Fire Eel (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia) Care Guide
The largest freshwater spiny eel, reaching over 60cm with striking red-orange lateral markings on a dark body.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
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
Fire Eel Breeding Guide
Overview
Mastacembelus erythrotaenia is the largest of the freshwater spiny eels. It is an egg-laying species, but according to Seriously Fish it has been bred in the aquarium only occasionally and these spawnings have been accidental, so there is no established breeding protocol for home aquarists.
Sexing
The only documented reproductive indicator is body condition: the female is fuller-bodied when in breeding condition. No other reliable external sexing characteristic is recorded.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
No spawning behaviour, egg-deposition site or specific trigger is documented for this species. The occasional aquarium spawnings noted in the literature were accidental, so no reproducible courtship or spawning sequence can be described.