CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

hey guys.......today at the LFS when i was re-stocking my community tank with various tetras, i noticed a spiny eel, it was so pretty and intresting i just had to have him.

since i am more of a cichlid guy i was wondering if you guys could give me some general information about them, any special care i should take to ensure it's survival?

thanks guys.

Spiny Eel
Scientific Name:Mastacembelus erythrotaenia
Location:South Asia
Size:30"
pH:6.0-7.5
Temerature:72-80F
Diet:Carnivorous: Worms
Temperament:Very aggressive should only be kept with larger fish.
Note:This fish is nocturnal and burrows under the gravel.


------------------
Brian

Need Some info about a fish? Go here http://www.worldcichlids.com/fishprofiles/profilemenu3.html

[This message has been edited by cichfreak (edited 07-20-2002).]

yeah cichfreak is right there... you probably wont ever even see the little guy, they burrow under like the good old coolie loach. i dare say you'll only see him when you vaccuum your gravel.


hey good to see another aussie... where abouts are you from?

[This message has been edited by v_isa (edited 07-20-2002).]

i'm from sydney......you?

actually i am quiet surprised you said that, my spiny eel has been in my tank for a good 3 days now and has settled in very well, he doesnt burrow in the gravel at all! i have a few caves for him and he loves it, and at night even when the lights are on he come out occasionally to swim, when i see him up close he usually doesnt swim away, but he is only scared when there are sudden noises like glass lids or something.

but i havent seen him eating, are these guys occasional eaters? i only feed my fish flakes will they feed the off the flakes alright? or do i need some bloodworms or something? but dont bloodworms carry disease?

I used to have one and he only ever ate frozen bloodworms.A lot of times he ate from my hands. Mine used to burrow a lot and sometimes I didnt see him for days.

------------------
TONY
Australian and proud of it!!
My Cichlidfish.com Home page
No Feeder Nazi
worldcichlids.com

yes , I'm from sydney too by coincidence... i guess all fish have their standard behaviours, and there are those who break the mould! The info i was relying on was not of my own experience, but from what some one told me, and how they had difficulty relocating their tank when they moved house because the spiny eels had burrowed in and he couldn't find them! He said he hardly ever saw them in general. But I guess each fish has a mind of it's own.

------------------
No fish on my dish! no pork on my fork!

You might want to try to feed him something that sinks so that he can eat it without swimming to the top. And no, bloodworms dont carry diseases. I feed my pacu, and oscars bloodworms and they dont get sick at all. They love it though.

interestingly, I've heard that LIVE blood worms can carry diseases that effect humans, i have read that they used to be collected from sewer outlets, as they are the larvae of midge flies and used to breed there. and that if you get any fever or anything after handling, you should go to the doctor! I think these days they are bred in farms. I also had a discussion with a customer once,who said that some bacteria can survive the freezing process too, but i told her if she's that worried about it, she shouldn't use them, use freeze dried ones instead and stop being so mysophobic!

------------------
No fish on my dish! no pork on my fork! my little white teeth don't chew no beef! (we are friendly animals, don't eat us!)



[This message has been edited by v_isa (edited 07-31-2002).]

Originally posted by v_isa:
interestingly, I've heard that LIVE blood worms can carry diseases that effect humans, i have read that they used to be collected from sewer outlets, as they are the larvae of midge flies and used to breed there. and that if you get any fever or anything after handling, you should go to the doctor! I think these days they are bred in farms. I also had a discussion with a customer once,who said that some bacteria can survive the freezing process too, but i told her if she's that worried about it, she shouldn't use them, use freeze dried ones instead and stop being so mysophobic!

What fish shop do you work at in sydney i am from wollongong by the way

I dont use real live bloodworms. I use dry/dead bloodworms. And Im still living