West African Spiny Eel - Aquarium Advice

Fruitbat · 10-30-2005, 01:44 AM

I just picked up this little fellow at my favorite [acronym:14274353d4="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:14274353d4]. It is one of the Mastacembelid 'Eels' (Spiny Eels) from West Africa, though I'm not even sure of the genus yet, let alone the species. Regardless, it is quite active so far and looks pretty good.

-Joe

fishyrican · 10-30-2005, 10:27 AM

Nice find! How long is it?

Fruitbat · 10-30-2005, 11:13 AM

fishyrican....

This one is a youngster....only about 9 inches long....but it will grow to a maximum size somewhere in the neighborhood of 36 inches (depending on species).

-Joe

Psyhampster · 10-30-2005, 11:55 AM

nice find!

BrianNY · 10-31-2005, 07:55 AM

Great looking fish Joe. Do they dig in the gravel?

**Fluff** · 10-31-2005, 12:20 PM

He's awesome. Congrats.

Fruitbat · 10-31-2005, 05:52 PM

Thanks for all the comments.

BrianNY....yes....they do dig in the gravel, just like their Asian counterparts. The gravel in this temporary grow-out tank is a bit too big for the eel to burrow into so it has taken up residence beneath the driftwood you can see behind it in the picture. It sits in there with its head sticking out like a Moray Eel. I has already eaten the two feeder guppies that were still surviving in that tank from when I had my African Featherfin Knife in the tank (he's now in a 100 gallon).

I'm going to try him out with frozen bloodworms tonight. I saw him eat some at the [acronym:699a5a902a="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:699a5a902a] so I'm hoping he'll keep up the good behavior.

-Joe

10-30-2005, 01:44 AM	#1
Fruitbat Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Garland,Texas Posts: 1,818 Images: 30	West African Spiny Eel I just picked up this little fellow at my favorite [acronym:14274353d4="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:14274353d4]. It is one of the Mastacembelid 'Eels' (Spiny Eels) from West Africa, though I'm not even sure of the genus yet, let alone the species. Regardless, it is quite active so far and looks pretty good. -Joe __________________ Loaches: Botia almorhae, B. kubotai, B. striata, Noemacheilus triangularis, Schistura sp.aff.nicholsi, S. vinciguerre, Sinibotia robusta, Vaillantella maassi Bichirs: Polypterus senegalus, P. senegalus (albino), P. delhezi, P. sp. 'Congo', P. palmas polli, P.weeksii, P. ornatipinnis, P. palmas buettikoferi, P. retropinnis, P. endlicheri congicus, Polypterus bichir lapradei, P. palmas palmas, Erpetoichthys calabaricus Anabantids: Ctenopoma acutirostre, Ct. ocellatum, Ct. oxyrhynchum, Ct. kingsleyae, Microctenopoma ansorgii, Mct. fasciolatum, Trichogaster trichopterus, Belontia signata, B. hasselti, Anabas testudineus, Macropodus opercularis, Betta splendens Catfish: Dekeyseria sp. (L-052)Sturiosoma panamense, Hypancistrus inspector (L-201), Synodontis eupterus, Synodontis nigrita, Synodontis brichardi, Synodontis soloni, Anaspidoglanis macrostoma Barbs/Rasboras: Capoeta tetrazona, Rasbora borapetensis, Labeo cyclorhynchus Tetras: Phenacogrammus interruptus Other: Xenomystus nigri, Papyrocranus afer, Pantodon buchholzi, Oxymormyrus boulengeri, Protopterus annectens andPhractolaemus ansorgei

10-30-2005, 10:27 AM	#2
fishyrican Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 642	Nice find! How long is it? __________________ Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it. -Pericles Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of Liberty -JFK

