Fishician®Diet
Carnivore – earthworms, bloodworms, shrimp, small fish, pellets (trained)
Aquarium species profile
Fire Eel
Mastacembelus erythrotaenia · Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia)
Minimum tank75 gal
Adult size36"
Care levelIntermediate
TemperamentSemi-aggressive
Temperature75–82°F
pH range6.0–7.5
Compatible tank mates
Large peaceful fish (too large to be eaten), large barbs, larger gouramis
Tank mates to avoid
Small fish (will eat), invertebrates (will eat), aggressive fish
Care notes
Spectacular red-and-black patterned spiny eel — reaches 3 feet. Excellent escape artist; lid must be completely sealed. Buries in sand; fine substrate essential. Not a true eel. Can be trained to hand-feed.
Check the whole aquarium. Tank size alone does not establish compatibility. Confirm adult size, water overlap, social grouping, territory, diet, and the individual animals before stocking.