Peacock Eel (Macrognathus siamensis) Care Guide

A peaceful, slender eel-like fish with beautiful eye-spots along its dorsal fin. Loves to burrow in sand substrate with only its head visible.

Overview

Macrognathus siamensis is a species in the family Mastacembelidae. A peaceful, slender eel-like fish with beautiful eye-spots along its dorsal fin. Loves to burrow in sand substrate with only its head visible. Nocturnal and shy, it needs hiding places and a sandy bottom. An excellent escape artist — a tight lid is essential.

Taxonomy

Family: Mastacembelidae
Genus: Macrognathus
Scientific name: Macrognathus siamensis
Other names: Spot-Finned Spiny Eel
Origin: Southeast Asia

Habitat

Macrognathus siamensis is a spiny eel from slow rivers, canals and floodplains of Southeast Asia. It burrows in soft substrate by day, leaving the snout exposed, and emerges at night to feed on worms, insect larvae and small invertebrates.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 150 L
Temperature: 23-28 °C
pH: 6.5-7.5
GH: 5-15 °dGH
Water flow: low
Adult size: 20-30 cm
Lifespan: 8-12 years
Difficulty: intermediate

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: peaceful
Position in tank: bottom
Compatible tank mates: Angelfish, Corydoras, Large Tetras, Gouramis
Avoid with: Small Fish, Aggressive Bottom Dwellers

Breeding

Breeding strategy: egg-layer
Breeding difficulty: advanced