this size so you could keep a fire eel with fish larger than 5 inches and they would be fine.

You could get a smaller eel like a half banded tire track eel which grow 8 inches max. Just feed bloodworm and other various meaty foods and they will be fine. They will only eat very small fish as there mouths are tiny.

'Dinosaur eels' are not eels...they are Polypteridae, a predatory, nocturnal, primitive bony fish.

Technically, the spiny 'eels' in shops (usually sold as tyretrack, zigzag, peacock, fire, etc eels) are not true eels either, but about as close as most FW aquarists will get. Now with these spiny eels, species is very important...some, like the tyretrack and fire eels will exceed 30" in the tank, whereas some smaller species, such as the barred/yellowtail will reamain at under 12". However, these are all still carnivores that will swallow anything that they can fit into their mouths, so should not be kept with smaller fish.

ok, 2-4 inches isnt bad. THe ones that i find are 2in which is small imo. Im curoius about the price so please tell me when yoiu find it.



fish1

My stock is probably going to be moving around a bit in the next few weeks, and I wouldn't be getting any eels for a while, either way. I'm pretty (over)stocked as it is. Just curious as to what would be things to look out for.

As for the eels I saw... not sure what the price was on those, though I can take a look next time I go there. They were at my local petsmart and were about 3-4" long.



~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

For some other small eels, there is a dwarf spiny eel at my local fish store. Looks awsome. THey get 6in if im not mistaking and will eat worms shrimp etc etc. Not the biggest mouth but would still probably be able to get your tetras. I saw a fire eel at my lfs also and they get like 3feet+ so im pretty sure thats not what your are looking for,.

I know a little bit about the dinosaur eel. Polpypterus senegalus senegalus. gets about 12in, Fairly active and will eat almost any meaty food including your tetras How much did the bichir cost?? At petsmart there 5.99 at another fish store there 18.99 both are 2-3in.

About the only thing I'm aware of is most of them will eat anything they can fit in their moths. You also have to have a very snug fitting hood as they like to escape.

Why do guys like them???
Cause they are very cool looking.