My Peacock Eel

[NovaFox]

Hi everyone, I was curious on knowing more about my Peacock Eel I got a few days ago. Can i feed him flakes? What is bes preferred? Is it normal for him to always be hiding? They arent nocturnal are they? Any other information gladly accepted!

 

[toddnbecka]

Here's a link to a halfway useful site for general info on a variety of fish: http/aqualandpetsplus.com/Oddball,%20Spiny%20Eel.htm
Otherwise, keep the tank completely covered at all times, and figure on live or frozen foods as necessary. Peacock eels don't eat flakes, but frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp should be acceptable.

 

[nmonks]

Peacock spiny eels (Macrognathus siamensis) are quite difficult to keep and not recommended for beginners. The vast majority of specimens end up dead quite quickly! The four things to note are these:

Firstly, they don't eat flake. Wet frozen bloodworms are usually taken, but initially I'd recommend (insist) you use earthworms to get the fish back into good condition. Chances are the fish hasn't eaten for weeks, if not months.

Secondly, they cannot compete with other benthic fish. NEVER mix them with catfish or loaches.

Thirdly, they are escape artists without parallel. If there are gaps in your aquarium hood, the spiny eel WILL find them and end up on the carpet.

Finally, NEVER keep them in tanks with gravel. Only tanks with smooth (not sharp) sand. They burrow into sand happily, but gravel scratches them and makes them prone to bacterial (likely Aeromonas) infections.

My article on these animals is available on the PFK magazine web site. Have a read.

Cheers, Neale

 

[NovaFox]

Ahh, i read up that they eat "Black Worms"? not sure where i could get some of those. Altho nonetheless im still going to buy some frozen bloodworms and what not @ PETsMART. Where would i grab some earth worms? Better to learn now, than to wait and watch it slowly starve

 

[invader]

Ahh, i read up that they eat "Black Worms"? not sure where i could get some of those. Altho nonetheless im still going to buy some frozen bloodworms and what not @ PETsMART. Where would i grab some earth worms? Better to learn now, than to wait and watch it slowly starve

Petsmarts usually sell worms. They're sometimes called "red wrigglers" and are a bit smaller than the average night crawler.

If yours doesn't carry them, go to a bait shop or even a walmart to find earthworms. That's where I usually get mine.

Good luck!

 

[DarkEntity]

if you have a garden just dig them out of there rather than buy worms, failing that a fishing tackle shop is your next place to check

 

[jimi priest]

Peacock spiny eels (Macrognathus siamensis) are quite difficult to keep and not recommended for beginners. The vast majority of specimens end up dead quite quickly! The four things to note are these:

Firstly, they don't eat flake. Wet frozen bloodworms are usually taken, but initially I'd recommend (insist) you use earthworms to get the fish back into good condition. Chances are the fish hasn't eaten for weeks, if not months.

Secondly, they cannot compete with other benthic fish. NEVER mix them with catfish or loaches.

Thirdly, they are escape artists without parallel. If there are gaps in your aquarium hood, the spiny eel WILL find them and end up on the carpet.

Finally, NEVER keep them in tanks with gravel. Only tanks with smooth (not sharp) sand. They burrow into sand happily, but gravel scratches them and makes them prone to bacterial (likely Aeromonas) infections.

My article on these animals is available on the PFK magazine web site. Have a read.

Cheers, Neale

my peacock eel gets along wiht my corys just fine

 

[Mr._Fishy]

my peacock eel gets along wiht my corys just fine

It's more the fact that eels have a hard time competing for food with catfish that they are not recommended tank mates, not that they won't get a long.

Ryan

 

[jimi priest]

my peacock eel gets along wiht my corys just fine

It's more the fact that eels have a hard time competing for food with catfish that they are not recommended tank mates, not that they won't get a long.

Ryan

ohh i know anyone who said they dont get along would have gotten a different answer my eel does fine ( i problay am just lucky ) he gets all excited and zips all over the cage eating what he wants to couse he gets every where first ( but i do admit i used to bury food for him at first