I'm going to look at a 135 gallon tank tomorrow, its at a great price $550 for tank stand and accessories. It's a deal I can't pass up. Anyways, I would really like to get a fire eel and was wondering if this would be big enough? I've tried researching but I get such mixed results. And if it is big enough, is there room for any other types of fish? Any suggestions if so? or should I keep him by himself? the dimensions of the tank are 72"L-18"W-24"H and I plan to use sand (I've only ever used gravel, any advice?) and I plan to try planting it, though I know there is a chance of them being uprooted. So far I know that they are escape artists, I know I may have to get a more stable top for it. I know they like to dig and bury themselves and that it should be the first to get established in the tank. Any other tips? it is so hard to research online, you get so much info contradicts itself. Any info or tips would be great, Thanks ^_^
Advice/Ideas for a 135 gallon tank
- Thread starter Ashers
- Start date
I do not know much about fire eels, but I do know they get big. Maybe some one else can answer this for you. Here is a link for a giant fire eel thread. Check it out.
And welcome to MFK
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=298629&highlight=fire+eel
And welcome to MFK
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=298629&highlight=fire+eel
That's not really helpful 'I don't know the answer maybe someone else does' ??? why did you bother?....*sigh* anyways I have done my research, I am aware they get big, lfs that carries them told me they can get 3 feet long but in captivity usually only get 2 feet.Most websites have said they get to about 36" And then there is the cases where they get even bigger then 3 feet. I am prepared to get a bigger tank in the possible event that it outgrows my tank. I suppose a good question to ask would be, how big a tank is recommended? and how long do they usually take to get full grown?
And sorry bigbadfish711 I'm not trying to be rude, thanks for the heads up on size and for the welcome.http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/member.php?u=76968
Actually the thread he posted was a good thing to bring up, as it gives you an idea of how big they actually get in captivity. Your lfs was wrong. Under optimal conditions, a fire eel should be expected to at least get within the 30-36" range, and sizes over 36" aren't too uncommon.Ashers;4900936; said:
Again, 180 gallons is the bare minimum, the larger the better. You should expect it to be around 30" in 2.5-3 years (depending on the size you get it at). There's really no telling exactly how large and individual specimen will get, since it largely depends on how long it lives and how it is kept, but assuming it doesn't get too much past 36", I'd say it should take about 3-4 years.
And just for future reference, being rude to people who try to help isn't the best way to make friends.
that tank would last you 2yrs give or take. obviouslye talking in a manner that the fish is a young one. water quality is the most important aspect other then feeding. you can expect a growth rate of approx 1" per month the first 12-18 monthes. IMO a 75 is an absolute min for these guys as a grow-out as they grow big fast. my 75 has become a nightmare to do water changes on since my 3 hit the 2yr mark and 18-24" but I don't mind.. so really depends on how dedicated you are to water change routines ect. they do not tolerate poor water quality well at all. I've found footprint being more important to these guys then height, like a vast majority of bottom dwellers. even though they are very dexterous they are very active when healthy particulrly at night.
Mine are kept in a bare bottom tank, with 2 emperor 400's for filtration extra bio-media in the cartridges. PVC pipes for hideing and a large peice of driftwood thats more for the royal pleco in the tank then them.. but they enjoy pushing it around i swear. temp is generally in the mid to high 70's. we keep our appartment in general in that range so i don't use a heater ( but I do have one incase I ever need to for some reason) If you wnat to go with plants I would suggest some clay pots, I did this in my tire tracks tank and it doens't exactly look natural but i do get compliments on how nice the plants are since they don't get uprooted. or try a free-floating type.
Feeding is either not much of a problem or very challengeing. depending on what size you aquire them. smaller the better imo.. smaller ones are more delicate.. but I got mine on the larger side of "juvies" and had a heck of a time getting them offa live worms. bloodworms, krill, mysis are all good frozen options. live blackworms, nightcrawlers, panworms ( htought personally i never had luck offering these), ghost shrimp, peice of raw inverts (scallops,shrimp,mussels, ect) are all good foods to offer. Once you find something your eel likes.. let it settle in a few weeks before really trying to offer it other foods. keep offering other foods, but also make sure the fire is eating and putting on some mass. These fish can be very stubborn and imo do not do well with "starve it and eventually it'll eat" this is how alot of spiney eels die. If you expect it to take pellets... Count yourself lucky for the accomplishment.
Mine are kept in a bare bottom tank, with 2 emperor 400's for filtration extra bio-media in the cartridges. PVC pipes for hideing and a large peice of driftwood thats more for the royal pleco in the tank then them.. but they enjoy pushing it around i swear. temp is generally in the mid to high 70's. we keep our appartment in general in that range so i don't use a heater ( but I do have one incase I ever need to for some reason) If you wnat to go with plants I would suggest some clay pots, I did this in my tire tracks tank and it doens't exactly look natural but i do get compliments on how nice the plants are since they don't get uprooted. or try a free-floating type.
