South American "Eel"?

[WhistlingBadger]

So, my client has expressed an interest in adding an "eel-like" fish to our northern South American flooded forest biotope, something like a weather loach or a fire eel. But we'd like to stay true to the biotope, too. Tankmates include otocinclus, twig cats, red phantom tetras, diamond tetras, angelfish and adolf cories. The tank dimensions are 72" x 18" x 28".


I've been reading up a bit on the zebra knife fish (Gymnotus pedanopterus) and ghost knife fish (Apteronotus albifrons) but I suspect the former would be too predatory, and both of them seem to need live/frozen food, which is not ideal for a tank that I only see once a week. I also think they tank might be too narrow for them.

I think they'd be content with more twig cats (they are so fun!), but I'd like to go with their wishes if possible since, you know, they pay for everything. Thoughts?

 

[FF_Member146894]

if your client has nowhere to keep frozen foods, then i'd say you're out of luck with the more unique fish that i know of

 

[Byron]

I know next to nothing about the freshwater eels of South America, but I have seen they are not fish for tanks with small fish like those mentioned here.

As for knifefish, I would not consider these for a tank not in my fish room where I could take better regular care of it. Also, as the black ghost knifefish grows, this tank is not wide enough. Knifefish are inflexible; they possess a weakly discharging neurogenic electric organ and ampullary electro receptors that are distributed from head to tail. This is used as a "radar" to detect their surroundings and to locate prey. The body is thus inflexible in order to function as a receptor of electronic signals returning to the fish.

They need minimum light and water flow, but good oxygen levels notwithstanding the flow issue. They will likely eat small fish, so tankmates should be in the 6-inch or larger size.

 

[Wills]

The tank might not be wide enough for them but what about a Ceacilian? AKA Rubber Eel, they are actually an aquatic amphibian and look like a sock puppet

Wills

 

[WhistlingBadger]

The tank might not be wide enough for them but what about a Ceacilian? AKA Rubber Eel, they are actually an aquatic amphibian and look like a sock puppet

Wills

Hm, those are a new one on me...let's see. Looks like they're predatory, dig up plants, completely nocturnal so we'd never see them, and they get up to five feet long. Other than that, they're perfect!

Of course, the main reason I'd never get one is that, if one ever got sick, I'd hate to go into the tank after it. (drum roll, please) I'd rather get involved in a land war in Asia than go in against a caecilian...when DEATH is on the line!

 

[Wills]

Hm, those are a new one on me...let's see. Looks like they're predatory, dig up plants, completely nocturnal so we'd never see them, and they get up to five feet long. Other than that, they're perfect!

Of course, the main reason I'd never get one is that, if one ever got sick, I'd hate to go into the tank after it. (drum roll, please) I'd rather get involved in a land war in Asia than go in against a caecilian...when DEATH is on the line!

There was someone here a few years ago that had one that was quite a few years old (from memory 7-8), they offered it to me when they had to break the tank down but I wasnt in a position to take them. Their tank was fully planted too with big swords and val etc. They dont get to five foot its described as upto 24 inches but usually 12-14 on average. Predation yes but only in the same league as a knife fish (assuming you've seen a BGK yawning before?).

Wills

 

[Boundava]

There are these knife fish, they stay smaller and eat inverts so if you have bug food or lots of leaves they should be ok forging. Just know they aren't very active and will be found on its side during the day, it's more active at night. It also tends to be hostile to conspecies, with the larger harassing smaller. We had one in the last house, but like many other fish of this shape; s/he decided to look for life outside of the aquarium, so a tight lid is needed. Consensus is they max around 7"-8" but are slow growers.
There isn't a lot of info on them, but when we had the one s/he was very pretty in a planted tank.

Steatogenys duidae summary page

www.fishbase.se

The Wet Spot has them for $15 right now.

 

[Wills]

What about eel tailed banjo catfish? https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=108 https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/platystacus-cotylephorus/

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Looks like the banjo needs pretty hard water, so that's out. That centipede knifefish, now....that's interesting. Nocturnal fish that require live/frozen foods, though, are tricky for this tank because it's in an office that's open during daylight. Nobody's there to drop frozen bloodworms in at night.

 

[FF_Member146894]

That centipede knifefish, now....that's interesting.

i suggested it to you once before and you practically told me to screw off ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
nobody has to be there at night - you can adjust the light cycle for lights to be off a little bit before the office closes

 

[WhistlingBadger]

i suggested it to you once before and you practically told me to screw off ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
nobody has to be there at night - you can adjust the light cycle for lights to be off a little bit before the office closes

I told you nothing of the kind. I explained why I didn't think a knife fish would work, for exactly the same reasons that I repeated here.

 

[Wills]

How can it need quite hard water when it’s from South America? Hmmm need to look this up a bit more

 

[WhistlingBadger]

How can it need quite hard water when it’s from South America? Hmmm need to look this up a bit more

Looks like it's mostly from estuary areas.

Also...didn't anyone catch my Princess Bride reference? Inconceivable.

 

[Boundava]

I told you nothing of the kind. I explained why I didn't think a knife fish would work, for exactly the same reasons that I repeated here.

You can add some scuds to the tank regularly for the centepide and they will forage for food so no one needs to feed it specifically.

 

[Sgooosh]

. That centipede knifefish,

LOL that is the funniest fish name ever idk why

i suggested it to you once before and you practically told me to screw off ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
nobody has to be there at night - you can adjust the light cycle for lights to be off a little bit before the office closes

ooh i have an idea from looking at your profile picture

if you have a spare tank you can get all sorts of small snails and then breed them to feed them to the fish