Paddle Tail Eel

[grech]

hey one of my lfs has a very slender eel identified by them as a paddle tail eel

right now theyre around 5 inches long and look like normal elvers

do any of you know if these would do well in my low end brackish with knight gobies and young archers?

the eel is very similar to this one..

http/www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Oddball,%2...ican%20Eels.htm

 

[nmonks]

Two things spring to mind: spaghetti eels and true eels.

True eels (Anguilla spp.) should be avoided at all costs. They are destructive, big, predatory, difficult to keep inside a tank, and ultimately need conditions home aquarists cannot provide. They're hardy, yes, but otherwise of no particular interest.

Spaghetti eels are typically Moringua raitaborua, a member of the family Moringuidae and essentially a dwarf moray eel in shape. They are very slender, quite small, social, nocturnal, and feed on insect larvae mostly. They make good aquarium fish, though they are shy. Moringua raitaborua at least does well in low- to mid-salinity brackish water tanks with a sandy substrate for burrowing. Keep in groups, and feed things like bloodworms. Not common in the trade, but definitely worth snapping up if you see some.

How to tell them apart? Spaghetti eels lack pectoral fins; true eels have well developed pectoral fins. Spaghetti eels also have a wide, puffy-looking gill chamber at the throat, similar to that of a moray; true eels don't have this chamber, and the throat is similar looking to the rest of the trunk. Finally, spaghetti eels have weakly developed dorsal, anal, and tail fins, giving them a very worm-like appearance; true eels have well developed anal, dorsal, and tail fins and an overall powerful, stocky build.

Cheers, Neale

 

[grech]

thanks for the info

the eels are definitel spaghetti eels and i got one. will let you know how it goes

it was quite cheap too, bout 2 sterling

 

[nmonks]

If they're cheap: get a bunch. Trust me, these eels are VERY shy. Days will go by between sightings. But, just as with kuhli loaches, the more you have, the more at-ease they feel.

In common with other eels, these fish are escape artists. Plan around that, and make sure the tank is complete secure. I'd be aiming for around SG 1.005 as far as salinity goes. Use a silica sand substrate (smooth, not sharp).

Cheers, Neale