striped peacock eel

[Crispy]

anyone keep these eels? I picked one up yesterday and he's quite cool. I know the basics to keeping them, but anyone have any pointers for me??? He's about 6 inches and quite fat for a little guy...

[Nobodynotime]

Make sure he has easy access to food, I lost one because he wasn't quick enough to compete with the other fish in my tank. Also it was kind of a stupid fish, ie there would be blood worms in the tank and he would be swimming in the exact opposite corner.

[Crispy]

^^^^ thanks for the info. I'm still looking for any tips anyone might have on these guys. Here's another pic of him...

[angelcakes]

is another name for these spiney eel, if so my mates got these and there huge hers are over 14+ inches long and big mouths!!! feed on muscles prawns alot of shell fish,livefoods,pellets,bloodworm
and the biggest pointer they escape the tank!! a very good tight hood would be a great idea,
what other fish are in with it?

[Crispy]

is another name for these spiney eel, if so my mates got these and there huge hers are over 14+ inches long and big mouths!!! feed on muscles prawns alot of shell fish,livefoods,pellets,bloodworm
and the biggest pointer they escape the tank!! a very good tight hood would be a great idea,
what other fish are in with it?

Yeah, they're all part of the spiney eel family. I keep him with big frontosas, big eartheaters, big clown loaches, and big catfishes... A friend of mine has some big fire eels and she feeds them shrimp (off shrimp rings for human consumption)...but I forget if they're supposed to be cooked or not. I think they hafta be raw. My little eel is only about 6 inches and I see him forage a bit for food, but not really pigging out on the sinking shrimp pellets. I think I'm going to start a colony of ghost/cherry shrimp for the eel/fish to snack on.

[Northernguy]

Thats a great looking eel!:22:
I love how the tail has the same spots and color as an Albino Clownknife.

[Crispy]

Thats a great looking eel!:22:
I love how the tail has the same spots and color as an Albino Clownknife.

thanks NG... I never cared for eels until I seen the couple big ones a friend has. Then after watching them for a few months and her handfeeding them, I kind of got attached and said "I wouldn't mind having one"... the rest is history :) I found him for $8 at my local petsmart.

[wolf_eyes]

I've heard that peacock eels are one of the smaller members of the Mastacembelidae family. They anywhere from 9-12(possibly 14 in rare instances) inches so I've read. I was looking into getting one for a big tank i will be getting but my rasboras would probably become a meal for it.

[Crispy]

I've heard that peacock eels are one of the smaller members of the Mastacembelidae family. They anywhere from 9-12(possibly 14 in rare instances) inches so I've read. I was looking into getting one for a big tank i will be getting but my rasboras would probably become a meal for it.

yeah, from what I've researched, they get to about 12-14 inches. Mine's about halfway there but he's far from big yet.

[Northernguy]

Great deal for $8 !:22:
I have to pay importing fees up here!:hmm3grin2orange:

[Crispy]

Great deal for $8 !:22:
I have to pay importing fees up here!:hmm3grin2orange:

>ouch< we have a guy here who has a website and special orders almost anything you'd want and then he gets the livestock shipped to his private store (by appointment only) and then you go pickup your fish. It's cool for the hard to find stuff, but nothing like going to your LFS and coming home with a new pet (impulsive buy)......... it does make you plan for particular fish though...

[bigwes2412]

I had 2 peacocks originally (sadly, now only 1). They were less than 5$ a piece. I love my eel but he's the harder fish to feed I think I'll ever keep. Despite all my best efforts, he won't eat prepared food. He only eats live worms which can obviously be a real pain in the ass. Still, they're pretty awesome.

[Northernguy]

I had 2 peacocks originally (sadly, now only 1). They were less than 5$ a piece. I love my eel but he's the harder fish to feed I think I'll ever keep. Despite all my best efforts, he won't eat prepared food. He only eats live worms which can obviously be a real pain in the ass. Still, they're pretty awesome.
Have you tried changing the food to New Life Spectrum.

[bigwes2412]

No I'm not familiar with that brand. What type of food would I have the best luck with?

[Northernguy]

Try and find it at your local fish store(lfs).If they do not carry it ask them if they can get it.
Nls food or Hikari. The NLS is best.

[bigwes2412]

OK. But is this NLS bloodworms? flakes? pellets?

[Northernguy]

Fishguy2727 has some info about NLS in his blog.
It may take a bit but I will let you know.

[fraggle]

I have one of these guys, he's really cool! I haven't had any trouble with him feeding on anything, he eats what ever is put in the tank (I use NLS now but I've used just "tropical fish food flakes" that I'd bought of ebay from a LFS and trout pellets and blood worms and brine shrimp and all sorts of veggies)
I've got an air bubble wall along the back of the tank, he swims up and down the bubbles all day. He doesn't bother any of the other fish, he actually curls up with the cories sometimes. Great little eel. Mines about 6 inches and I've had him for nearly 12 months, he hasn't got any bigger I don't reckon in the last 3 months or so.
My friend also has one that he's had for nearly 5 years, his is only about 7 inches.
Great little oddball though I reckon.

NG like you I'm paying to import, LOL, my guy cost me $20

[Northernguy]

NG like you I'm paying to import, LOL, my guy cost me $20
Its a drag! lol
I'd much rather get to choose my fish at a store! Selection would be nice.
Until I move and that will not be anytime soon!