Requesting input of the Collective Wisdom re: Adding Fire Eel to existing Tank

[maxxxx]

​

Hi all,

I have an established 180 gallon freshwater tank with happy S.A/C.A denizens who play nice.The tank is planted, has a couple of caves and contains two solid pieces of fully leached driftwood. Matching heaters on each end to maintain even temperatures as well as crisscrossed inputs on the water canister filters. I do fairly well at maintaining good water quality:

Tank specifics:

Glass Tank 72x18x31
2x FX Filter (First: Carbon/GFO from BRS & Chemi-pure elite; Second: EHEIM substratpro);
1x 25 watt Aqua Ultraviolet Filter run on a separate line w/ flow meter;
1X Magnum 250 HOT Filter (run 4 hours a day for water polishing);
2X 48" Current Nova Extreme Freshwater T5 Lighting (2x54+ 108w)
​

Denizens

4x Bala Sharks
3x Satanoperca Jurupari
1x Featherfin Catfish
1x Pearl Gourami
1x Nicaraguenses, Macaw Cichlid
1x Archocentrus, Honduran Red
2x Severum, Raspberry
3x Severum, Gold
1x Hypselacara, Chocolate Cichlid​

Main concern Is whether the substrate will be suitable:
(In addition to potential stock compatibility):

I use a life very small Caribsea brand fresh-river gravel: "Peace River"
Average Small Grain Size: 1.0 mm
Average Large Grain Size: 2.0 mm
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+9805+21412&pcatid=21412​

Any thoughts, advice or suggestions would be appreciated

 

[MonsterMinis]

The only issues I see are that the eel may or may not dig up plants.. imo the substrate should be fine barring any sharpe edges but usually this stuff doesn't. sand is best but I found smooth pebbles to be just fine as well for spineys, its the stuff that is like broken glass that bothers them, if your geos are moving it around just fine and your featherfins barbels are clean i wouldn't worry.

- chances are the fire eel will eventually outgrow the 180 2yrs or more and he'll prolly need a bigger tank.

- many fire eels never convert to pellets, but take well to most frozen options as well as worms and cut peices of fish. I always say go for the pellets, but be OK haveing a fish that will need special feeding needs. If your not Ok with that then imo spiney eels should be avoided. Many techniques used to get cichlids and other fish onto pellets, starveing in particular usually end up with a fish starved to death, they are just that finicky/picky/ect. patience and persistence are needed when dealing with these fish.

 

[dragonfish]

My fire eel only dug when very small, has not done since passing about the 5-6 inch mark. Over time has shared accomodations with a ghost knife, oscars, pacu, nicaraguense, severums, midas, dempseys and various catfish. Yhe only one he ever had an issue with at times was the knife because they both insisted on the same cave and somedays did not want to share.

 

[maxxxx]

Thanks for the info A & A

Much appreciated