Got me an American eel!

[Horiyoshi III]

Does it still produce that ridiculously impervious slime while in your tank?

I can imagine that wouldn't be too nice in a close system.

 

[ewurm]

Shoot some pics!

 

[fishmongerl]

I caught it in the pond at the nature center yesterday, and I have a few questions. What can I feed it? How long do they live? How big can they really get, and how fast do they grow? Can he get along with bluegill, madtom catfish, or other native VA fish? Is there a way to tell its gender? I'm heading to the pet store today to get a filter, substrate, plants, and food, and I'll head to the local stream to grab some wood and rocks. I've done as much research as I could online, but theres not exactly a whole lot of info on them, not even here on MFK, I guess thats because most people consider them a 'trash fish'. I guess its fortunate that I can appreciate him/her, since I am a huge reptile geek and I'm absolutely fascinated by his snakelike movements. Anyway, this is my first ]\/[onster fish, so wish me luck!

it will most likely eat your madtom considering the american eel can reach lengths of over 24 inches , but it should do fine with your other fish.

 

[snowy]

they are long-lived, large, intelligent and occasionally aggressive.

 

[snowy]

Does anyone think a pickerel,crayfish, and/or madtom would make a good tankmate?

Crayfish: no. Madtom: depends on species, but your only bet really would be a stonecat, as they reach around 1ft. Pickeral: not sure, I dont have any experience with them, but i'd imagine if the eel was considerably larger, but not big enough to eat the pickeral, it could work. As for feeding, I've found that a diet of nightcrawlers, mixed seafood(particularly clams) and high-quality sinking pellets, along with ocasinal feedings of feeders, live glass shrimp, krill, and crickets works best for a varied and nutritious diet. And you need a tank that is at LEAST 72x15x18, though I prefer 72x18-24x15-25 or more. As for gender its more than lickly a female, as your not close enough to the coast, and since I live in V.A. as well, and all the specimens I've ever caught/owned where females, I would imagine yours is to So pretty much if your more than a couple miles inland, it's a female

P.S. sorry for digging up this thread

 

[snowy]

they grow big. my dad cought 1 6 feet llong and as big around as his are. they need HUGE tanks.. they also need salt water. well i think its the females that live in salt water. im not 100% SURE. HERE find the info here



www.aqualandpetsplus.com

I'm afraid your just plain wrong on size and on the need for salt. First of all, they reach 59 inches MAX. What your dad caught was more than likely a conger, even if it was in freshwater, as they occasionally swim up rivers. Second, it is the exact opposite for salt. it is the males, not the females, who live in saltwater, and in fact, even the males tend to live in brackish.