Fire Eel. Urgent Question.

[sezra]

I have just found someone who is giving their foot long fire eel away for free. After chatting to them, they are re-locating and dont have the means to take him with them. I have kept a fire fire eel in the past (not this size though) so I know how to look after them. Im just wondering what the minimum amount of space a fish this size would need.
 
I would love to take this fish off their hands, but wouldnt do so if my tank is too small. The tank I have set up right now is 24"x15"x15 which gives it a volume of 23.4 US gallons or 90.9 litres.
 

 

[techen]

Upon looking at google, You may just get away with it in a 90L if it were smaller. But a foot long is huge for a fish and I'd keep that in something like a 300-400L tank.

 

[sezra]

would it be cruel to house him in my tank temporarily? It seems a shame to let him go as these are amazing fish!

 

[techen]

I would say so, A 90L tank is borderline coming out of nano sizes.
 
Most people that home fish and admit they'd get a bigger tank soon never do, So I can't stop ya
 
I would however get him a big tank, It's no small fish.

 

[Brahmza]

Is he giving the eel away? Not sure how your LFS works trade ins, but a fire eel at that size could bring a nice trade in, pretty much giving you a free stocking for your 90L tank. Just an option. For temporary housing, I'd say at least a 200L would be adequate. Eels are notorious for killing themselves in housing changes, especially going to such a small tank. My brother re-homed his 13" tire track eel from a 75G to a 90G and throughout the day it bashed itself to death against the walls of the tank, even with the larger space for him. I'd be very careful if you decide to take him in.

 

[MBOU]

Personally I wouldn't, certainly he couldn't stay in there more than a few months...
 
Fire eels get HUGE.... easily they will hit the 2.5 -3ft mark... and being such temperamental and delicate fish in terms I wouldn't be putting an eel that's a foot long in a tank that is only 2ft long and barely 3" wider than the eel is long... wouldn't take long to grow either..