Zig Zag or Tire Eels

[RobD23]

Just wanted some info on these guys. Let me know how big they grow and if they are preditorial and stuff, pictures would be nice to....Thanks guys :thumbsup:

[mudskipper]

why not fires? well heres a sight for spiny eels in general:

http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Oddball,%20Spiny%20Eel.htm

[michael]

I had larger tiretrack eel and it would come up and nip my aros' fins.

[illustrae]

These are two different species of spiney eel. A tiretrack eel can get over three feet long, while the zig-zag eel tops out at about 18 inches. Definitely something to keep in mind depending on the size of your tank. They are predatory but not aggressive. They will eat small fish and shrimp, but generally won't bother anything else. They can be aggressive toward other eels, though, so either keep only one or provide tons of hiding caves or PVC tubing. Some people say their eels hide in the substrate all the time, while other say their eels are out and about and can even be hand-fed. They are great escape artists, so a tight fitting lid with no gaps around equipment is a good idea. Some eels will eat a stple diet of flakes and pellets, but they love beefheart and shrimp, and pretty much any frozen food.

[Hakon]

I agree with illustrae, it's actually up to the fish personality if they burry down and stay in the gravel for a time or come out and eat of your hand. Mine eats from my hand. It's also someone who says their eel is only active at the night.

The tiretrack eel may reach ca. 20" in captivity. The water should have a pH at 7 and dH ca. 10. They'll like some some salt. Both M. armatus and M. circumcinctus will eat small fish. I feed mine with frozen food like beefheart, shrimp, bloodworms and mysis.
My tire eel:

[toper777]

I've had my tire track for about a month now and it is a great addition to the tank it hides quite a bit but does come out to show off (it is awesome) I have not noticed any pattern to it's behavior day or night. It does like shrimp.