Today i went to Chinatown and I Impulsed bought an American eel that was destined to a dinner plate. I have it in a 10 gallon hospital tank as it was beat up. Its approximatly 5-8 inches long. Does anyone have info on Their Husbandry. The guy told me they where freshwater but just in case i put some salt. I am also keeping the water at room temp no heater probably lower maybe around 65-70 degrees and my thermometer is only 70-90 degrees. Any info would be helpful also is it natral for it to just be sitting on the bottom i assum its doing that because of the stress from being transported into an aquaria from the wild as it wwas a fish market not a pet store one. Thanks
American Eel
- Thread starter haloman02
- Start date
American eels are catadromous, so they live their adult lives in rivers and swim to the Sargasso Sea to spawn. They live in rivers from South America to the northern parts of north america, so they are no picky about water hardness or pH. I wouldn't add any more salt than you would any other freshwater fish you keep. They are very secretive and escape artists, so keep that lid snug. I know the ones around here love to eat freshwater prawns, so I would make shrimp (market type) a large part of its diet. I know females get big, something like 3 ft, and males don't get as big, but can't think of exact sizes of the top of my head. I've also heard that they can live up to 20 years.
There's a setup at Aquarena Springs, near where I used to work, that has an American Eel in a tank with a vertical divider in the substrate. Behind the divider is just regular aquarium gravel, and in front of the divider, for a couple of inches in front of the glass, it is full of clear glass marbles. If you recreate this, you won't regret it because the eels like to feel enclosed, so they burrow down into the marbles. They hide all day in plain sight. Good luck with your eel. Read up on these guys, their life history is amazing.
Oh yeah, you don't need a heater, either.
There's a setup at Aquarena Springs, near where I used to work, that has an American Eel in a tank with a vertical divider in the substrate. Behind the divider is just regular aquarium gravel, and in front of the divider, for a couple of inches in front of the glass, it is full of clear glass marbles. If you recreate this, you won't regret it because the eels like to feel enclosed, so they burrow down into the marbles. They hide all day in plain sight. Good luck with your eel. Read up on these guys, their life history is amazing.
Oh yeah, you don't need a heater, either.
LoL.... The reason is that i didnt upload any i will upload some in 5 min 
i just cant get any good ones he doesnt come near the glass 
i just cant get any good ones he doesnt come near the glass 
Thats cool...Eels are one of the most interesting fish around...
though a word of caution....handle him with care....i think they bite...
at least my Anguilla bengalensis do....like hell...and I think they're pretty similar in behaviour...
though a word of caution....handle him with care....i think they bite...
at least my Anguilla bengalensis do....like hell...and I think they're pretty similar in behaviour...
In a chinease fish market they were going to let it suffocate to sell it for human consumption poor thing. I paid 10 dollors for Woot. I might go back and purchase a few more.
they were going to let it suffocate to sell it for human consumption poor thing. I paid 10 dollors for Woot. I might go back and purchase a few more.crazyforcrabs;1463340; said:
If it's got a mouth, it'll bite...
80 degrees might be pushin it. I'd just keep it at room temperature. Give him some good hiding places, or he's going to bail out. If you aren't up to dividing the substrate, consider a marble bottom. Might be a pain to clean, but you'll be able to see your fish. I'd also invest in LED moonlights if you don't have them already.