American Eels

[Czyzx]

Alright so, about a year ago I picked up a small American Eel from a baitshop near my job. Now there isn't a lot of information out there on how to house these guys so its been a lot of experimenting on my part to figure out what works best.

I'm starting this thread as something of a personal journal on things I have tried, and hopefully it will be of some use to anyone else looking to keep these guys. If anyone else has any tips on how to keep them, your advice is very helpful.

Sex: Not sure
Age: Not sure
Origin: The owner of the store said most of their eels came from Delaware
Current Size: 13"

Diet:

• Primarily frozen squid
• Bloodworms
• Sandworms
• Live feeder fish
• Doesn't seem to like pellets

Feeding Schedule:

• 1 chunk of squid (aprox the size of a quarter) every 3 days. He doesn't seems to want more than that despite his size.

Tankmates:

• Attacked the large goldfish housed with him
• Currently none

Substrates:

• Bare bottom: Didn't like it, often tried to escape
• Large River Rocks: Seems to be his favorite, liked hiding under and between them. I found he was far less inclined to attempt to escape or swim into the filter with theses in the bottom.
• Sand: I just switched him over to a sand bottom tank. He doesn't appear to like burrowing as expected. I might try making the sand deeper for him so he can better dig/hide.

Heater: I have had him with/and without one. Doesn't seem to make a difference.

 

[Czyzx]

 

[Andyroo]

We nicked one of these (similar sp, or possibly same) from the local river before Xmas.
Started maybe 6 or 8" and thin like a string. Today not too too much longer, still <12", but thick!
I don't really know what she's eating, but even when I neglect them for a few days she's got a belly on 'er. There are some California red-wrigglers in the substrate, so I suppose she's found out how to find them...

Favourite foods that I've been providing seem to be commercial/aquaculture pellets and squashed land-snails, though I imagine she'll take about anything. Likes a lot of current and lives much/most of her time these days buried in the substrate (course but very lightweight marine algae-derived sand that I've heard called "Oats sand"). Loves a lot of eelgrass and dense foliage, but I think any sort of hide (log, stone, cobble field etc) will be appreciated, particularly if there's flowing water.

She's in a 100Gal long/tall/show with a bunch of other stuff, variable in aggression from blue gourami to big-mouth sleeper goby & black mullet. Water should be hard based on source & substates, but the plants should soften it somewhat. Temp of the river was likely >24C as was the tank over Xmas, but right now its unlikely to be much below 32C: toasty.

Very bright, very inquisitive and even sometimes interactive fish- one of my favourites of all time.
And yes, they are fantastic athletes incl. notorious escape artists. Tape everything down.

Helpful?

Andrew

 

[Stone Like Fish]

Lookin' good! I'm going fishing in 2 weeks to try and catch a Longfin Eel (Anguilla reinhardtii) so i can enjoy eels also! I used to explore storm water drains, often saw them from pencil to about 24" in their. I'm hoping to catch a 16-18" or so specimen for my tank