I have several larger fish, one of which being a fire eel. I was thinking of doing a nice planted setup with the fire eel, then having some smaller schooling fish with it. I've seen this done with fire eels and silver dollars before, but I was hoping something smaller than silver dollars. How well would this work? I know fire eels, though large, have a tiny mouth. sure it could eat things like guppies, but probably not some of the larger small fish.
Mixing big and little fish?
- Thread starter Carefree_Dude
- Start date
I keep my fire eel with a large group (25) of neon tetras and I have no problems, I was hesitant at first but its been working for a long while now.
As far as a planted setup, you may run into problems with the eel pulling up plants. My guy ( about 14" ) digs up my fake plants constantly.
As far as a planted setup, you may run into problems with the eel pulling up plants. My guy ( about 14" ) digs up my fake plants constantly.
Personally, I doubt it would work very well, but more power to you if it does.
However, if doing plants with the eel, I'd stick to anubias and ferns, as I could see a digging eel uprooting every plant ever.
However, if doing plants with the eel, I'd stick to anubias and ferns, as I could see a digging eel uprooting every plant ever.
While I agree with your plant selection, specifically the abubias (specifically because its easy to attach to drift wood) I question why you don't believe the fish combo would work. Have you had a bad experience with fire eels, maybe had one make snacks out some of your smaller fish?
Carefree:
While I can not say that every fire eel will be the same, I will reiterate that I have never had a problem with Gonzo (my fire eel) snacking on small tank mates. When I first introduced him to the tank ( around 7" ) he was with a group of 10 fathead minnows, they ended up picking on him a bit (nipping his tail) so they became a snack for the fish in my large tank, afterwards I added the neons as well as a few cories. Gonzo is now at or over 14" and quickly outgrowing his grow out, with 0 murders so far, lol.
Just for fun I snapped a quick pic of the tank on the way out the door this morning; sorry its a little dirty and of course Gonzo is hiding out in his pipe.
As far as fish, I just have had too many instances of big fish eat little fish to simply ignore lol
What I'd do, is I'd actually do very small fish with a very large eel. That way, the eel would deem the fish too much trouble to eat for too little gain and ignore them.
Saw someone do that with an arrowana and cardinals once.
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What I'd do, is I'd actually do very small fish with a very large eel. That way, the eel would deem the fish too much trouble to eat for too little gain and ignore them.
Saw someone do that with an arrowana and cardinals once.
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
I think i may give it a shot. Still on the fence though, I got this pair of amazing ornate bichir's I'm really attached to. Of course, they are getting munchy on everything though, and ate several of my adult sized geos. I had to get rid of the rest of them for fear of getting eaten.