Tank size for an eel.

[nick.w]

What is the minimum tank size for any eel do they all get very big?? i Have a 30 gal

 

[CFC]

You could keep one of the smaller species spiney of eel in a 30g, peacock eels are the most commonly seen of these though look out for zig zag and short finned spiney eels too, none of these will excede 12". Avoid fire eels and tyre track eels both of which grow to lengths of around a meter.

 

[nick.w]

cheers that helped a lot. Wot wuld these feed on? Are they hardy or do they require specific water?? Will they b ok in a large community aqaurium with angels and gourami??

 

[CFC]

Eels dont need specific water parameters but extremes should be avoided, ideally the pH should be between 6.5 and 7.5. They can be quite sensative to water conditions so should not be added to a tank until it has stabilised, nitrates should be kept below 50ppm if possible. All eels can be fussy eaters but once they have settled in they should take live and frozen bloodworms readily, they should be fine with any fish that is too big for them to try and eat (over 2").

 

[CFC]

Prices start at around £5 normally, i wouldnt pay over £10 for one. If you have room try to get more than one, the more you have the more you will see of them as single eels can be very shy.

 

[nick.w]

two in a 30 gal tank will that work??

 

[tdins_2]

if you buy the eel make sure ur tank bottom is soft because the like to burry themselves with just there nose sticking out

 

[Eelzor]

two in a 30 gal tank will that work??

Depending on size and filtration, for peacock spiny eels it would be fine.

 

[nick.w]

by small substrate do u mean sand? or small stones because i have them. They are thinned out tho so if burying themselfs is so essential will i need to buy more. Are they agressive??

 

[CFC]

It isnt essential that they are able to bury themselves just as long as there is plenty of hiding places for them to take refuge in. Peacock spiney's are not aggressive though they may occasionally fight between themselves (as most fish do)

 

[nick.w]

Ok thank u have been a gr8 help. Im am guessing they feed on tubix worms?? Any other foods they will eat??

 

[CFC]

Personally i avoid tubifix worms like the plague!!! The freeze dried cubed variety make a awful mess in the tank as they disintigrate and the live ones come from heavilly polluted waterways and often carry diseases and parasites.

I feed my 3 peacocks on frozen and live bloodworms which until recently was the only thing they would eat, they have now started taking the occasional live river shrimp too.

 

[nick.w]

im getting a 8inch eel now and are sure its full size is 12inch??? Also im notsure on how to feed bloodworms ive only used flakes could u please tell me how its done e.g are they frozen, when to feed the eel and wot bout the other fish eating it is thta ok??

 

[CFC]

I feed frozen bloodworms by first floating a cube in a small bowl of water to defrost it, once its completely thawed i drain the water off by tipping the bloodwrms into a fine mesh net and then dump the worms into the tank, try to spread them out so that some will make it to the bottom for the eel.

 

[nick.w]

So thats a meal for all my fish and there is no need for flakes??