Fire eel footprint?

[Dsoars]

My 8’ L, 30” w, 18” h tank is almost done, and I want to get a bigger species of spiny eel for it. Many other threads I found say fire eels need around a 220 g tank but don’t specify the footprint. The actual tank is 225 gallons (300 gallon system with the sump) but obviously a lot bigger of a footprint then the normal 225. A fire eel would be awesome but I don’t want to overcrowd the tank. I have 5 upper jaw polys and 2 ropefish going into the tank, and I’ll also be getting a leopard Ctenepoma or 2, and possibly a black ghost knife. Would the fire eel be too much? I like the black spot eels but fire eel is definitely my first choice

 

[Joshuakahan]

My 8’ L, 30” w, 18” h tank is almost done, and I want to get a bigger species of spiny eel for it. Many other threads I found say fire eels need around a 220 g tank but don’t specify the footprint. The actual tank is 225 gallons (300 gallon system with the sump) but obviously a lot bigger of a footprint then the normal 225. A fire eel would be awesome but I don’t want to overcrowd the tank. I have 5 upper jaw polys and 2 ropefish going into the tank, and I’ll also be getting a leopard Ctenepoma or 2, and possibly a black ghost knife. Would the fire eel be too much? I like the black spot eels but fire eel is definitely my first choice

Depending on the type of UJ polys, they along with the ropes and ctenopoma are probably too small to go with a fire eel for life. I think the footprint is probably sufficient

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

My 8’ L, 30” w, 18” h tank is almost done, and I want to get a bigger species of spiny eel for it. Many other threads I found say fire eels need around a 220 g tank but don’t specify the footprint. The actual tank is 225 gallons (300 gallon system with the sump) but obviously a lot bigger of a footprint then the normal 225. A fire eel would be awesome but I don’t want to overcrowd the tank. I have 5 upper jaw polys and 2 ropefish going into the tank, and I’ll also be getting a leopard Ctenepoma or 2, and possibly a black ghost knife. Would the fire eel be too much? I like the black spot eels but fire eel is definitely my first choice

I wouldn't have the ropefish and leopard Ctenepomas in the same tank with the fire eel long term, ropefish will be the noodles and the ctenepomas will be the meatballs. Fire eels get massive and chunky; check out the various threads on them.

A black ghost knife might work, but it would have to start out pretty big, I have a BGK right now, and it is around 6 inches and looks small despite its length.

 

[Dsoars]

I wouldn't have the ropefish and leopard Ctenepomas in the same tank with the fire eel long term, ropefish will be the noodles and the ctenepomas will be the meatballs. Fire eels get massive and chunky; check out the various threads on them.

A black ghost knife might work, but it would have to start out pretty big, I have a BGK right now, and it is around 6 inches and looks small despite its length.

Hmm what are your thoughts on this: I get the Ctenepoma and bgk and grow them or buy them to a reasonable size, say maybe 5 inches for the Ctenepoma and 10 for the bgk. And then get the fire eel at a small size and see how he interacts with the other fish as he grows? If I had to I would give up the ropes and Ctenepoma for a fire eel. I’ve seen a couple videos of fire eels with smaller species including Ctenepoma, not saying those people didn’t get lucky with docile individuals but I think it might be worth a shot raising a fire eel from a small size with the others

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

Hmm what are your thoughts on this: I get the Ctenepoma and bgk and grow them or buy them to a reasonable size, say maybe 5 inches for the Ctenepoma and 10 for the bgk. And then get the fire eel at a small size and see how he interacts with the other fish as he grows? If I had to I would give up the ropes and Ctenepoma for a fire eel. I’ve seen a couple videos of fire eels with smaller species including Ctenepoma, not saying those people didn’t get lucky with docile individuals but I think it might be worth a shot raising a fire eel from a small size with the others

I mean you could try that...I just think that long term eventually the fire eel will eat smaller tankmates. They are massive fish and I don't think they would pass up an opportunity to eat something much smaller than themselves.

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

I mean you could try that...I just think that long term eventually the fire eel will eat smaller tankmates. They are massive fish and I don't think they would pass up an opportunity to eat something much smaller than themselves.

I would just simply get rid of the ropefish and ctenepomas or put them in another tank.

 

[Joshuakahan]

Hmm what are your thoughts on this: I get the Ctenepoma and bgk and grow them or buy them to a reasonable size, say maybe 5 inches for the Ctenepoma and 10 for the bgk. And then get the fire eel at a small size and see how he interacts with the other fish as he grows? If I had to I would give up the ropes and Ctenepoma for a fire eel. I’ve seen a couple videos of fire eels with smaller species including Ctenepoma, not saying those people didn’t get lucky with docile individuals but I think it might be worth a shot raising a fire eel from a small size with the others

Doesn’t hurt to try as long as you know they might get eaten one day

 

[Dsoars]

Doesn’t hurt to try as long as you know they might get eaten one day

I think I’m gonna give it a shot. Found even more people who have posted about keeping fire eels with Ctenepoma as well as a few vids online. And my ropefish are pretty big I’d say 15+ inches and the other 12 inches and both thick, they stuff their faces more than any other fish I have. So we’ll see what happens

 

[Joshuakahan]

I think I’m gonna give it a shot. Found even more people who have posted about keeping fire eels with Ctenepoma as well as a few vids online. And my ropefish are pretty big I’d say 15+ inches and the other 12 inches and both thick, they stuff their faces more than any other fish I have. So we’ll see what happens

It should definitely work until the eel starts getting 24” plus. After that, who knows

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

It should definitely work until the eel starts getting 24” plus. After that, who knows

Ill tell ya what will happen, fish and noodle soup...better get the salt and pepper ready to go...Fire eels like things spicy 🌶

I just teasin' by the way...though I seriously think it won't last long once the fish reach adulthood.