Sand For Eel?

[likescichlids]

I have a 15in fire eel and i thought about getting sand and my dad says it not good because it shows thing on top of the sand. Is it that bad?

 

[Colin_T]

Sand tends to stop stuff sinking into it so the gunk does sit on top of it. However, a good filter will usually pick up most of the gunk and hold it. Increasing the water movement around the bottom of the tank can help by moving the gunk into the water where the filter can pick it up.
It isn't a big problem but does make it look a little untidy.

 

[nmonks]

In any case, if you have a spiny eel as small as 10 cm/4 inches, keeping it in a tank with sand rather than gravel will dramatically improve your chances of maintaining it for any length of time. Small spiny eels tend to get scratched by gravel, and this in turn makes them vulnerable to secondary infections.

Use smooth silica sand from a garden centre if you want a cheap and functional option. Aquarium sand may be okay, but several types designed for planted aquaria, e.g., Tahitian Moon Sand, are "scratchy" and will damage the spiny eel. Unless you can confirm with the manufacturer a certain type of sand is safe with burrowing fish, don't use it. Companies like Carib Sea actually state which sands are safe and which are not on their web site, so go visit them if needs be. Retailers often haven't got a clue, and a few sales clerks are prone to saying any old thing if it makes a sale. Best to double check!

Cheers, Neale