My Shortfin Eel 'Anguilla bicolor'

[fishdat]

Sharing some pictures of my guy and looking for anyone with experience keeping this species. This thing is an absolute beast, bit through the eye of a 4" iridescent catfish and punctured the brain cavity while attempting to constrict the catfish. Needless to say, I'm in love.

 

[SharptoothBass]

It's a swamp eel not short fin eel.

 

[john_lord_b3]

Sharing some pictures of my guy and looking for anyone with experience keeping this species. This thing is an absolute beast, bit through the eye of a 4" iridescent catfish and punctured the brain cavity while attempting to constrict the catfish. Needless to say, I'm in love.

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I owned Anguilla Bicolor and Swamp Eel (Monopterus Albus) for years until I gave them away to friends last year. That beautiful eel in your picture is not an Anguilla Bicolor.. it is a fine example of Monopterus Albus the swamp eel.

Anguilla Bicolor is a true eel, has tiny pectoral fins and gills, and does not have that extra breathing apparatus under the throat like yours.

 

[fishdat]

I owned Anguilla Bicolor and Swamp Eel (Monopterus Albus) for years until I gave them away to friends last year. That beautiful eel in your picture is not an Anguilla Bicolor.. it is a fine example of Monopterus Albus the swamp eel.

Anguilla Bicolor is a true eel, has tiny pectoral fins and gills, and does not have that extra breathing apparatus under the throat like yours.

It's a swamp eel not short fin eel.

Yeah, I was doing some reading right after I posted this picture and found the same information. I was sold the wrong species, but that's okay because this fish is fantastic oddbal species.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Definitely a swampy, how's he eating (besides tankmates lol)

 

[john_lord_b3]

Yeah, I was doing some reading right after I posted this picture and found the same information. I was sold the wrong species, but that's okay because this fish is fantastic oddbal species.

Indeed it IS a fantastic, interesting species. And edible too! Locals here in Indonesia consider it a delicacy (though I am reluctant to eat any fish which does not have scales and fins). It could tolerate varying degrees of water condition, even the murkiest of ricefield water, to the muddiest water of estuariums. It could move in land like a snake (as long as the surface is wet), and it could even climb up the riverbanks to find better water holes. My friend who has a degree in biology think that the M. Albus should be considered as a special kind of fish, more amphibian than fish to a certain extent.

 

[fishdat]

Indeed it IS a fantastic, interesting species. And edible too! Locals here in Indonesia consider it a delicacy (though I am reluctant to eat any fish which does not have scales and fins). It could tolerate varying degrees of water condition, even the murkiest of ricefield water, to the muddiest water of estuariums. It could move in land like a snake (as long as the surface is wet), and it could even climb up the riverbanks to find better water holes. My friend who has a degree in biology think that the M. Albus should be considered as a special kind of fish, more amphibian than fish to a certain extent.

Oh I agree, such an interesting species. I live in the Pacific Northwest and from what I've read about its ability to tolerate freezing conditions, it would make quite the invasive species here. Our heavy rains would mean it could quite literally spend weeks of the year cruising around in wet grass. They're basically amphibious snakes. No fear either, willing to hunt my fingers. Makes me want to become an researcher for this species, haha.

Definitely a swampy, how's he eating (besides tankmates lol)

More tankmates lol, no interest in anything but live still sadly.

 

[john_lord_b3]

Oh I agree, such an interesting species. I live in the Pacific Northwest and from what I've read about its ability to tolerate freezing conditions, it would make quite the invasive species here. Our heavy rains would mean it could quite literally spend weeks of the year cruising around in wet grass. They're basically amphibious snakes. No fear either, willing to hunt my fingers. Makes me want to become an researcher for this species, haha.



More tankmates lol, no interest in anything but live still sadly.

Pacific Northwest of USA.. that's rather high altitude. Amazing power of adaptation isn't it? When I still had my swamp eel, I kept it in a brackish aquarium, and it did great!

Too bad they're not considered food in your country. Otherwise, some people could make a living hunting and selling them as delicacies.

 

[fishdat]

Pacific Northwest of USA.. that's rather high altitude. Amazing power of adaptation isn't it? When I still had my swamp eel, I kept it in a brackish aquarium, and it did great!

Too bad they're not considered food in your country. Otherwise, some people could make a living hunting and selling them as delicacies.

Canada, actually! They're like if a lungfish and a goldfish had a super invasive, predatory, offspring.

It would be hilarious hunting fish here in river deltas during the rainy season.

 

[john_lord_b3]

Sounds like fun, eel hunting

Here is my Monopterus Albus when I still had it. After some years developed a dangerous hobby of climbing my filter, I thought maybe it got bored living on my small aquarium, so I gave it away to some guys who own a pond.