Tire Track Eels

[HylaChristine]

I have been keeping tire track eels for about 3 years now. I feed them large earthworms. I have one medium size, about 8-10 inches, and one large 12-14 inches. I also keep a zigzag eel with them. They are in a 55 Gallon with an african butterfly fish and one female blue gourami. This morning I woke up to find that the medium tire track is very bloated looking in the stomach region. The other two "eels" are fine and the water parameters are fine. Also I have done nothing new. Does anyone have any ideas as to what is wrong and how to fix it? I only got some pictures of the medium poking out of a ceramic piece, I will try to load those in just a minute.
Thanks
Hyla

 

[HylaChristine]

 

[Toirtis]

My first guess is that bloaty there stole more than his share last feeding and is distended from the effort....any reason to think otherwise?

 

[kody1192]

seperate the eels asap!!!! as adults they should not be housed together. 2 of the same species that is... my eel is always really fat i couldnt really tell if it was a problem tho from the photos...

 

[HylaChristine]

First of all, thank you for the replies, the medium guy is fine now, so he/she probably ate too much

Secondly, unless you show research that they can not be housed together, I will not seperate them. They are a very peaceful species and these three have been together for years with no problems. Also when reading up on them , everyone seems to keep more than one together.


Again, I am not trying to be rude, thank you for the responses. IMO you should not tell someone directly what they should do NOW, unless you have something to back that up.

My eels are also very fat, but she/he had a bulge behind her head this morning.

Hyla

 

[Hurley]

I have never heard that they shouldn't be housed together. They are a very passive fish. I keep three eels together and they love each others company, often sharing hiding places. Please post where you read this? I have seen several housed together without problems.

 

[HylaChristine]

I have never heard that they shouldn't be housed together. They are a very passive fish. I keep three eels together and they love each others company, often sharing hiding places. Please post where you read this? I have seen several housed together without problems.

Thank you, I thought maybe as a newbie here I might be offending someone. I am glad you agree with me.
Hyla

 

[Toirtis]

seperate the eels asap!!!! as adults they should not be housed together. 2 of the same species that is... .

Odd, mine have always been just fine....

 

[kody1192]

ok here you go...i could go to a lot more websites and get the same thing just dont feel like it lol
"Only smaller juveniles will tolerate each other, they should be kept singly as they mature." and no i didnt write that...lol
just wait tell they are full grown and fighting over territory they will kill eachother actually now that i look that is more based on fire eel for tire track eel says it will tolerate other eels(dosnt say of same species so not 100% sure) and if your gonna keep them together i would suggest something bigget than 75gal like a 120 or so since they will hit and most likely exceed 2 feet with proper care,housing, and diet

 

[Toirtis]

Still...I have 2 fully mature tyretracks together, and they get along swimmingly....as do a number of my other spinys. I suspect that persons suggesting otherwise had either 2 males or too small a tank.