Q: Are Fire eels dangerous? A: Mastacembelus erythrotaenia is not dangerous However, these fish do have sharp dorsal spines, and they secrete a toxic slime, which can be harmful. For that reason, you should avoid handling your eel if at all possible.
How big does a fire eel get?
Often the anal, pectoral, and dorsal fins have a red edging. The fire eel is the
largest species
in its family and can reach up to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length.
Are fire eels friendly?
Fire eels don’t play well with others These freshwater fish don’t breed in captivity, so you can only have one at a time. While an adult fire eel can tolerate a younger one, these freshwater fish have been known to fight among themselves and behave aggressively toward other fish in the spiny eel family.
Are fire eels peaceful?
Fire eels are generally peaceful towards
tank mates
, although they may be aggressive towards conspecifics. Conventional wisdom dictates that one fish per tank works best, and that peaceful tank mates that are too large to be eaten, like medium to large barbs, are ideal.
What fish can live with a fire eel?
Fire eel is considered a docile fish that will mostly ignore bigger tank-mates. However, it is a predator and cannot be housed with smaller fish as these may be easily consumed. Best tank-mates should include
oscar fish
, Angel fish, Bumblebee Catfish, and Green terror.
How much does a fire eel cost?
The price of a Fire Eel can be anywhere from $20 to almost $300 , depending on size.
Can a fire eel live in a 55 gallon tank?
Fire Eels require a minimum tank size of at least 80 gallons , about 350 liters.
Can you keep Fire eels with Oscars?
Oscar Fish (Astronotus Ocellatus) A slightly challenging but highly popular fish to pair with your Fire Eel is the Oscar Fish Just keep in mind that Oscar fish are incredibly territorial, even with other Oscar Fish.
Can I put a eel in my fish tank?
Aquarium eels vary in size, but we don’t recommend keeping any species of eel in a tank of fewer than 35 gallons As a
good rule
of thumb, you should allow 10 gallons of water per one 15-inch eel. So, a larger species of around 25 inches will need a bare minimum of 20 gallons of water to be comfortable.
Can you breed Fire eels in captivity?
Breeding Fire eels in captivity is very hard, but not
impossible distinguish
the sexes can be difficult, but a mature female is plumper than the male. When spawnings have occurred in captivity, the parents have been longer than 50 centimeters (20 inches).
Can you keep eels as a pet?
Freshwater eels can be kept with larger community fish; keep only one eel per aquarium Eels can live harmoniously with angelfish, gourami and rainbow fish but may try to eat fish that fit in their mouth.
Why is it called a fire eel?
The fire eel is a member of the spiny eel family. This family is named for the spines running down its back , however, these spines are not harmful to humans.
Can I keep an eel in a 20 gallon tank?
Larger species will require more room and it is essential that you do your research and have the correct tank size. For Eels that grow to around 15 inches a good rule of thumb would be one per 10 gallons of water. Larger species of 25 inches should be kept one per 20 gallons.
Are zig zag eels aggressive?
They are a nocturnal species but are generally peaceful and shy. They mostly ignore other tank mates although they may eat fish that are small enough to fit into their mouths. Some species of spiny eels can get territorial and aggressive with their own kind.
How long do fish tank eels live?
Generally speaking, most freshwater eels will not live longer than 15 years However, there are a select few species that may live to 18 or 20 years old, as well as some that may live for as little as 8 or 10 years.
Are eels hard to keep?
This group includes many of the more fascinating eel species, but they are also difficult to keep in most home aquariums I say this for a few reasons. First, they pose a risk to your health. If bitten by a fang-toothed eel, it is nearly impossible to remove the animal without harming and/or killing it.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_eel
GOLDEN FIRE EEL (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia .SP Xanthic) 12"
Xanthic Fire Eel (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia)