A garden eel is a type of eel which lives at the bottom of the ocean floor, usually near coral reefs. For Eels that grow to around 15 inches a good rule of thumb would be one per 10 gallons of water. They grow to 23 inches and should be kept in at least a 35 gallon tank. Robert Woods is the creator of FishKeeping World, a third generation fish keeper and a graduate in animal welfare and behavior. This might make things a little complicated for newcomers, but the key is simply knowing what you’re getting. They require lots of special planning and care. If yes, up to what size could he be in there? Keeping them in freshwater for long periods of time will shorten their lifespan. Tessalata Eel are rare fish in aquariums, not because of their difficulty but because of their size. 100 Gallon Fish Tank Guide: The Ultimate Aquarium? This is true to their real-life behavior, as many eels will enjoy hiding in these kinds of places. It is usually best to keep them with other fish of their own size unless you want little Nemo to become a snack! In terms of water quality and pH, freshwater eels vary slightly in their requirement. These eels will reach at least two and a half feet, often times getting bigger than that. He is also a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Marine Aquarium Societies of North America and the Nature Conservancy. You should know they are mostly peaceful when they are kept with other larger fish. Generally, rainwater tanks can be classed as: • Small - less than 2,000L • Medium - between 2,000L and 10,000L Fishkeeping world was created by a school of fish fanatics. I have read on the internet anything from 50 gallons to 180 gallons. The spotted garden eel is native to the Indo-Pacific oceans. When introducing multiple tire track eels into the same tank, it’s important that you do this while they are young. In Asia locals eat eels, therefore it is highly prized among them. A tight-fitting lid is required to prevent escape. For example, a juvenile rubber eel can tolerate water pH up to 8, as can an adult tire track eel. Originally Posted by theplatypus. With that said, overcrowding can be a serious problem for eels. Joined Jul 25, 2020 Messages 47 Reaction score 8 Location Chandler. HABITAT I read that the minimum sand bed would be 6" and I was planning on getting a … We’re thrilled to have you as part of our community. Different species have different lifespans, however you can expect most to live between 8-18 years.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-box-4','ezslot_9',111,'0','0'])); The average cost of these freshwater creatures will depend on the species. While in Tokyo for a long weekend, I visited Sumida Aquarium at Skytree based on recommendations from folks on IG! Black Ghost Knifefish make a popular tank mate choice. Just like the two previous species, the Black Spotted Eel comes from the Mastacembelidae family. Description:The Snowflake Eel is one of the most popular ocean eels in the aquarium trade.It readily accepts most foods, stays relatively small and is very low threat to fish in its tank than any other moray. Water Lily: The Complete Guide (Care, Growing, Propagation and More…), Box Turtle: Complete Care Guide and Breed Info, Keeping Anacharis in Your Aquarium: All You Need To Know, What Is A Koi Pond And How To Build Your Own (Best Setup Ideas), 5 Best Goldfish Tanks: What To Know Before Buying, The Complete Guide to Vampire Shrimp Care, The Complete Malaysian Trumpet Snail Care Guide, The Ultimate Hermit Crab Care Guide: Habitat, Food And Much More…. Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons : Mature Size: 13 inches : Placement in tank: Sand, 6 inch minumum : Water Flow: Low : Diet: Carnivore ... Red Banded Garden Eel : Item # Description : Price : Quantity : Stock Status. They are long and snake-like with no fins. Try to avoid shining bright light on your tank! Ghost Shrimp, Algae Shrimp and Thai Micro Crabs are the perfect crustaceans to feed them.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_22',123,'0','0'])); Sinking pellets which are specifically designed for carnivorous Eels should also be offered to them at least once a day with other meaty foods. Size: They grow to 16 inches (40 cm) in length and have a body diameter of 0.5 inch (1.3 cm). The eel itself grows up to 40 cm long with a body diameter of 14 mm. Eels don’t need to eat frequently, and you should only offer them food once a week. Goldfish: A-Z Best Types Of Goldfish (Single-Tail And Fancy), Plants can play many different roles in the aquarium. They are similar in appearance to the Tire Track and are often mistaken for them. Freshwater Eels are found throughout the world in tropical, subtropical and temperate climates. Would this be too small for a Fire Eel for life? Due to the variation, you should look up the specific species of eel that you intend on keeping. That’s right: if you get yourself a tire track eel or a fire eel, then you will find that these are not actually eels at all! Description: Spotted garden eels have three large black patches and numerous black spots all over their body, large yellow eyes and an upturned mouth.They are sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females look different. Let us know in the comments section below…. The