help me... I must decide now

[wira sucitra]

I accidentally bought 2 tire track eels (which I thought as kuhli loach at first) and put them in my tanks.. their size is less than 10 centimetres. If I see the size of their mouth, I think it's too little to eat the smallest fish in my tank. But I found 2 of my fishes have the little torn in their fin. Is it because of tire track eels aggression, or the other factor? Should I remove them soon? I mix swordtail, platy, molly, zebra, cory, loach with the diffrent size in the same tanks.. and the eel rarely swim out of the gravel...

need answer soon

[Lady Hobbs]

They are a natural predicator of small fish and will become more so as they mature. They also should not be in tanks less than 55 gallons.

[scotchbonneteater]

Just got this off Wiki :

Compatibility

Although tire track eels are often combined with medium to large-sized gouramis, knifefish, danios, loaches, Loricariids, eartheaters, Acaras, Cichlasomines and Asian catfishes in a community fish aquarium, they are not normally mixed with small-sized fish, because tire track eels are observed to "prey" upon smaller fish. Mixing them with fish belonging to the same species is also not recommended. This is because they are aggressive to members of the same fish family but peaceful to other fish species with similar care level requirements, size and temperament.

Hope this helps.

[wira sucitra]

If so, do you know how to catch them easily without stressing my fish?? my tank is 60 litre in capacity, and it's full of water plant and coral and the base is covered with gravel. The eels are the escape expert, I'm affraid to stress out my fish while I'm trying to catch them..

[Lady Hobbs]

I have not had eels but loaches that will hide in a pvc pipe. I would put a net over one end and a net over the other and just pick the whole thing up and put it over a pail. It will probably require 2 nets either way you do it.

You may end up having to lower the water level a bunch, as well.

[Crispy]

tiretracks will most definitely prey on small fish. I thought mine would be fine when small with large guppies, but he eventually ate them. they prey at night when your other fish are sleeping/slow moving. I would not recommend them with any smaller community fish.

[ameliaaahx]

Did you say you had coral in your tank?

[wira sucitra]

sorry for replying this late.. I hardly had the time to visit this forum this week..

Anyway, I'll try catching the eels with 2 nets, maybe next 2 months when I'm cleaning my whole tank, because it's the only appropriate time to me. If I do it when I'm doing water change regularly, it will stress them out. My tanks is filled with something looking like sea reef (not coral I think) and a big drift wood (my dad added it to my tank, making it even more complicated to me to either track my fish movements completely or catching them while swimming.

Luckly I put my tank in the bright place and the eels rarely come out, so they haven't done too much harm on my community fish. Anyway, thanks for the help.. ;)

[wijnands]

I'd trap eels. Get a liter sized drinks bottle and punch small holes in it, not more than 3mm across but punch a lot of holes. Put in some food, live bloodworms would work, some cory wafers could also work. Tie a piece of string around the neck of the bottle and dangle that over the edge of the tank. Wait a few hours and you should have two bottled eels.

[wira sucitra]

I'd trap eels. Get a liter sized drinks bottle and punch small holes in it, not more than 3mm across but punch a lot of holes. Put in some food, live bloodworms would work, some cory wafers could also work. Tie a piece of string around the neck of the bottle and dangle that over the edge of the tank. Wait a few hours and you should have two bottled eels.

nice idea.. It should be tried.. thanks..