Eels experience anyone?

Discussion in 'Oddball fish' started by Ursula, Mar 6, 2020.

  1. Ursula

    Ursula

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2014
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    1
    Hi all Does anyone here have experience with "fresh Water" eels?
    I have inherited a tank with one in it and he is a awesome guy I would like to know a little more about them and their requirements. mainly about feeding and water salinity?

    I am feeding him a mix of blood worms and brine and at the moment he is in fresh water

    His history:
    He was bought about 5-6 years ago and is about 45 cm long about as thick as my finger? Light brown, no markings. nocturnal -very active. seems to rely on sent to find food.
    I have a video of him and I will try to post it now as well
     
  2. Guest




  3. Hendre

    Hendre Polypterus freak

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2016
    Messages:
    3,669
    Likes Received:
    1,729
    Location:
    Cape town
    Photos or a video would be super helpful since there are many groups of eels with different needs
     
  4. OP
    Ursula

    Ursula

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2014
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    1
    [​IMG]

    The video is too large and in wrong formats sorry but i have tried to take screen shots

    Question could this guy be a rope fish??

     
  5. Kiaan26

    Kiaan26

    Joined:
    May 16, 2019
    Messages:
    413
    Likes Received:
    366
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    Looks like a tulip eel. They are really good at escaping.
     
  6. Saibot

    Saibot

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2019
    Messages:
    579
    Likes Received:
    248
    Location:
    GP
    Wow that is cool. I need an eel!
     
  7. WernerP

    WernerP

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2017
    Messages:
    181
    Likes Received:
    89
    Location:
    Mondeor in Johannesburg, Gauteng.
    Photo isn't clear, but looks like a rope fish to me.
     
    Ursula and rsa like this.
  8. OP
    Ursula

    Ursula

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2014
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    1
    I will try get better pictures when at home the video is all I have with me

    I am thinking it maybe a rope fish as well???
    His head is more triangular and his colour very light but other then that not much difference...
     
  9. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2015
    Messages:
    8,740
    Likes Received:
    3,580
    Location:
    Klipriver, Midvaal
    That looks like a rope fish also called reed fish

    A 6 year old eel is usually much thicker, probably the thickness of your wrist

    @Reedfish....
     
  10. OP
    Ursula

    Ursula

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2014
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    1
    Thank you for your input at least now I can enjoy having him with out worrying that I am slowly killing him lol

    It was sold as an Australian mud eel? however I cant find anything like that in my google searches ....
    I was concerned that he would need to be relocated into a salt water tank at some stage (as much as I would love a marine tank I don't have the knowledge or finances to own one)
     
  11. Kiaan26

    Kiaan26

    Joined:
    May 16, 2019
    Messages:
    413
    Likes Received:
    366
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    Rope fish have a more scalely appearance and are more yellow in colour. And how it appears to be moving in the picture it looks more like a eel. [​IMG]
     
  12. OP
    Ursula

    Ursula

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2014
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    1
    It that a rope/reed fish?

    Mine doesn't look anything like that picture ?

     
  13. Kiaan26

    Kiaan26

    Joined:
    May 16, 2019
    Messages:
    413
    Likes Received:
    366
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    Are those too small fins at the front?
     
  14. OP
    Ursula

    Ursula

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2014
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    1
  15. OP
    Ursula

    Ursula

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2014
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    1
    Yes they are
    Comparing the head shapes they seem similar?
     
  16. Kiaan26

    Kiaan26

    Joined:
    May 16, 2019
    Messages:
    413
    Likes Received:
    366
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    Then it's not an eel. I didn't originally see them my bad
     
    Ursula likes this.
  17. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2011
    Messages:
    13,285
    Likes Received:
    3,700
    Location:
    UK
    Looks like one of the so called fresh water Morays to me

    I would expect a Tulip eel that size to be thicker, esp near the head, and pinker in clour
    And Reedfish have distinct dark fins near the head and dark eyes
     
    MariaS likes this.
  18. OP
    Ursula

    Ursula

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2014
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    1
  19. OP
    Ursula

    Ursula

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2014
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    1
    Here he is resting in gravel 1583507707918166128251.jpg
     
  20. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2011
    Messages:
    13,285
    Likes Received:
    3,700
    Location:
    UK
    @Ursula
    Yes, that is a so called Fresh Water Moray - Gymnothorax

    Although called fresh water, and they do enter into rivers (where they are caught) it will be much happier in brackish conditions.

    They are predatory fish - so chopped up white fish, shrimp, prawn, squid, shell fish etc are ideal
     
    ancistrus likes this.
  21. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2015
    Messages:
    8,740
    Likes Received:
    3,580
    Location:
    Klipriver, Midvaal

    Thanks @Reedfish

    Guess it could also be a moray, didnt think of that cause most of the ones i have seen have some kind of pattern or slight speckles but, havent really done lot of research on them
     

Recent Posts

Loading...
Similar Threads - Eels experience anyone Forum Date
Wanted: I require live culture food grindal and vinegar eels Wanted/Swop/Freebies Oct 16, 2022
Wanted: Vinegar Eels Wanted/Swop/Freebies Jan 10, 2022
Vinegar eels Breeding Jul 27, 2021
RSS Feed Types Of Eels: 8 Of The Best Freshwater And Saltwater Eels RSS Feeds Feb 1, 2021
Culturing Vinegar Eels General Fish Discussions May 29, 2020
New Seels for Canister filters General Equipment discussion Apr 12, 2020
RSS Feed Ultimate Care Tips For Banana Eels RSS Feeds Mar 2, 2020

Share This Page