Euopean eels as pets?

[EmrePekdeniz]

Hello,

There's a local vendor who sells European eels, i.e. Anguilla anguilla. I wonder if anybody has any experience with this eel? Are they compatible with other fish? How aggressive are they? The vendor apparently keeps them in a separate tank. I have a young silver arowana, a large albino pleco, a ghost knife and two clams.

This is my setting:
http://s1139.photobucket.com/albums/n548/Pekdeniz/

Currently I'm trying to decide what to add to my paludarium. It'll be either a few eels, or a stingray.

 

[SalmonAfrica]

Most Anguilla aren't really community-type fish, being quite predatory and intolerant of other fish. Best kept by themselves or with their own kind, as the dealer has done.

 

[Miguel]

They require cold water.

They impact heavily on the water quality.

They are agressive.

They die quickly.

We all Europeans have been through that stage, hehe....

 

[EmrePekdeniz]

They require cold water.

They impact heavily on the water quality.

They are agressive.

They die quickly.

We all Europeans have been through that stage, hehe....

Lol, well... they look nice and are definitely very cheap! I suspected that they were aggressive, hence the separate tank. I didn't know they required cold water, though.

 

[arvicanthis]

hello mate,
I am based in the UK and have both kept european eels and fished for them. They will take fish if the environment is conducive to it. Now we don't know for sure what makes some anguilla anguilla start on a fish only diet but i would suspect they would start if there was a lack of invertebrate prey. Most eels are invert feeders but some change to a fish diet, these fish eaters are morphologically slighty different, larger mouth, bigger....etc. any who, i have never caught an eel on a live bait fish, always on small dead baits, a little roach or rudd. The biggest problem I encountered with my brief stint keeping european eels was that it always was trying to get out the tank, always. water changes were done, but it never really settled. it was in a tank on it's own. i think they would be awesome to keep, but i gave up on that species when there were other easier tropical species to keep.
The person who said they like cold water is dead right. they love really cold water. believe me the water you find eels in is deep dark and cold.
If you do it, i for one would be the first to congratulate you. maybe if you are serious look for a european aquarium that has a display of them and ask their parameters.

incidently i got my eel for about £2.00 ( it was about 25" long), from a fish mongers. so they are def cheap.

all the best

G

 

[DrDirk]

Hi, I keep some european fish like Silurus glanis, Stizostedion lucioperca, Perca fluviatilis, Esox lucius and the european eel Anguilla anguilla. Most importance is the water temperature. Room temperature about 20 - 22 degrees Celsius is ok. I have all this species in seperate tanks. I have three eels. Very nice fish, they coming and eats from my hand. They are active at night but interesting to see their hunting activities. But they are perfect in breaking out!! Your tank must shut tightly. Regards Dirk

 

[ReelBigFish]

Anguilla anguilla is listed on the IUCN Red List as a Critically Endangered species. In my opinion, buying a European eel would be a bad idea.

 

[EmrePekdeniz]

Anguilla anguilla is listed on the IUCN Red List as a Critically Endangered species. In my opinion, buying a European eel would be a bad idea.

And yet they are fished heavily and available as rather inexpensive food? I don't see how buying a single fish as a pet would cause much harm, as opposed to commercial hunting.

They will take fish if the environment is conducive to it. Now we don't know for sure what makes some anguilla anguilla start on a fish only diet but i would suspect they would start if there was a lack of invertebrate prey.

I am not sure, but I think the fish I've seen for sale may have been commercially bred, in which case they might be more willing to take other food. And yes, they are available for a mere 3 dollars here.

If you do it, i for one would be the first to congratulate you.

I thought I might add the fish to my arowana tank as a bottom dweller, but now I don't think that may be a good idea. I might remove the arowana and switch to an eel community tank with a Gymnothorax tile, 1-2 peacock eels and a European eel but I'm not sure that would work either. I don't want a bloodbath in my tank!

 

[ReelBigFish]

And yet they are fished heavily and available as rather inexpensive food? I don't see how buying a single fish as a pet would cause much harm, as opposed to commercial hunting.


I am not sure, but I think the fish I've seen for sale may have been commercially bred, in which case they might be more willing to take other food. And yes, they are available for a mere 3 dollars here.


I thought I might add the fish to my arowana tank as a bottom dweller, but now I don't think that may be a good idea. I might remove the arowana and switch to an eel community tank with a Gymnothorax tile, 1-2 peacock eels and a European eel but I'm not sure that would work either. I don't want a bloodbath in my tank!

It is possible that the eels for sale are imported American eels or Japanese eels. And you're right that buying one eel for a pet won't have a drastic effect on the population(especially if they're less than 3 dollars). Anguilla is an awesome genus. I have the American eel, which is my favorite of my fish.

Chances are it's commercially raised as opposed to bred. Only recently have scientists been able to get Japanese eels to spawn and hatch in captivity.

 

[EmrePekdeniz]

It is possible that the eels for sale are imported American eels or Japanese eels. And you're right that buying one eel for a pet won't have a drastic effect on the population(especially if they're less than 3 dollars). Anguilla is an awesome genus. I have the American eel, which is my favorite of my fish.

Chances are it's commercially raised as opposed to bred. Only recently have scientists been able to get Japanese eels to spawn and hatch in captivity.

Probably. I've read that the European and American species are quite similar. So, do you keep the American eel in a separate tank, or is it compatible with other eels? How old and how large is it? Is it aggressive/territorial? I'd appreciate the info.