Macrognathus ID help?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Just walked by the tank and he was literally front and center. This has been my hesitation with smaller spiny eels - I've heard that they're not seen very often.

Will have to think of a name for the little dude. Can you visually sex them?
No. Can’t tell by looking.
 
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I too am loving my circumcinctus. They are very outgoing, full of personality and quite the acrobats. Have you considered adding a few more? I have a group of 3 pretty much full grown and totally peaceful and in another tank 5 tinies maybe 3". That said amongst the tinies there is one who likes to ambush the others. Mine only buried themselves for a few days but haven't seen it since. There are loads of hiding places for them. It's also said they are nocturnal but I haven't seen any sign of that. When the lights are on If they aren't out and about exploring they come out as soon they see me (bearer of food) I've spied on them when lights are out but can never see any. I directed to an excellent write up on macrognathus on a German site in another thread. Will dig it up...
 
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Thanks!

D DeeBee What do you feed yours? This one is still very small. I have frozen bloodworms and frozen tubifex. I will see if I can find live blackworms or red wigglers but the live blackworms are hard to find in the city I live in now.

Will they eat daphnia? I also have some frozen mysis shrimp but they're bigger. I could cut them up...

Do yours eat pellets?

This is in a 20 long tank. Do you still think I could fit more than one? They had some more...
 
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Besides what your offering I feed white mosquito larvae both live and frozen. No to pellets. They don't touch any dry food that goes in the tanks. I think a 20 long would be fine short term for 3 tinies but would need to be upgraded as they grow. How long a yours?
 
Yeah, he’s little!

Got one of those frozen mix cubes - it’s called freshwater frenzy or something like that. Has a bunch of worms, brine shrimp and things mixed together. He was out right in the middle of everything during feeding time today and picking away at things. He did spit a couple things out, the picky butt. LOL
 
About 2.5 inches.
Jutta Bauer the author of the articles I posted recommends a tank size of 100x40x40cm (39"x16x16" approx 40us gal) for a group of maculatus. Maculatus size is up to 11" while circumcinctus are 8". A 40gal breeder or long should then be ample for a group...I imagine group meaning 3 maybe 4? At 2.5" you'd have some before needing to up grade. I'd grab a couple more while they are still available at the same size.
 
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Yeah, that reminds me of my fire eels when I first got them. They were 4” and started off in my 29. The ate bloodworms from the beginning, but it was extremely hard to get them onto other foods. Now, they eat pretty much anything, as long as it’s not pellets. Lol. Those two are now pushing 23-24” and are beasts. They are fun to watch grow.
 
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