Fire Eel (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia) Care Guide

The largest freshwater spiny eel, reaching over 60cm with striking red-orange lateral markings on a dark body.

Overview

Mastacembelus erythrotaenia is a species in the family Mastacembelidae. The largest freshwater spiny eel, reaching over 60cm with striking red-orange lateral markings on a dark body. Despite its size, it can be surprisingly docile once acclimated and may learn to hand-feed. A powerful burrower that requires deep sand substrate.

Taxonomy

Family: Mastacembelidae
Genus: Mastacembelus
Scientific name: Mastacembelus erythrotaenia
Origin: Southeast Asia

Habitat

Mastacembelus erythrotaenia is a large spiny eel from rivers and floodplains of Southeast Asia, marked with bright red lateral stripes. Nocturnal and burrowing, it requires a deep soft substrate and feeds on worms, crustaceans and small fish.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 500 L
Temperature: 24-28 °C
pH: 6.5-7.5
GH: 5-15 °dGH
Water flow: moderate
Adult size: 40-60 cm
Lifespan: 10-20 years
Difficulty: advanced

Diet

Classified as carnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 1x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.

Compatibility

Temperament: semi-aggressive
Position in tank: bottom
Compatible tank mates: Bichir, Large Cichlids, Arowana, Clown Loach
Avoid with: Small Fish, Shrimp, Other Eels

Breeding

Breeding strategy: egg-layer
Breeding difficulty: advanced