Eel Question

[treefrog]

I have a friend who has a 30gl tank with 4 mbunas and typical african rockery. He is set on the idea of getting an eel. I recommended if he has to have one with these fish he should go for a peacock eel from what I know. I have little or no knowledge of eels and this is what I learned in my online searching. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on the subject? Really appreciate any help!!

 

[CFC]

I wouldnt recomend adding a eel to a 30g with mbuna, the poor eel will get ripped to shreds. Unfortunately mbuna come with a high price for their vivid and striking colours, once you decide to keep them you have to be commited to a species only biotope aquarium, (in this case the species includes all mbuna cichlids).

 

[vantgE]

There is a eel native to lake malawi and have seen it for sale on several websites so it could might work? but CFC is the expert

if he wants different shape and personality of fish he's may have trouble but a school of syno petricola will work although it will probally have to be a mostly syno tank then
heres some lake malawi eels though

http/www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/panis...ethiomastac.htm

http/malawicichlids.com/mw11030.htm

http/malawicichlids.com/mw11023.htm

http/malawicichlids.com/mw11031.htm

 

[CFC]

The african spiney eels of the Afromastacembelus family grow far too large for a 30g aquarium, they are also predators that may eat the mbuna! In a larger tank with larger cichlids they would work as would Synodontis catfishes but in a 30g where territory will already be a issue i would expect there to be trouble for any non cichlid fish added to the tank.

 

[vantgE]

Thanks CFC i was just posting about the eels cause i was wandering what their situation would be like in a tank. I however still suggest petricola(catfish) would work they only reach 4-5 inches but you could probally only have two max cichlids in that tank with them

 

[treefrog]

Thanks so much guys! I didn't really think the tank was big enough especially since mbuna can be soooo territorial and aggressive. But I knew our local experts would have the low down!! I'll recommend either keeping the current fish and no eel, or eel with different fish.

 

[Ti.]

You can pull off an eel in a Malawi tank.
So far I have been quite successful in putting a rope fish, black skirt tetra and 2 gouramis and a red claw crab and a shrimp in my malawi tank.
Yes this is all despite common guideline.
You just gotta know how to do it and honestly the Mbuna will leave the eel alone.
Having a Malawi tank does not mean you are stuck with cichlids only.
Just gotta know how to do it.
I've even had puffers with my Mbuna.
What will not work are bottom feeders, at least in my tank.
Food never makes it to the bottom and if it does a cichlid is there to pick it up in 2 seconds.

 

[CFC]

So far I have been quite successful in putting a rope fish, black skirt tetra and 2 gouramis and a red claw crab and a shrimp in my malawi tank.

And the fish dont try to eat them? The shrimp at least are veiwed by most fish as food.

Having a Malawi tank does not mean you are stuck with cichlids only.
What will not work are bottom feeders, at least in my tank.

Hmm so where do you think eels usually feed from? Also the preffered food of eels are usually worm type foods such as bloodworm and earthworms which should never be fed to mbuna cichlids as it causes bloat and will kill them.