Electric Eel

[SimonL]

Hey guys. Just got my supposed to be 18-24" electric eel! :D The thing is three feet long and big aroung as my arm! Holy crap! I was gonna put it in a 33 gallon too, oh well. For 40 bucks Canadian too.

[rallysman]

something is telling me that that tank is way too small

[gomezladdams]

Theres room for the fish just not any water

[SimonL]

Yeah, it's in a 75 for now. I guess I'll have to clear my 135 or something.

[DeLgAdO]

Yeah, it's in a 75 for now. I guess I'll have to clear my 135 or something.

good god man!!! :eek:

give it some more room!!

[SimonL]

A three foot EE doesn't require nearly the space of say a 28" arowana, which are in almost constant motion. They are pretty sluggish (until feeding time anyway). A buddy of mine kept 5 adults in 110 to 180 gallon tanks for more than a decade. Interestingly enough three died during a fire from smoke inhalation! Like I said, it is substantially bigger than I was expecting, and I don't think the fish in my 220 would appreciate as a room-mate.

Good thing I had that big rubber handled net too......

[kentobizmol]

if it's 3feet right now, keep it in a 270gallon, later on it will need something bigger since they get up to 6-8'

[Waldo]

keep a heavy top on it my freind. when they hit the floor they are like bones wrapped in jello... It's not a fix'er up'er when they hit the floor!!!! mine was a basement concrete floor but still. you got one hell of a deal on that fish. I sold one that size discounted to the bakkon institute in MSP and it went for $200

[SimonL]

In Canada one this size (measured last night - 32") goes for around 300.00. For the price I was expecting about 16"!

[Waldo]

Yeah that sounds about right. I think we normally sell them for 270-300 depending on our cost and size. I did it because I thought it would be good PR selling it to a museum.

[yellowjacket]

do u have any pics yet :headbang2

[MrfisH]

A buddy of mine kept 5 adults in 110 to 180 gallon tanks for more than a decade......

Does this really mean its ok.?

[SimonL]

You have to think of big eels space requirements the same way you would for a snake, they don't need nearly the tank size of a lizard of equal length. Eels (and eel-like fish) are able to live in a much smaller aquarium than "regular" fish. Their sedentary nature combined with their flexibleness makes them able to live in tanks of about the length of the fish and half as wide. The average size tank in most public zoos and aquariums is only around 180 gallons for a full adult (at least ones I've been to). Electric eels are especially suited for smaller tanks because of the confined environment they naturally come from.

I think there is a much bigger issue with people keeping active fish like pacu, large catfish or arowanas in small aquariums

[Waldo]

Often times you have to stick a goldfish in their just to check if they are alive.

[softturtle]

Often times you have to stick a goldfish in their just to check if they are alive.
LOL! I was gonna say why don't you just poke it, but then I remembered the electricity. Anyone ever been zapped by an electric eel?

[Zoodiver]

I have. Not fun, let me tell you. I got set on my butt pretty hard by a 24" animal. The larger ones (5' or longer) are capible of knocking you out. I forget the exact amount, but I want to say something in the area of 900V from an adult. Most of the body on those is the 'electric generating' part. Only the first 15-20% of the animal is organs etc....

[SimonL]

I've got a broom stick, plastic tongs, rubber gloves for working in the tank, plus I put a grounding probe into the nearby wall socket. I've only ever been shocked by my old 12" electric cat and a variety of fish tank equipment incidents.

[Zorro]

get like a 300

[softturtle]

I have. Not fun, let me tell you. I got set on my butt pretty hard by a 24" animal. The larger ones (5' or longer) are capible of knocking you out.
Thats crazy. I watched this thing on TV about these guys catching them for a study. Thay all had big long rubber gloves on, but once water got in the gloves they bagan getting shocked. There was people stiffening up and falling over in the water when they got shocked (I'm sure the muddy river bank wasn't helping them either). Pretty comical.

[TaratronVaeVictus]

A great thread....thanks! Gives me something to watch out for with our EE at work, Pikachu...he's only 15 inches right now, and eats NLS H20 pellets. No feeders, no fish, nothing else. Very fat and sassy guy, and, fingers crossed, yet to feel his electric wrath.

[arapaimag]

I've got a broom stick, plastic tongs, rubber gloves for working in the tank, plus I put a grounding probe into the nearby wall socket. I've only ever been shocked by my old 12" electric cat and a variety of fish tank equipment incidents.

SIMON

Why don't you clear out your 6,000 gallon shark tank at the store you manage and put him in there. I'm sure BIG AL :WHOA: won't notice. :thumbsup:

[dimebag]

u need a larger tank.Plz post some pics PLZ

[kentobizmol]

SIMON

Why don't you clear out your 6,000 gallon shark tank at the store you manage and put him in there. I'm sure BIG AL :WHOA: won't notice. :thumbsup:


god one arapaimaG!HAHA

yah; that guy has a small tank, it'll probably shock it self to death dA next time it gives out a spark!
they get big, REAL BIG!

BUT DON'T DUMP THEM IN YOUR LOCAL CREEK!!!!!!
PLEASE!!

[SimonL]

Hey arapaimag, I recently signed up as well. How big is the tank you've got the small EE in? I'm gonna boot the tegu out of the 125, fill it half way, and put in a bunch of bamboo and mangrove roots.

Nah, the shark tank is gonna be crowded enough, we're moving the Mississauga sharks in for a few weeks while they redo their tank. Besides I want to out my Alli gar in there.

Ivan's onboard to help with the fish moving, I was thinking a Sat. after work (next week?).