These websites that you are using to look up your aquarium information are shaky at best. Look at how bogus this site looks:
http://www.thehomeaquarium.com/peacock-eel/
It tells you the size is 12 inches, but the minimum tank size is 20 gallons. Does that make sense? A fish that is 12" can barely turn around in a 24" tank.
Another site I wouldn't really call an authority:
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/mix/peacockeels.php
"A small Peacock eel needs to be housed in an aquarium that is at least 61 centimeters long (24 inches) and has a volume of 75 liters (20 gallons). If your Peacock eel grows larger, you must move it to a bigger aquarium."
IF it grows larger? Does the author think that fish only grow to the size of their tank?
Here is another janky site. Would you trust a site that looked like that? I wouldn't:
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fres...PeacockEel.php
"Small specimens can be kept in a tank that is about 24 inches long and about 20 gallons. Larger specimens will need a bigger area, tanks that are 36 inches in length and about 35 gallons and up will suit an adult. Provide a tight fitting lid as spiny eels are escape artists. These fish respond poorly to copper based medications, so these should be avoided."
It's not that bad, but the only 36" tank I would recommend would be a 40 breeder because the depth makes up for the lack of floor space.
So what to do? Look for a reliable profile site, like Seriously Fish, which unfortunately is down right now due to a hacking attempt. However the cached view is available:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...nia%26id%3D446
Maximum Standard Length: 36" (100cm)
Minimum Tank Size: 48" x 24" x 24" (120cm x 60cm x 60cm) 500 litres. (Can be kept in smaller tank when juvenile)
Mongabay.com is another good source of information, it says the same thing basically. 20 gallons is only fine as a juvenile, 3"-5": http://fish.mongabay.com/mastacembelidae.htm
You asked us to review your setup. We are all saying the same thing. So if you didn't want to know (or rather, confirm what I suspect you already knew) then why did you ask? If you had said, "The eel is just for now while it's small, I'm going to be putting it in a ____ (40 breeder, 55, 75...?) when it gets bigger" that would be an entirely different story. Instead, you're getting defensive and saying that all the websites say 20 gallons is fine. (Yeah, all the bad ones!) The good websites say it is only ok while they are still small. Beyond about 5", it is necessary to upgrade, and I'd say even sooner than that.
http://www.thehomeaquarium.com/peacock-eel/
It tells you the size is 12 inches, but the minimum tank size is 20 gallons. Does that make sense? A fish that is 12" can barely turn around in a 24" tank.
Another site I wouldn't really call an authority:
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/mix/peacockeels.php
"A small Peacock eel needs to be housed in an aquarium that is at least 61 centimeters long (24 inches) and has a volume of 75 liters (20 gallons). If your Peacock eel grows larger, you must move it to a bigger aquarium."
IF it grows larger? Does the author think that fish only grow to the size of their tank?
Here is another janky site. Would you trust a site that looked like that? I wouldn't:
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fres...PeacockEel.php
"Small specimens can be kept in a tank that is about 24 inches long and about 20 gallons. Larger specimens will need a bigger area, tanks that are 36 inches in length and about 35 gallons and up will suit an adult. Provide a tight fitting lid as spiny eels are escape artists. These fish respond poorly to copper based medications, so these should be avoided."
It's not that bad, but the only 36" tank I would recommend would be a 40 breeder because the depth makes up for the lack of floor space.
So what to do? Look for a reliable profile site, like Seriously Fish, which unfortunately is down right now due to a hacking attempt. However the cached view is available:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...nia%26id%3D446
Maximum Standard Length: 36" (100cm)
Minimum Tank Size: 48" x 24" x 24" (120cm x 60cm x 60cm) 500 litres. (Can be kept in smaller tank when juvenile)
Mongabay.com is another good source of information, it says the same thing basically. 20 gallons is only fine as a juvenile, 3"-5": http://fish.mongabay.com/mastacembelidae.htm
You asked us to review your setup. We are all saying the same thing. So if you didn't want to know (or rather, confirm what I suspect you already knew) then why did you ask? If you had said, "The eel is just for now while it's small, I'm going to be putting it in a ____ (40 breeder, 55, 75...?) when it gets bigger" that would be an entirely different story. Instead, you're getting defensive and saying that all the websites say 20 gallons is fine. (Yeah, all the bad ones!) The good websites say it is only ok while they are still small. Beyond about 5", it is necessary to upgrade, and I'd say even sooner than that.
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