ELECTRIC EEL

[Nabbig2]

First part is correct, but in the second you contradict yourself. How does one tell if a fish is happy? You've just made the great pet-keeping mistake of anthropomorphization, assuming an animal has equivilant emotions and perceptions as a human.



Ironic, as I would disagee and say at least a 125-180 for an oscar...much more active and curious animal lol. I personally keep barbs, cichlids and other perciform fish in larger tanks.

I never said that animals have humanlike feelings. I did state that a 500 gallon will keep an electric eel happier than a 180 gallon will, because it allows the fish more space to swim, and this obviously gives the fish more mental stimulation and roaming area. Surely you agree this is true. For Electric Eels (and perhaps all fish), a larger area to live in means it will grow larger and healthier, and presumably happier.

As for your second statement, I agree. While I have seen oscars which I believe were very content and active in 75 gallon aquariums, a larger tank would be much more accomodating. Unforunately very people devote such a large tank to an oscar.

When I get an oscar one day, I am planning to get a 120-200 gallon aquarium, and it will share it with other cichlids of similar size and stature.

EDIT: Oh yes, and King-el:

"Even in a big tank such as 500g, they won't still get up to their full potential."

So howcome earlier you stated that a 180 gallon will suffice?

 

[King-eL]

EDIT: Oh yes, and King-el:

"Even in a big tank such as 500g, they won't still get up to their full potential."

So howcome earlier you stated that a 180 gallon will suffice?

You said that 500g is the minimum. 180g is the minimum IMO.

In my experience of keeping an EE. They freak out more in a tank with more space and become very more settle down in more confined space, but not small enough that is unable to stretch out. It's the tank length that should be more concerned of.

 

[Nabbig2]

You said that 500g is the minimum. 180g is the minimum IMO.

In my experience of keeping an EE. They freak out more in a tank with more space and become very more settle down in more confined space, but not small enough that is unable to stretch out. It's the tank length that should be more concerned of.

I see. Well I believe that 180 is far too small for an EE, and it's below the minimum.

I don't believe that electric eels freak out in aquaria with large space...

 

[King-eL]

I see. Well I believe that 180 is far too small for an EE, and it's below the minimum.

I don't believe that electric eels freak out in aquaria with large space...

How do you know? You don't eve have one.

 

[Nabbig2]

How do you know? You don't eve have one.

Really, weak argument.

I've seen plenty of Electric Eels in captivity kept in large aquariums and they were behaving normally. Maybe if you gave any solid evidence that Electric Eels freak out in large aquaria, I'd take you more seriously.

 

[KMKN]

You're doing a water change and zap lol

 

[SimonL]

I don't believe that electric eels freak out in aquaria with large space...

This is somewhat true... when under 3', EEs like to have contact or close proximity to solid objects at all times. You'll see when they move about the tank, they're almost always touching something. Big tanks won't freak 'em out as much as big tanks with tons of open space.

Gar are very similar in disliking big open tanks.

 

[Pomatomus]

This is somewhat true... when under 3', EEs like to have contact or close proximity to solid objects at all times. You'll see when they move about the tank, they're almost always touching something. Big tanks won't freak 'em out as much as big tanks with tons of open space.

Gar are very similar in disliking big open tanks.

I don't have any experience with EE's but I know from experience that the part about the gars is totally false. If you were to take 2 lidless tanks of different sizes and put gars in, you will end up with more gars on the floor from the small one. In our marine lab we have 3 happy gars (from 8"-24") in a 1,000g with some other fish, mostly centrarchids. We've tried a 460g and....I was sent out to catch more again.

Back to EE's: As noted before, they are actually not eels at all, but gymnotiforms. They don't wrap around things, they can't tie themselves in knots, and most importantly they don't swim by body undulations, but rather by anal fin undulations. IMO because of this they should be in a tank where they can straighten themselves out in any direction (or very close to it in the smallest dimension). I realize they are sluggish, but you wouldn't keep a large clown knife in a 10g.

 

[SimonL]

I wasn't talking about tank size, I was talking about having shelter/cover for young fish, and both species not liking open spaces as when young.

 

[Plec123]

not to butt in... but,
it just goes back to natural instincts. in the wild a fish isnt gonna sit out in the open, especially when young. the fish will sit in cover to avoid being eaten.