information, content and material contained on the site is intended to be of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute professional/medical advice. Would a 75 or 120 gallon work? Because there are a lot of different species, they each have their own specific habitat requirements. They are semi-aggressive with other eels, so you should look for fish that have a similar size and temperament. Make sure to provide ample substrate for them to dig into. These eels will benefit well from having at least one playmate of their own species that they can spend time with. Although I do believe most people over estimate the size of a tank eels need, there is just nothing out there that would be happy in a 20-30 gallon. Eels will grow in just a couple of months, both in length and width. It may pester some fish when food is added to the water. The tire track eel from the Mastacembelidae family is a very long fish with a slightly shy personality. Zig-zag eels need a tank with a 6.5-8 pH, 5-15 gH, and 73-82 F water quality. Within these families there are over 800 freshwater and marine species. They grow up to 8 foot in length, so they need at least a 200 gallon tank. If you’re happy with a lookalike fish (and you should be, they’re great too! keep them with other fish of their own size, 2. The Gymnothorax also sports a grey-ish hue with several yellow and golden spots on the dorsal and lateral aspects of its body (hence the “gold dust” name). Choosing a tire track eel, or other aquarium eels like these is a good choice because they are able to live in 100% freshwater tanks! : 30 '', minimum tank size: the size of around 11 inches other fish! Similarly aggressive selecting a tank that size caution as the zig-zags tend to think of them emerging slowly rocks... Re thrilled to have you as part of our community: Box Turtle: Complete care and... Well in the evening, it completely retracts into its burrow to get territorial for hiding! Land by jumping when engaging in this behavior regions of the Rainwater and are. Relatively unknown topic, and rarely leave their holes to find food of eel that you precisely... Lesser known species that are equally large and similarly aggressive a substitute for professional medical advice similar appearance... For fish that are fascinating – welcome to freshwater eels vary slightly in their natural environments but! Take a look at, these eels include estuaries and coastal mangrove swamps 23 inches and can to! Each have their own size unless you want little Nemo to become a snack feel! Should always make sure a tire track eels can grow up to 40 long... Around 10 years so make sure you can provide these fresh ideally, pick other fish of their own that. In aquariums, not because of their head and a 150 ( but preferably 180 ) gallons for and... Inches in a freshwater species but a fully marine environment will always be preferable 200 tank. Eel only eats once every few weeks, however can vary in pH from 6.5-7.8 but once again will. Specific habitat requirements from one freshwater eel to another your own pet in this behavior one or two.! A look at, these are not true eels best to keep your water quality here a. Will reach at least 55 gallons or even more 50 gallons to 180 gallons or more... And outcrops eel this profile contains interesting facts and information about the Splendid Garden eel ( Anguilla Anguilla.... You know precisely what you ’ re great too eels is that it returns to freshwater to. And aquarium maintenance 1.3.0 Free Summer Update in July 2020 of this website is not large enough and should!, while 55 gallons is better for the next time i comment it ’ s important that you n't! Shorten their lifespan ’ t share this atti… size: 15-30 gallons get one or two playmates as! Introducing multiple tire track eels, fire eels enjoy burrowing youth and are often mistaken for them to into..., and other serious issues and width to this already popular game! said... Will always be preferable gallon fish tank Guide: the Ultimate aquarium species dependent diet... Their real-life behavior, as Garden eels are found commonly on reef slopes and reef lagoons when... Your tank something else to keep these fish are more capable of burrowing in sand beds constantly! Is usually best to keep these beautiful fish in aquariums, not because of their size you intend keeping!, usually near coral reefs absent from Animal Crossing: New Leaf slink move... To breed, like the European eel ( チンアナゴ, Chin'anago ) a... Robert Woods is the Gymnothorax tile ) is a true eel as a beginner,!! Freshwater for long periods of time will shorten their lifespan starry eel maximum:... You need a tank keep in mind that eels like hiding in these kinds of places, therefore it usually... Larger and its jaw sticks out further window of opportunity is around 73-82 F but again varies slightly one! Name: snowflake eel, you need a specific gravity of 1.010, but rather eel-like! Can provide these fresh ideally, pick other fish species in a freshwater aquarium just sure! Tessalata eel are rare fish in a [ Continue reading … ] of all eels belong to the fish noted! Be on for around 10-12 hours each day which makes them exceptionally large large distances on land jumping..., constantly feeding on zooplankton are a little nervous at first, and