Since the Fire eel inhabits Southeast Asian rivers and streams, it will prefer a warm temperature between 24-27° C (75-81° F), a pH of 7 and a dH of 10. It will however tolerate a pH in the 6-7.5 range and a dH between 6 and 20. Adding some salt to the water is a very good idea.
Are Fire eels saltwater?
Make no mistake—the fire eel is one beautiful freshwater fish. It has distinctive red stripes and markings all over its muddy brown body. This Southeast Asian native freshwater fish is found in the lowland rivers of Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and Sumatra.
Do eels not like salt?
Putting a live eel in a container filled with salt both kills it and removes much of its slime. The salt osmotically pulls moisture from the eel, making it increasingly impossible for the fish to breathe.
What does an eel need to survive?
Eels eat “live” food. Small longfin eels living amongst the river gravels will feed on insect larvae, worms and water snails. When they get bigger, they begin to feed on fish. They will also eat fresh-water crayfish and even small birds like ducklings.
Do eels need sand?
If you choose a burrowing species, you should use a soft, sandy substrate or peat. Most eels are naked or have only very small scales to protect their bodies, so a soft substrate is a must.
Are Fire eels hard to keep?
To keep one adult species of the fish you will need a tank larger than 350 liters (77 gallons), with 5 cm (2 in) thick sandy bottom and large number of shelters made of snags, flower pots, bunches of coarse leaved and floating tank plants, that will make the bottom a bit shadowed. Fire eel adores hiding.
How long does it take a fire eel to grow full size?
A: Fire eels grow relatively slowly in captivity at a rate of around four or five inches a year. Once the eels are over a foot long, the growth rate tends to slow down.
How do you salt eels?
The simplest method of killing eels is to put them in a deep container and rouse them with salt; leave them for up to 2 hours to kill them and to remove much of the slime. They should not be completely buried in salt; a good sprinkling is sufficient.
Can eels go from freshwater to saltwater?
European eels live most of their lives in freshwater until spawning migration to the Sargasso Sea. During seawater adaptation, eels modify their physiology, and their digestive system adapts to the new environment, drinking salt water to compensate for the continuous water loss.
Why does eel move after its dead?
But, why do eels move after death? The movements are caused by muscular contractions, and they may occur at the time of cooking an eel. Eeels have a special type of nervous system which makes it react to heat or other sensations after its death.
What are eels favorite food?
The food of eels consisted mainly of trichopteran and dipteran larvae and plecopteran and ephemeropteran nymphs, though at times Gastropoda, Annelida, Crustacea and fish were common in the stomachs. Fish was not an important dietary item but, when eaten, the fish most commonly taken were elvers and eels.
How big do fire Eels get?
3.3 ft
Often the anal, pectoral, and dorsal fins have a red edging. The fire eel is the largest species in its family and can reach up to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length.
Are eels hard to take care of?
However, according to Animal World true eels are very difficult and expensive creatures to care for. Some can grow remarkably large, and would require massive tanks that most home aquarium owners cannot afford. Think about all the space even a pet poodle needs to stay active and healthy.
Are fire eels aggressive?
While known to be non-violent, fire eels usually fight among themselves and can become aggressive towards other spiny eel fish. That’s why I don’t recommend keeping them together or with other spiny eel fish.
Do eels need sunlight?
Providing eels are kept damp and out of direct sunlight they can survive out of water longer than nearly any other freshwater species. In fact, in cool damp wet conditions, they can survive for days out of water and are known to travel over land to find a body of water.
What fish can live with fire eels?
Fire eel is considered a docile fish that will mostly ignore bigger tank-mates. However, it is a predator and cannot be housed with smaller fish as these may be easily consumed. Best tank-mates should include Oscar fish, Angel fish, Bumblebee Catfish, and Green terror.
How long can eels go without food?
Don’t worry about it, eels can go weeks without food as long as they are healthy. If it hasn’t eaten for a week or two, try live food, ghost shrimp is a good bet.
Do Fire eels eat brine shrimp?
It is recommended to have a Brine shrimp as the Fire eel’s first food. Small portions of food for the Fire eel should be put in several places of the tank 5-6 times a day.
What do freshwater Fire eels eat?
This can include but is certainly not limited to things like crabs, snails, worms, and insect larvae. However, when they are kept in a home aquarium, the fire eel will eat flake food quite happily as well as things like dried blood worms and small fish.
Do Fire eels grow fast?
Because the Fire Eel grows to be so large, you will need an 80-gallon tank at a minimum, or about 350 liters. Fire Eels grow quickly, so don’t expect to be able to start out with a smaller tank and then upgrade–they need the space immediately.
Do Fire eels bury themselves?
The Fire Eel makes a great addition to the peaceful fish community where there are no small fish present. The aquarium should be spacious and furnished with a soft sand substrate so that these diggers can wallow and bury themselves.