Fire Eel

[Talaat]

hello, i need you're help please, i have a fire eel a week ago and now i feel that she is sick, some time she turn on her back with open and close mouth + face on the corner and she don't move.. is that normal !?

i have for her a pipe so she can hide
i feed her Earthworms once in a day or day after day
she is around 15 cm
my tank 68 liter

please help i don't want her to die

Thank you

 

[sadguppy]

What are your tank water stats, ie ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, how long has it been up running, how often do you change water & how much, and what else do you have in there?

BTW, without coming across as patronising, you are aware that your tank is far, far too small for this kind of fish? We're talking a three foot fish potentially and the suggested minimum tank size is almost 200gallons, that's around 800 litres. Minimum! I hope you have plans to substantially upgrade and soon. He will unfortunately not do well in a tank as small as yours.

 

[Talaat]

hey sadguppy, actually its a new hobby, i dont know that much about ie ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, about water change every month a week less or more, what i got in the tank is 3 catfish, 2 angel, 1 Bala Shark, 1 crayfish with 2 apple snails, i had a sand with little stone + filter with air pump, some real planet, plastic planet and pipe.

about the size i got a plan for upgrade to 1600 litters it gonna be arrived in a few days.

Thank you sadguppy.

 

[DanTheFishMan11]

pl say your not kidding about thee upgrade because the fish need a HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE tank

 

[Talaat]

actually no im just waiting the tank to be arrived in a week hope she still be with me
is the 1600 litters good for her ?!

she can handle a week ya guys 400 gallons enough ya

 

[Talaat]

also if u can help me with the 1600 litters requirements what is best for her and what should i do about the filters and the water..... plz guys im new in aquarium things so need back up

 

[sadguppy]

If its a new hobby and you have not cycled the filter then at the moment there is no bacteria established converting their waste and they will be swimming round in sewage which will kill them quickly if not handled correctly.

Do huge (90%!) water changes at least once a day for around six weeks and buy a water testing kit so you can tell when the bacteria has established and you can switch to weekly changes.

Everything you need to know about fish in cycling and upgrading is pinned at the top of this page.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

With respect is this a wind up? 68L >>>1600L? tank

 

[simonas]

With respect is this a wind up? 68L >>>1600L? tank

id say so!!!

 

[sadguppy]

Still, no response from OP. I'd say the whole thing has got to be a wind up. Who is dumb enough to put a fire eel in a 20g?

 

[GoldMedalRibbon]

I'd take the advice given here. Get that new tank and have it cycled and set up BEFORE adding the fish to it.
Invest in a water testing kit.. it's not that expensive and it saves you a ton of money in the long run.

I have a fire eel myself and I absolutely adore her! I have no clue how big she is .. never measured her but now I am curious!

I'll have to find a measuring tape. She's getting close to 3 years old and quite a big girl. I have a 100 gallon tank for her and she shares it with 1 Oscar and 1 Bluegill. They all get along very well.

Initially I was scared that she would eat them or they would pick on her but it never happened. No torn fins, no gashes or chunks taken out of each other.. nothing. They've been living together for almost a year now.