Feeding is either not much of a problem or very challengeing. depending on what size you aquire them. smaller the better imo.. smaller ones are more delicate.. but I got mine on the larger side of "juvies" and had a heck of a time getting them offa live worms. bloodworms, krill, mysis are all good frozen options. live blackworms, nightcrawlers, panworms ( htought personally i never had luck offering these), ghost shrimp, peice of raw inverts (scallops,shrimp,mussels, ect) are all good foods to offer. Once you find something your eel likes.. let it settle in a few weeks before really trying to offer it other foods. keep offering other foods, but also make sure the fire is eating and putting on some mass. These fish can be very stubborn and imo do not do well with "starve it and eventually it'll eat" this is how alot of spiney eels die. If you expect it to take pellets... Count yourself lucky for the accomplishment.
Thank you so much that's very helpful. I've had difficulty figuring out what the minimum tank requirements are, I've been have people tell me anywhere from 75 gallons to 180 gallons. The pet store told me 90 gallons. I figured the 135 gallon would be good, certainly better then something smaller, I'm only planning for one, and if it out grows my tank, from what people have been saying I would have bout a year to 2 years before that, its fine, even 1 1/2 years in plenty of time for me to save up for a bigger tank, and I do have the space.
the one I am looking at in the store is about a foot long and they are selling him for $80, but I'm not sure if I should get him, as his skin is kinda lumpy in places and looks scratched in patches, is that normal? they do keep him in a tank with gravel and rocks. Other then that he looks completely healthy, clear eyes and certainly not skinny. Still I am thinking about having a friend who works in a lfs order a different one in for me. What do you think? How do you know its a healthy eel? What is its skin supposed to look like?
I am going to try plants, so thanks on the tip on the pots. and the information on feeding is very helpful too. I think this tank would be fine for raising one, especially if its a small one. I don't understand people who flame other people if they don't put their fish in the tank it will need as an adult, depending on its size, how am I supposed to find such a tiny fish in such a huge tank? and if i cant find him how do i know its eating?
and yes to previous comments, I know being rude is not a good way of making friends, that's why, when i realized how rude it sounded, I threw in an apology and a thanks for the heads up. It was not my intent to be rude, and honestly, I have seen alot worse on these forum sites. and they don't apologize for it.
the one I am looking at in the store is about a foot long and they are selling him for $80, but I'm not sure if I should get him, as his skin is kinda lumpy in places and looks scratched in patches, is that normal? they do keep him in a tank with gravel and rocks. Other then that he looks completely healthy, clear eyes and certainly not skinny. Still I am thinking about having a friend who works in a lfs order a different one in for me. What do you think? How do you know its a healthy eel? What is its skin supposed to look like?
I am going to try plants, so thanks on the tip on the pots. and the information on feeding is very helpful too. I think this tank would be fine for raising one, especially if its a small one. I don't understand people who flame other people if they don't put their fish in the tank it will need as an adult, depending on its size, how am I supposed to find such a tiny fish in such a huge tank? and if i cant find him how do i know its eating?
and yes to previous comments, I know being rude is not a good way of making friends, that's why, when i realized how rude it sounded, I threw in an apology and a thanks for the heads up. It was not my intent to be rude, and honestly, I have seen alot worse on these forum sites. and they don't apologize for it.
The "lumpy" skin could just be food that hasn't been fully digested yet. My TT eel always looks like that for a while after it eats. I'm not sure about the scratches though (there aren't "supposed" to be scratches in the skin, but they might not be too much of an issue, depending on how bad they are).Ashers;4903676; said:
Oh, I must have missed that.
dependig where the lumps are I agree w/ Drgn this is pretty normal after feeding. the "scratches" do they look like white/off-white scuff marks? if this is the case this is normal abrassion from gravel, aggression, unsuitable decor ( ie sharp objects) it isn't anything ot be overly concerned about as long as there is no odd discoloration. If it is otherwise healthy you shouldn't have a reason not to pick it up.. I would suggest though haveing the LFS feed it ( spiney eels are almost always hungry, like rays) knowing what they are feeding it, and seeing it eat are 2 things imo that can be important when choosing a spiney eel. If it's off live even better.
as far as upgradeing tanks ect.. the issue most run into is people will say they will upgrade and simply never do. personally I use the "step-up" method in most my large fish husbandry practices. the Gar forum in particular goes into some depth as to why this isn't a bad thing at all and infact beneficial to certain fish. the major downside to this method is keeping water quality suitable, you have to have a dedicated water change/maintience plan.. and stick too it. or you can easily stunt or kill a fish.
as far as upgradeing tanks ect.. the issue most run into is people will say they will upgrade and simply never do. personally I use the "step-up" method in most my large fish husbandry practices. the Gar forum in particular goes into some depth as to why this isn't a bad thing at all and infact beneficial to certain fish. the major downside to this method is keeping water quality suitable, you have to have a dedicated water change/maintience plan.. and stick too it. or you can easily stunt or kill a fish.