I'm always tempted to get a spiny eel (peacock, tiretrack, etc) because I like their appearance, but I'm hesitant to try because they seem much more reclusive and having less personality than real eels...based on overall experience is this the case? Trying to convince myself into trying one, perhaps in a tank with large tetras and other rather non aggressive fish ...any feedback will be greatly appreciated
What is the appeal of spiny eels?
- Thread starter Cichlaholics Anonymous
- Start date
If you want something outgoing.. TT or fire eels are your best bet.. my M dayi though are giving both the former types a run for their money ime. also my eels have always done best in semi-aggressive set-ups except for fires. my tt was a fish eater, did great with polys, and cichlids though. and my others do fine with gar, and stingrays. not sure what you're looking for exactly.. but I've been hooked on them for years. partially the challenge in keeping them, and partially their personalities. ime they all have distinct personalities like true eels. and they do take some time generally to "warm up" but the effort is well worth it imo.
Ive been looking for something somewhat smaller that can go with some laid back smaller acaras, large tetras, and such...I use the example of looking for personality, because when I was in college worked at pet stores and the peacock eels and such seemed reclusive, and id rather not have a reclusive, hard to feed fish. I guess if none of the smaller ones fit the description, I'll convince wife to find a big fire eel for the aggressive tank, or if not perhaps a swamp eel
I would then try the libernis.. or starry night eels.. I have one atm.. and he is great in my daughters community tank.. iir they grow about 18" max. and mine has left the glo-light tetras alone, and they one of the few i've found that truely have little to no con-specific aggression. They can be abit hard to find, and around here run in the 20$ range at 7".. but a few monthes back my lfs got some tiny ones in for 10$ each iir. I lost my original one, pretty sure he gorged on cory eegs and died. measured at 13" and had him less then a year, he was fine with my 5" who now pushing 7" Id say.
I have a fire eel that is very outgoing. Comes out of his hidey hole and dances at the front of the tank everytime he sees me.
+1 on the starry nights, they're gorgeous and very friendly, I can hand feed both of mine (~6" each) and they're out swimming all the time, unlike my aggressive tire track -__- who killed rainbow fish that were well too big for him to eat...
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i keep two tt's in a 65 gallon tank, eventually i will need to move them to a bigger tank but for now they're fine. once they warm up to you they will come out everytime you approach the tank, and even take food from your hands. Definantly an outgoing fish. And alot of fun to watch swim, they seem to like my large driftwood peices, as they weive in and out of the holes. I have quite the variety in this tank including a red parrot cichlid, a few balas, and a black ghost knife,mystery snails and a id shark, they seem peacful enough. But I will warn with any type of eel keep the water level down a little and a well covered top, all eels are well acomplished escape artists.