Animal Stories - People Talking About Freshwater Eels



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Latest Animal Stories on Freshwater Eels (153)

Jeffrey Hill - 2010-11-21
I purchased 3 tire track eels about 2 months ago and to my surprise I woke up this am to find about 2 dozen eel fry swimming around in my tank. So I guess they do breed in captivity. Any advice for caring for these little guys?

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Anonymous - 2012-05-13
lets see some pics of these
Jeremy Roche - 2012-05-14
They sell liquid fry food at the store.

kevin from ky - 2008-03-26
Over the last few years I've had a couple of these guys. Only kept one at a time though, in my 55 gallon. They can be a pretty fun addition to your tank if your willing to give them the extra attention. The one I have now I named Louie. He's about 11-12 inches. I've fed him live food ever since I got him about a year ago. He was about 4 inch then. Diet mostly constists of Ghost shrimp, feeder guppies, Rosies, and small worms. He takes food right from my fingertips and his/her grip can be pretty shocking when your not expecting it. I mostly let him hunt. I only put 1 or 2 shrimp or feeder fish at a time to provide him hunting opportunities, rather than tossing a dozen shrimp or fish in and watching him gobble them up in a frenzy before they even know what hit 'em. Watching him strike out at prey from the darkened hole of his ancient tomb liar is pretty fierce. Unfortunately I've lost some of my smaller fish due to his diet (I think) but other than that he's pretty friendly. He gets along with just about everything even much bigger fish. I can hold him and bring him to the surface and he seems to know I'm around when close by. I love the guy and definately recommend to beginners or anyone for that matter

laure - 2012-09-29
I've had my tiretrack eel for a few months now and I noticed he/she is getting meaner to my other fish. It used to be a super sweet fish but it's just gotten totally agressive. Even when I changed out my tank it was attempting to gnaw on me even though I didn't feel it. It was just very strange. I've started calling him/her my little convict because he/she is just turning into a dreadful jerk. any suggestions?

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Clarice Brough - 2012-09-30
They do eat small fish naturally, and some can get grumpier with age. But I'd start by checking the habitat as it may have to do with the tank being too small and/or not enough hiding places.
Lauren - 2012-12-31
he lives in an 80gal tank with a pacu, angelfish, ghost knifefish, shovelnose cat. hes claimed this big cave all to himself even though hes still semi small. he hasnt reached his full length not by a long shot. idk whats wrong with him but hes made himself clear about his cave, the other fish let him eat first, and hes happy most of the time. i just dont know why he can have such a mean streak. the other fish dont bother him. he really likes to go after the pacu but i think thats because hes shiney. my eel loves shiney things. i had this silver ring on once when i was feeding them and i learned my lesson haha. he almost went ape crazy trying to get to it so i keep it in the aquarium now cuz he liked it so much, but i just dont know whats been gettin into him with his attitude. :/

Larry Seymour - 2013-04-06
We bought one to help clean the tank. The pet store guy said he would hide most of the time but this couldn't be farther from the truth, he is all over the place! I hope this is a sign that he loves his new home! He is leving with 5 Zebra Danio's, 1 Rainbow SHark, 2 Bala Sharks, 1 Cory Cat, and 1 Pleco. Love this guy he is so cool!

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kye turnbull - 2013-05-21
your lucky mine disappeared the day i got it and i haven't seen it again, it could even be dead!
kye turnbull - 2013-05-23
YAY! i saw its nose! yay!

Anonymous - 2012-02-03
Okay, so this does not have anything to do with an electric eel but whatever, I got a true Freshwater Snowflake Eel yesterday and it is living with two Blue Gill currently and will be moved with the Glue Gill to a 150 gallon freshwater tank containing 3 or more Senegal Bichirs, 4 Firemouth Cichlids and a Red Belly Pacu along with a common Pleco, good idea or no?

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kye turnbull - 2013-05-07
im not sure, i wish i could keep pachu :( you cant keep them in australia

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kye turnbull - 2013-05-07
im not sure, i wish i could keep pachu :( you cant keep them in australia

Amp Lacasse - 2013-03-15
Hi there I have a zig zag eel I purchased about 2 months ago, I was told it was a fire eel by the fish store at purchase but soon realized I was misinformed! Regardless of that point my eel is about 5' in length and I am looking to relocate my family and am wondering the best way to transport the eel. The drive will be at least 17 hours up to about 30 hours depending on the destination my job takes me. So would it be best to transport my tank with my family and I in our vehicle so I can keep everything plugged into a powerful adapter to keep everything running or will the eel survive the drive in a trailer? To be honest I have become quite attached to the eel and would hate for anything to happen on the drive! P.S the eel is currently in a 20g tank so it would be quite easy to transport in my family vehicle but will be moving him to a 55g tank once moved.

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Jeremy Roche - 2013-03-16
I would use a bucket in car to stay warm and get a battery powered pump with airstones.
Amp Lacasse - 2013-03-16
Thank you ill try that

Shawn Handley Jr. - 2012-08-29
I was just feeding my 2 peacock spiny eels and the smaller darker one of the 2 went after the larger lighter colored 1 of the 2 and actually appeared to bite the other one and the one that was being attacked didnt really care I was feeding them 4 blocks of frozen blood worms so it could not have been a competition over food could it have been breeding? These fish are in a 40 gallon breeder fish tank with a silver dollar, gold severum, rocket gar, pleco(which i may be giving away due to the fact he seems a tad bit aggresive), and 5 various cory cats. Please tell me if you think it was breeding and now i think about it is it possible for spiny eels to hybridlize between speices because the darker, aggresive peacock eel has half a peocock eel pattern and then the rest is just plain brown color. Any info will help thanks

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Shawn Handley Jr. - 2012-08-29
Also each eel is about 6 inches long and I purchased both as peacock eels
Olaf - 2013-03-09
No. Or I doubt it anyway, as of 2006 there were 0 reportings of peacock eels mating in captivity. I got mine recently and despite the descriptions of what everyone says my peacock eel is not what I would call shy. He is almost always swimming around the whole tank. And they only need to feed 2-3 times a week that's why a lot of people think their eels won't eat cause they just don't eat a lot and unless your target feeding your eel, which you should do at first, you won't see then eat all too often.

kim kaphwan - 2013-01-26
I've just purchased a harlequin snake eel about 15 inches long and im wondering if its venomous and if its safe to keep thank you!

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Jeremy Roche - 2013-01-27
No they are not venomous. Fairly safe community eels as long as tankmates to big to fit in mouth.
rabb36 - 2013-03-07
They are not venomous, and are actually really cool to watch and easy to keep. I had one years ago I fed blood worms out of a turkey baster :) I'm considering getting another one as a tank mate for my 14 year old arowana. He just lost his friend, a gold fish he decided not to eat, but as you know gold fish produce so much waste. They have lived together for probably a year. :(

Kenny - 2009-03-14
Electric eels should have an empty tank but with dechlorinated water sand or smooth gravel, and a filter. I keep mine at 85 degrees and has a ph of 7.2. Mine does well in a 55 gal. and I'm going to get a bigger tank. It lives with plecos.

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Animal Stories - People Talking About Freshwater Eels

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