Peacock Eel

[jb12288]

I recently bought a 5" peacock eel. He hasn't really eaten much. I stuck a few freeze dried blood worms down around him, he nibbled at him. But it seems when my other fish come around he flips out and buries himself. I have 2 pink kissing gouramis, 3 red swag tails, african dwarf frog, and a medium cichlid. Will my eel do well with these fish, or do i need to rehome him?

 

[Mr._Fishy]

Spiny eels generally will not eat freeze dried food or flakes. Try frozen bloodworms and frozen brine shrimp. The fish you have right now, imo, are a bit too voracious feeders to be housed with a spiny eel. It is not a necessity (I keep mine by itself), but they do tend to do better in groups.

What species is the medium cichlid? How long has it been since you bought him? How big is the tank? What are the water parameters. Is the tank cycled? If not, where are you located? You probably aren't in Colorado, but if you are, I could donate some mature filter media.

Ryan

 

[groovitudedude]

What would posses you to keep a cichlid with an eel with gouramis? It's completely insane!!!!

Said the person who just noticed he had a fire eel with an african with two gouramis.

Kinda random fish, though.

 

[Straydum]

i dont see why you cant have cichlids with gouramis and eels. it isnt much of a problem if you dont see aggression or harm from anyone of them.

you might want to try live/frozen bloodworms, live brine shrimp, live tubifex worms etc. processed food i something that my eels dont even consider. you eel is new so it might take awhile to get use to the tank. give it a week or so. and make sure your eel is big enough to not fit into any of its tankmate's mouth. in the mean time, provide more hiding spots, eg rocks, wood, plants to make it feel more comfortable

 

[jb12288]

i dont see why you cant have cichlids with gouramis and eels. it isnt much of a problem if you dont see aggression or harm from anyone of them.

you might want to try live/frozen bloodworms, live brine shrimp, live tubifex worms etc. processed food i something that my eels dont even consider. you eel is new so it might take awhile to get use to the tank. give it a week or so. and make sure your eel is big enough to not fit into any of its tankmate's mouth. in the mean time, provide more hiding spots, eg rocks, wood, plants to make it feel more comfortable

All of my other fish arent aggressive, they are mainly docile staying to themselves and havent bothered the eel. I have had the eel for 2 days now. This morning i awoke and looked in the tank and he was skimming around the bottom nibbling, so i assume everything is fine. The gouramis actually seem to not even notice him.

Spiny eels generally will not eat freeze dried food or flakes. Try frozen bloodworms and frozen brine shrimp. The fish you have right now, imo, are a bit too voracious feeders to be housed with a spiny eel. It is not a necessity (I keep mine by itself), but they do tend to do better in groups.

What species is the medium cichlid? How long has it been since you bought him? How big is the tank? What are the water parameters. Is the tank cycled? If not, where are you located? You probably aren't in Colorado, but if you are, I could donate some mature filter media.

Ryan

I dont know the species of cichlid, it is a light gray with draker gray verticle lines on him. the tank is 29 us gallons. Ph is 7.6 and temp is 79.

 

[Mr._Fishy]

Is the cichlid this: Convict? If so you have a problem on your hands as they are very aggressive (hence the name). If it is this I suggest you trade it to your LFS or set up another tank for it. And you can keep spiny eels with cichlids. I currently have mine with a 6 inch severum. It just depends on the species of fish.

Ryan

EDIT: I said that I didn't think that you should keep it with gouramis because they may eat up the food before the eel can find it. I did not mean because of aggression.

 

[jb12288]

Is the cichlid this: Convict? If so you have a problem on your hands as they are very aggressive (hence the name). If it is this I suggest you trade it to your LFS or set up another tank for it. And you can keep spiny eels with cichlids. I currently have mine with a 6 inch severum. It just depends on the species of fish.

Ryan

EDIT: I said that I didn't think that you should keep it with gouramis because they may eat up the food before the eel can find it. I did not mean because of aggression.

it is not a convict i dont think, i have a photo of it

 

[Mr._Fishy]

I am really not good with identifying Africans, but to me it looks like a peacock or a labidochromis. As with many Africans, they are usually pretty aggressive. I would wait for a positive id though, as I am not very good with identifying Africans.

Ryan

 

[Starfishpower]

i just got a 4" peacock eel a few weeks ago so maybe i can help a little. i had a hard time feeding him too. none of my LFS had the right food for him so i went to a bait store and got some red wigler earth worms. i have to chop them up (scissors) about a centimeter long and then i put them in the net and drop them right next to him so he can see them right away. i have black kuhli loaches in there with him and i feed them blood worms, he doesnt eat those, he likes live food. also, just fyi, sand is really good for peacock eels instead of gravel, its easier on their fins when they burrow. but mine rarely buries himself, normally he just spends time under the bogwood or in holes in it when hes not out and about. hope this alteast helps some.