Can I Keep 2 Fire Eels Together?

[giant19000]

if they are babies and were in the same tank and the same size?and they always slept together or hid together ? even though theres alot of places to hide?and if 1 goes to eat the other follows behind him/her? and they are always together???

 

[nmonks]

Juveniles of most fish are non-territorial because they don't need to exhibit any broodcare behaviour or compete for mates. Furthermore, sensitive fish like spiny eels will be scared when kept in retailers' tanks, so their behaviour is abnormal anyway. So don't read too much into what you're seeing in the pet store.

Fire eels have been kept in groups, but only in public aquaria with volumes measured in the thousands of gallons. For all practical purposes treat them as territorial, aggressive fish best kept alone. If you want to keep spiny eels in groups, look at the genus Macrognathus instead; on the whole these are much more easy-going.

Cheers, Neale

if they are babies and were in the same tank and the same size?and they always slept together or hid together ? even though theres alot of places to hide?and if 1 goes to eat the other follows behind him/her? and they are always together???

 

[giant19000]

its not ata fishstore my wife bought me 2 baby fire eels when my 12inch died..im saying they have alot of hiding places and they always follow eachother??they sleep together and everything??you think it will be ok for them?

Juveniles of most fish are non-territorial because they don't need to exhibit any broodcare behaviour or compete for mates. Furthermore, sensitive fish like spiny eels will be scared when kept in retailers' tanks, so their behaviour is abnormal anyway. So don't read too much into what you're seeing in the pet store.

Fire eels have been kept in groups, but only in public aquaria with volumes measured in the thousands of gallons. For all practical purposes treat them as territorial, aggressive fish best kept alone. If you want to keep spiny eels in groups, look at the genus Macrognathus instead; on the whole these are much more easy-going.

Cheers, Neale

if they are babies and were in the same tank and the same size?and they always slept together or hid together ? even though theres alot of places to hide?and if 1 goes to eat the other follows behind him/her? and they are always together???

 

[nmonks]

Please read my message again. Then read your question again.

Cheers, Neale

 

[simonas]

maybe not a direct answer from me but an example of an experience I had with a fire eel and a tyre track that were both about 14 inch long
The fire eel after a few months just took an exception to the tyre track being there and hounded him in a particularly nasty way. I had to remove the tyre track or he would have been killed.

The fire eel displayed a nastyness I didn;t know they were capable of so I would not advocate having two fire eels together