Fire Eel Size

MoNsTeR FiS · Jun 16, 2017

Hi
I have a 450 gallon tank and am looking to add fire eels to it and would love them to get 3 feet long though I've had fire eels in the past in this tank and they seem to stop growing right as they hit the 18" mark, but i've read they grow to over three feet. I have heard that some get 3 feet and others get 18" and was wondering if this is true and if so it there a way I would be able to tell before I buy them so they will get big. Thanks.

kno4te · Jun 16, 2017

Most will get to the 26-28 inch mark if taken care of (tank size, clean water and time).

After 12 inches the growth will slow down. Especially after the 1.5 -2 year mark.

One memeber had a old one at 3ft but was in a big tank. This was years ago. So it can be done with a little bit of luck.

Fish Tank Travis · Jun 21, 2017

If you get a fire eel then they should definitely get around 24" at least. If you have pictures of your old eels, could you post them up? If they only got to 18" in a 400 gallon tank then I suspect they may not have been fire eels.

I got my larger two when they were 4" and now, less than a year and a half later, they are near 14-15", and growing fast. I would say they are putting on about an inch every month to month and a half.

It is very common for them to reach 30+", and several have hit the 40" mark.

I am not sure how growth goes because I have not personally witnessed it, but many claim to have theirs at 24-30" within two years.

Experiment397 · Jun 22, 2017

i remember a thread about a 39" fire that had died after years in someones care a few years ago on here. cant recall if it had pictures to back it up or not but they definitely have the potential to grow rather large

MoNsTeR FiS · Jun 28, 2017

Sorry I don't have pictures but they were fire eels, because they had the red lines on the head and dots on the sides. Thanks for the replies.

Just Toby · Jul 8, 2017

Get them used to feeding by hand and they can power eat, they can swallow quite large fish etc. Just make sure you cover all gaps as they like to get out, mine was in a 300 gal tank and was putting on inches all the time but he jumped out the corner and died.