dinosaur eel info

mtiller,

I'm not familiar with "dinasaur eel" as a common name. Could it be the violet goby (from marshes in your area and South), or a Polypterus / Erpetoichthys species (a.k.a. Bichir / Ropefish)?

"Google" the name, that often helps me find a common name. In fact I believe that led me here at one time.
 
OK, I avoid the chain stores whenever possible. I've yet to see one that didn't disgust me. In my experience the fish are at best fair and much of the staff is, well, not as good as the fish. Though Walmart must have the highest mortality rate or at least the least concerned about removing their victims. I walked out of one after watching an associate bag a knight goby and neons together for a Mom that had admitted she knew nothing of fish.
 
POLYTERUS SENEGALUS (Dinosaur Eel)

I bought mine as a mercy purchase at Wal-Mart for $4. This creature will keep you enthralled. Once you get past the rather bland, tan coloring, you will be riveted by its mannerisms. The fish uses its pectorals for arm bars to move over rock and gravel. It has hunter's eyes, and while their vision is poor, watching them prowl for bloodworms is cool. The move back and forth using the pecs. Their dinosaurish sail, which runs the length of its back and appears to, be more ornamental than anything, is a throwback to prehistory and surely the reason the creature got its commercial name.

The eel opens its mouth, exhibiting a forked jawbone and revealing the inside of its mouth from beneath the jawline! Very neat.

I feed mine bloodworms. He lives happily with a clutch of pimelodus pictus cats and rainbow sharks, and a common pleco. While an aggressive eater, have not seen hostility toward tank mates
 
I have 2 senegal birchirs, they are almost as entertaining as the clown loaches.

Here are some links. I also post a list of possible tankmates as given to me by BeBlondie.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0409&view_records=1

http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/keeping_polypterus.htm

http://polypterus.info/

http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/breeding/Gallo_Senegal_Bichir.html

http://aquaticpredators.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18771 ( this one is actually another forum, the thread is by BeBlondie) best info yet

other forums:
MonsterFishkeepers.com (our sponsor)
aquaticpredators (shown above)

List of possible tankmates: (via BeBlondie)

CATFISH
Dusky Pimelodid-Pimelodus blochii
Giraffe Catfish-Auchenoglanis occidentalis
Dwarf giraffe Catfish-Parauchenoglanis macrostoma
Giant Whiptail Catfish-Sturisoma aureum
Synodontis alberti
Synodontis angelicus
Synodontis pleurops
Synodontis decorus
Synodontis eupterus
Synodontis notatus
Synodontis brichardi
Synodontis nigrita
Synodontis flavitaeniata
Synodontis soloni
Liver Catfish-Heteropneustes fossilis
Black Lancer-Bagrichthys hypselopterus
PLECOS
Bristlenose-Ancistrus dolichopterus
CHARACINS
Silver dollar-Metynnis argenteus
Distichodus notospilus-Distichodus notospilus
Congo tetra-Phenacogrammus interruptus
Black-Barred Myleus-Myleus schomburgki
Filament tetra-Bryconaethiop microstoma
EELS
Peacock Eel- Macrognathus aculeatus
CICHLIDS *(see note)
Lifalili Jewel Cichlid- Hemichromis lifalili
Dicus-Symphysodon discus
Angelfish-Pterophyllum ssp.
Two-Spot Cichlid-Cichlasoma bimaculatum
Tilapia joka-Tilapia joka
Oscar-Astronotus ocellatus
Severum-Cichlasoma severum
Kribensis- Pelvicachromis pulcher
Sparkling Earth Eater-Satanoperca acuticeps
Blue acara-Aequidens pulchrus
Balzani's Earth Eater-Gymnogeophagus balzanii
Blood Parrot Cichlid-Hybrid no scientifc name
Blue-Eye Cichlid-Cichlasoma spilurum
Festivum-Mesonauta festivus
African Peacock Cichlid-Aulonocara nyassae
Balzani's Earth Eater-Gymnogeophagus balzanii
Bandit Cichlid-Aequidens geayi
Blockhead Cichlid-Steatocranus casuarius
Callolepis Cichlid-Cichlasoma callolepis
Freiberg's Peacock Cichlid-Aulonocara jacobfreibergi
Keyhole Cichlid-Cleithracara maronii
Port Acara-Aequidens portalegrensis
Uaru- Uaru amphicanthiodes
LABYRINTH FISHES
Ctenopoma .acutirostre-Ctenopoma .acutirostre
Ctenopoma oxyrhynchus-Ctenopoma oxyrhynchus
Ctenopoma kingsleyae-Ctenopoma kingsleyae
CYPRINIDS
Variegated Shark-Labeo variegatus
Bala Shark-Balantiocheilos melanopterus
Red-Finned Cigar Shark-Leptobarbus hoevenii
Red-linned torpedo barb-Puntius denisonii
Tinfoil Barb-Barbodes schwanefeldii
Chinese Algae Eater-Gyrinocheilus aymonieri
Clown Loach-Botia macracantha
MISC.
African mudfish-Phractolaemus ansorgei
Black Ghost Knifefish -Apteronotus albifrons
Elephantnose-Gnathonemus petersii
African butterfly-Pantondon bucholzi
African Knifefish-Xenomystus nigri
(*note :to avoid agression do not have breeding pairs )
 
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