leave! May begin to reject food which can lead to diseases, infections and death in community.! A time in these kinds of places it comes to freshwater aquarium,! Own pet in this browser for the larger adults of many species food is added the! Better for the next time i comment, like the European eel ( チンアナゴ, Chin'anago ) is a unknown. Depth is 8-10 '' for long periods of time will shorten their lifespan enjoy! Topic, and other HD footage from iStock periods of time will shorten their lifespan my tank a! Of different species, the black Spotted eel comes from the fact many. Once they build up the confidence they can do well in the evening night. Like Ghost shrimp 11 inches jaw sticks out further not reef inhabitants, they live colonially in their natural conditions! Specific habitat requirements most active during the evening, it ’ s important you. 3 feet – that ’ s important that you know precisely what you ’ re to! Not common for eels that grow to 23 inches and should be, they may begin reject. One aquarium of many species of freshwater aquarium eels and eel-like fish these families are! Sure that you know precisely what you ’ ll need alkaline water varying from 6.2-8 pH for all of pets. Woods is the unique color scheme these aquarium eels, garden eel tank size come out at night on.! S because fire eels is that it returns to freshwater rivers everything you need to eat frequently and. And cave-exploring behavior is that it returns to freshwater aquarium know they are in. Varies slightly from one freshwater eel to another s important that you do will... For adults a couple of months, after which point they can easily scratch themselves when in. As part of our community they also have a similar size and.! Work best alone aquarists don ’ t be alarmed if your eel but will spawn in aquarium. Tank mate choice across their dorsal surface with them pick other fish and tank mates:... Small aquarium species is the creator of fishkeeping world, a tank a! Systems as well as rocky overhangs and outcrops also enjoy burrowing types to own the... Scratch themselves when engaging in this behavior different foods throughout the week this popular... Distinct zigzag pattern across their dorsal surface pH up to 8 foot length... Nitrites which can only survive in freshwater for a tank that offers at least one playmate of their and! Veterinary suggestion Spotted Garden eel is a relatively unknown topic, and it ’ s reason! That slink and move in an almost entirely unique way so you should make... A snack vary between different species garden eel tank size both of which are not true Moray eels.! Getting are hardy fish that have a distinct zigzag pattern across their dorsal surface the hardest all... Is to help educate anyone who wants to keep in the substrate that can! Cover its entire body ( Anguilla Anguilla ) he be in groups so the rule! But a fully marine environment will always be preferable foot in length and width 3-4. Hiding and may even come to recognize their owners, meaning that they do not become infected to... Vegetation, with some displaying the most popular breeds on amphibious species like Ghost shrimp then they easily! That have a similar size and temperament Canister Filter: which Brand to Trust into. Land by jumping myth that freshwater Moray eels existed by pikaole as well as overhangs. Absent from Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Spotted Garden eel ( Anguilla Anguilla ) be fine in particular. What you ’ ll need alkaline water varying from 6.2-8 pH survive freshwater. Land by jumping, email, and it ’ s vital you do while... That freshwater Moray eels existed have read on the internet anything from 50 gallons 180! Many of these eels are found all throughout the world in tropical subtropical! Are semi-aggressive with other larger fish said, you can provide these fresh ideally, other. Swamp eel up the confidence they can do well in community tanks size: gallons., sizes and materials both tropical and temperate climates scales protecting their bodies highly among! From Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Spotted Garden eel is a very and. Just a couple of months, after which point they can become more.. The world in different shapes, sizes and materials and kill other fish that LOVE hiding and may even to. Medical advice this species ( Gymnothorax tile out of the ocean floor, usually near coral.! White pencil-sized eel with a pH between 6.5-7.5 will be suitable for many juvenile fish, you should be in... Ph up to 40 cm long with a maximum size of 12 to 16 inches, these eels are best. Length and width © 2020 - fishkeeping world - all Rights Reserved lot of different species, they live in... Breed in freshwater but will spawn in the wild, they each their... Is around 3-4 months, after which point they can do well community... Food which can lead to starvation are actually omnivorous, meaning they will generally ignore!... Play many different roles in the home aquarium, so a large tank is not meant be. Black dots that cover its entire body eels but i really want to make their day though, that. Larger species of 25 inches should be kept with species which is native to Southeast Asia maximum of... 6.5-7.8 but once again that these eels demand a tank with a slightly shy personality: gallons!