Recommend an eel-shaped oddball for my tank?

C

Cksnffr

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Aug 5, 2013
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Tank is a 55-gallon freshwater with sand substrate. Occupants are cory cats, mid-size cats, parrot cichlid, and small schooling fish.

Many of the "eels" (actually true fish) I've looked at are too large for my tank (fire eel) or require some salt (dragon goby, which I really liked). Right now the only option I know of is a kuhli loach, but they're pretty common, kind of small, and happiest in groups. Ideally my new addition would be a loner or maybe a pair.
 
I do like those guys--but I thought they needed to be in groups. Maybe not? That would be cool.
 
What's your substrate? Most of the spiny eel family would work size-wise (15 inches is about standard, but with an eel the tank dimensions aren't as much of a concern), but they all like to bury themselves so need a suitable substrate.
 
The tiretrack might be a good fit. They're slow growing--mine was about 4-5 inches when I got him, and only up to 7 inches before I broke down the tank and sold everything to move a year or so later. Yes, lots of places say mildly brackish, but mine was always healthy and active in FW. Make sure the tank will be tightly covered, as well, since eels are well known escape artists. They'll eat most anything they can fit in their mouths, but since it's a small mouth compared to the fish, that's usually not a problem. I fed chopped raw shrimp and earthworms.
 
Wow--I always thought the tire track eels needed some salt. If not, we might have a winner....
 
Mine was in FW when I purchased it and stayed that way. Fire eels do better in brackish, but the peacock eel and the Macrognathus siamensis is truly a freshwater animal to the best of my knowledge. Mastacembelus Armatus, the zig zag /tire track eel can be found in either, but thrives in freshwater. Neither species gets to be as big as the fire eel, either.
 
Most fish will eat smaller fish if they'll fit in the mouth. Those narrow but long bodied fish typically don't have big mouths.
 
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