I have been considering getting a fire eel. I was wondering if anyone would like to share their thoughts on fire eels that they have or had. I know they get to be 3+ feet, so that they need to have a large tank. My lfs owner said that they are hard\rare to get. Is this true, and if so, where could I get one, and how much can I expect to pay to get one. I live in Michigan, U.S.
Fire Eels
- Thread starter Lund
- Start date
We have 2 fire eels, one about 24" and the other about 16", both eat more whole prawn in a day than you would think possible 
They live with our rays and arowana and have been excellent tankmates.
They are not particularly rare but in most LFS are only seen in small sizes.
They need a place to hide, ours have a huge piece of bogwood that they live inside
Steve
They live with our rays and arowana and have been excellent tankmates.
They are not particularly rare but in most LFS are only seen in small sizes.
They need a place to hide, ours have a huge piece of bogwood that they live inside
Steve
nice fires you have there, i have two tire track eels and they are awrsom fish to watch i say get one if you can.
Very nice! See them at my lfs all the time and have considered getting one myself..... What is minimum tank size for these guys? How fast do they grow?!
Yes those eels are very nice...now you're making me want one again lol. I once had a pair, about 6". They just kept hiding all the time and burrowing themselves in substrate. Maybe it was because they were juveniles? Anyways, with all the hiding I thought these fish were kinda boring. Then one day, they just both died one after the other...for a reason I could not explain. Could have been other fish's agressivity...
Anyways, nice eels. And to answer the availability question, they are available here all the time, usually at least 6", see up until 10" in stores. Can anybody answer the growth rate question? I am also curious... Never knew anybody who grew his eels to a 20+ inches size...
Anyways, nice eels. And to answer the availability question, they are available here all the time, usually at least 6", see up until 10" in stores. Can anybody answer the growth rate question? I am also curious... Never knew anybody who grew his eels to a 20+ inches size...
I have one together with two tiretrack eels. They are actually doing very well together.
The fire-eel is always hungry and when it's food time it's out and begs for food like a doggy.
Mine does not burry himself, he's just in his cave when nothing is going on. He sure is funny.
The fire-eel is always hungry and when it's food time it's out and begs for food like a doggy.
Mine does not burry himself, he's just in his cave when nothing is going on. He sure is funny.
SYN: Macrognathus erythrotaenia
PD: An elongated fish with a pointed snout. The body is dark brown, while the belly is light gray-brown. The pattern varies from fish to fish. Usually several bright red lateral stripes and spots mark the body. These vary in intensity depending on the age and condition of the specimen. Usually the markings are yellow with juvenile fish, changing to red in larger ones. Often the anal, pectoral, and dorsal fins have a red edging.
SIZE: To 40" (100 cm) in nature, rarely exceeds 20 (51 cm) in captivity.
SS: None
HAB: Southeast Asia; moving water with a soft riverbed in Borneo, India, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Thailand.
S: bottom
TANK: A tank measuring 36 (91 cm) with a capacity of 35 gallons (132 L) is sufficient for fish to 6" (15 cm). Larger fish require larger tanks. For tank set-up, follow suggestions for M. circumcinctus .
WATER: pH 6-7.5 (7.0), 6-20 dH (10), 75-81°F (24-27°C), a little salt is welcomed
SB: Do not keep with small fish, they will be eaten. A good candidate for a community tank with medium to large fish such as cichlids. Will often not get along with others of the same species.
FOOD: Live; Tubifex, fish, Brine Shrimp, mosquito larvae, bloodworms, Cyclops.
SEX: Only distinguishable when mature-females plumper.
B: Spawning with mature fish (over 20") has been reported. Use a large tank with a pH around 7.0, a water hardness from 10-15 dH, and a temperature from 81-84°F (27-29°C). They are plant spawners that lay 800-1200 eggs in floating plants. The eggs are clear and measure 1/20" (12-13 mm) in diameter. Feed fry small live foods, but be sure not to overfeed them, for the fry will over-consume the food and likely expire. The young grow very quickly.
BP: 9. Breeding is rare and extremely difficult.
R: Will burrow in substrate, but not as often as other Mastacembelus species. Is more prone to-parasites, injuries, and shock. The Fire Eel can become affectionate towards its owner, often taking foods from the hand.
DC: 6. This nocturnal species requires a diet including live foods.
Just info found on web-don't know bout the growth rate- depends on how much u feed it etc really
PD: An elongated fish with a pointed snout. The body is dark brown, while the belly is light gray-brown. The pattern varies from fish to fish. Usually several bright red lateral stripes and spots mark the body. These vary in intensity depending on the age and condition of the specimen. Usually the markings are yellow with juvenile fish, changing to red in larger ones. Often the anal, pectoral, and dorsal fins have a red edging.
SIZE: To 40" (100 cm) in nature, rarely exceeds 20 (51 cm) in captivity.
SS: None
HAB: Southeast Asia; moving water with a soft riverbed in Borneo, India, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Thailand.
S: bottom
TANK: A tank measuring 36 (91 cm) with a capacity of 35 gallons (132 L) is sufficient for fish to 6" (15 cm). Larger fish require larger tanks. For tank set-up, follow suggestions for M. circumcinctus .
WATER: pH 6-7.5 (7.0), 6-20 dH (10), 75-81°F (24-27°C), a little salt is welcomed
SB: Do not keep with small fish, they will be eaten. A good candidate for a community tank with medium to large fish such as cichlids. Will often not get along with others of the same species.
FOOD: Live; Tubifex, fish, Brine Shrimp, mosquito larvae, bloodworms, Cyclops.
SEX: Only distinguishable when mature-females plumper.
B: Spawning with mature fish (over 20") has been reported. Use a large tank with a pH around 7.0, a water hardness from 10-15 dH, and a temperature from 81-84°F (27-29°C). They are plant spawners that lay 800-1200 eggs in floating plants. The eggs are clear and measure 1/20" (12-13 mm) in diameter. Feed fry small live foods, but be sure not to overfeed them, for the fry will over-consume the food and likely expire. The young grow very quickly.
BP: 9. Breeding is rare and extremely difficult.
R: Will burrow in substrate, but not as often as other Mastacembelus species. Is more prone to-parasites, injuries, and shock. The Fire Eel can become affectionate towards its owner, often taking foods from the hand.
DC: 6. This nocturnal species requires a diet including live foods.
Just info found on web-don't know bout the growth rate- depends on how much u feed it etc really