Anguilla rostrata

Common Names:

American eel
American freshwater eel
Anguila eel
Common eel
European eel
European freshwater eel
Silver eel

Synonyms:

Muraena rostrata

Family:

Anguillidae

Category:

OthersFW

Distribution:

Pacific - North; Found along the entire coastline of North America, as far north as Greenland, reaching down as far south as Panama, Mexico. Also found in the Caribean, and West Indies south to Trinidad.

Main Ecosystem:

Stream; Live most of their lives in fresh water streams and rivers that empty into the oceans. Usually found in fresh water streams that fed by warm springs.

Temperament:

Reclusive; Usually found hiding in a cave, pot, or buried in the substrate. Not aggressive to other fish that it cannot fit into its mouth.

Diet:

Ominvore; Though preditory and will eat anything that can fit into its mouth, they are scavengers. And they will eat anything available. This includes refuse and detritus.

Care:

Both for the American and European variety;
Not to difficult to care for. Though found in fresh, brackish, and salt waters, this fish spends most of its life in the fresh water environment, venturing out into the brackish areas at times. They do not live in the salty type environments on a continuous basis, only for short periods of time. Not a picky eater. Will eat most anything given to it. These fish prefer meaty type foods, of living or dead substance that will fit into their mou

pH:

7 - 8.5

Temperature:

2°C - 32°C

36°F - 90°F

Hardness:

15 dH - 45 dH

Potential Size:

Male: 110cm (43.3")
Female: 110cm (43.3")

Water Region:

Bottom; Bottom

Activity:

Nocturnal; For the most part, but will venture out during the day.

Gender:

Males are smaller, usually reaching only around 18 inches, with large ones coming in at under 22 inches. While females reach a size of 42 inches. One over 22 inches would be a female.

Breeding:

Not feesable in the home aquarium. As they require very deep salt water to spawn. They spawn in mid winter. When ready to spawn, in nature they travel out into the very deep open ocean. It is not exactly known of the exact place, but it is known that they travel well over the Continental Slope and out into the Sargasso Sea, before depositing their eggs. For this reason, it is almost impossible at this time to attempt to breed these fish in captivity. It is conluded from the anatomy of

Variants:

Comments:

There are two distinct varieties of this fish, the American and the European. Both have the same breeding habits, but there are many differences in them. The Europeans grow and mature slower. Their larval stage is 3 times as long, as that of the American variety. In other words, the American variety has app a 1 year larval stage in the ocean, vs the 2-3 year ocean larval stage of the European variety. Both spawn in the same large, deep area of the ocean. And, at the same time of the

Main Colours:

Green, Yellow, Black

Markings:

No Markings

Mouth:

Upturned

Tail:

Convex

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Image Credit:

Submitted By:

ACIDRAIN

History:

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