10-30-2005, 11:13 AM	#3
Fruitbat Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Garland,Texas Posts: 1,818 Images: 30	fishyrican.... This one is a youngster....only about 9 inches long....but it will grow to a maximum size somewhere in the neighborhood of 36 inches (depending on species). -Joe __________________ Loaches: Botia almorhae, B. kubotai, B. striata, Noemacheilus triangularis, Schistura sp.aff.nicholsi, S. vinciguerre, Sinibotia robusta, Vaillantella maassi Bichirs: Polypterus senegalus, P. senegalus (albino), P. delhezi, P. sp. 'Congo', P. palmas polli, P.weeksii, P. ornatipinnis, P. palmas buettikoferi, P. retropinnis, P. endlicheri congicus, Polypterus bichir lapradei, P. palmas palmas, Erpetoichthys calabaricus Anabantids: Ctenopoma acutirostre, Ct. ocellatum, Ct. oxyrhynchum, Ct. kingsleyae, Microctenopoma ansorgii, Mct. fasciolatum, Trichogaster trichopterus, Belontia signata, B. hasselti, Anabas testudineus, Macropodus opercularis, Betta splendens Catfish: Dekeyseria sp. (L-052)Sturiosoma panamense, Hypancistrus inspector (L-201), Synodontis eupterus, Synodontis nigrita, Synodontis brichardi, Synodontis soloni, Anaspidoglanis macrostoma Barbs/Rasboras: Capoeta tetrazona, Rasbora borapetensis, Labeo cyclorhynchus Tetras: Phenacogrammus interruptus Other: Xenomystus nigri, Papyrocranus afer, Pantodon buchholzi, Oxymormyrus boulengeri, Protopterus annectens andPhractolaemus ansorgei

10-30-2005, 11:55 AM	#4
Psyhampster Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 1,030 Images: 4	nice find! __________________ Ryan http://www.aquarank.com/images/users/1.gif Vote For Us! 20 [acronym:b4a16a1148="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:b4a16a1148] [acronym:b4a16a1148="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:b4a16a1148] ---------- 2 Flame Blue Platies, 2 Micky Mouse Platies, 2 Flame Gold Platies, 1 German Blue Ram, 2 Yo-Yo Loaches 30 [acronym:b4a16a1148="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:b4a16a1148] [acronym:b4a16a1148="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:b4a16a1148] -------- 1 Marble Hatchet, 5 Silver Hatchets, 6 Zebra Danios, 2 Dwarf Gouramis, 2 Fancy Guppies, 1 Yo-Yo Loach

10-31-2005, 12:20 PM	#6
Fluff The Keeper Community Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: West Virginia Posts: 10,142 Images: 29	He's awesome. Congrats. __________________ ~Cindy

10-31-2005, 07:55 AM	#5
BrianNY Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 4,259 Images: 18	Great looking fish Joe. Do they dig in the gravel?

10-31-2005, 05:52 PM	#7
Fruitbat Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Garland,Texas Posts: 1,818 Images: 30	Thanks for all the comments. BrianNY....yes....they do dig in the gravel, just like their Asian counterparts. The gravel in this temporary grow-out tank is a bit too big for the eel to burrow into so it has taken up residence beneath the driftwood you can see behind it in the picture. It sits in there with its head sticking out like a Moray Eel. I has already eaten the two feeder guppies that were still surviving in that tank from when I had my African Featherfin Knife in the tank (he's now in a 100 gallon). I'm going to try him out with frozen bloodworms tonight. I saw him eat some at the [acronym:699a5a902a="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:699a5a902a] so I'm hoping he'll keep up the good behavior. -Joe __________________ Loaches: Botia almorhae, B. kubotai, B. striata, Noemacheilus triangularis, Schistura sp.aff.nicholsi, S. vinciguerre, Sinibotia robusta, Vaillantella maassi Bichirs: Polypterus senegalus, P. senegalus (albino), P. delhezi, P. sp. 'Congo', P. palmas polli, P.weeksii, P. ornatipinnis, P. palmas buettikoferi, P. retropinnis, P. endlicheri congicus, Polypterus bichir lapradei, P. palmas palmas, Erpetoichthys calabaricus Anabantids: Ctenopoma acutirostre, Ct. ocellatum, Ct. oxyrhynchum, Ct. kingsleyae, Microctenopoma ansorgii, Mct. fasciolatum, Trichogaster trichopterus, Belontia signata, B. hasselti, Anabas testudineus, Macropodus opercularis, Betta splendens Catfish: Dekeyseria sp. (L-052)Sturiosoma panamense, Hypancistrus inspector (L-201), Synodontis eupterus, Synodontis nigrita, Synodontis brichardi, Synodontis soloni, Anaspidoglanis macrostoma Barbs/Rasboras: Capoeta tetrazona, Rasbora borapetensis, Labeo cyclorhynchus Tetras: Phenacogrammus interruptus Other: Xenomystus nigri, Papyrocranus afer, Pantodon buchholzi, Oxymormyrus boulengeri, Protopterus annectens andPhractolaemus ansorgei

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