conflicting info on spiny eel size...?

[Bottomfeeder]

ive heard that they need 55g (live aquaria)
but they reach over a foot...what is the TRUE minimum tank size of Spiny Eels?
(btw i know that peacocks and africans need only 30g)

 

[Stump]

There are more than one or two 'Spiny Eels'... Are you speaking of one in particular?

 

[iloveoscars702]

i had my tt eel in my old 55 gal. was never really active becuase he didnt have much room. so now he is in my 100 and i always see him swimmming around.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

There are more than one or two 'Spiny Eels'... Are you speaking of one in particular?

all but the ones i listed
pretty much fire, tire track, zigzag

 

[Stump]

Well, generalizing African eels, really shouldn't be done, unless you are talking about the Ocellated Spiny Eel, aka African Spiny Eel. I say this becuase there are eels from Lake Tanganyika, notably Elipsifer that grow to be quite large. They'll need 100g at least when full grown. There are others from that area aswell, such as plagiostomus, and moorii which I am uncertain of their potential sizes.

TireTracks sometimes surpass the Fire Eel in size, and will therefor need a very large tank when matured. Both Tire Tracks and Fire Eels will need upwards of 100g.

Zig Zag Eels, if I remember correctly are actually one of the ones that stays relatively small in home aquaria -- usually never reaching over a foot. Don't hold me to this one, but I am pretty sure this is the case.

 

[BarroomHero]

Well, generalizing African eels, really shouldn't be done, unless you are talking about the Ocellated Spiny Eel, aka African Spiny Eel. I say this becuase there are eels from Lake Tanganyika, notably Elipsifer that grow to be quite large. They'll need 100g at least when full grown. There are others from that area aswell, such as plagiostomus, and moorii which I am uncertain of their potential sizes.

TireTracks sometimes surpass the Fire Eel in size, and will therefor need a very large tank when matured. Both Tire Tracks and Fire Eels will need upwards of 100g.

Zig Zag Eels, if I remember correctly are actually one of the ones that stays relatively small in home aquaria -- usually never reaching over a foot. Don't hold me to this one, but I am pretty sure this is the case.

I have a M. Plagiostoma in with my african cichlids. He is pretty cool, but doesn't come out too often though, mostly at night. I have had him about 6 months or so, he is about 9". There isnt a whole lot of info on these but I've read they get 10-12".

 

[Stump]

^ That's pretty cool. I'd love to see pics of him... I haven't seen any good pictures of that specific kind yet. I'm very curious.

 

[iloveoscars702]

^ That's pretty cool. I'd love to see pics of him... I haven't seen any good pictures of that specific kind yet. I'm very curious.

same here. pics would be nice. btw ive had my tt eel for about a year now and hes over a foot long, but hes not as fat/wide as the other one foot fires ive seen around.

 

[BarroomHero]

I just tried getting some good pictures of my plagiostoma the other day, but he didnt want to pose for the camera lol. I don't have any full body shots, heres what I do have-

 

[Stump]

AWESOME. Thanks!