Stocking The Tank/looking For A Fish That...

Hunterprey · Nov 27, 2011

Whats the dimensions of the 65gallon? I was thinking like 75 gallon but not as high. Depending on the dimensions you can probably add another small to medium size top dweller. Im thinking African butterfly fish, but never actually kept them. So dont know much about them.

PS My Boesemani tried to compete for food. Just kinda move a little out of the way of the Spiny Eel like they know not to mess with them. They still able to sneak up and steal lots of food :lol:

thats why I handfeed my old Spiny Eels.

creeker · Nov 27, 2011

Here's the sizes for the spiny eels. All except the two Peacock types are good eaters. The Peacocks can be tricky to feed when small, sometimes requiring live Tubifex or Blackworms at first. Small Fire Eels can be tough to feed also, but you're not considering them. Zig Zags and Tiretracks get the same size. The Zebra Spiny looks like the best option for you. Plus it is nice looking.

Peacock Eel Macrognathus aculeatus 15"
Striped Peacock Eel Macrognathus siamensis 12"

Zig Zag Eel
Tire Track Eel Mastacembelus armatus 36"
Fire Eel Mastacembelus erythrotaenia 40"
Zebra Spiny Eel Mastacembelus zebrinus 18"

Shovelman · Nov 27, 2011

creeker said:
Here's the sizes for the spiny eels. All except the two Peacock types are good eaters. The Peacocks can be tricky to feed when small, sometimes requiring live Tubifex or Blackworms at first. Small Fire Eels can be tough to feed also, but you're not considering them. Zig Zags and Tiretracks get the same size. The Zebra Spiny looks like the best option for you. Plus it is nice looking.

Peacock Eel Macrognathus aculeatus 15"
Striped Peacock Eel Macrognathus siamensis 12"

Zig Zag Eel
Tire Track Eel Mastacembelus armatus 36"
Fire Eel Mastacembelus erythrotaenia 40"
Zebra Spiny Eel Mastacembelus zebrinus 18"

wow thanks for adding in the sizes! Just a question, how active, overall are most of these larger eels? I remember when i had my old starry night spiny eel he was out fairly often but usually just sat there....does the same apply for these larger species? Also i was looking into the tire track eels and have read reports that the tire tracks usually stay somewhat shorter to about 28-29" Still large though i suppose. I really do like the tire tracks much more than any of the others due to their intense coloration and the reports ive heard of their somewhat obvious personalities and one could say "bond" they form with the owner. However just because i like the fish doesn't mean im going to try and hear the things i want to hear to justify that a tire track would be fine in a 65 gallon. And as of right now its sounding like they do require larger tanks. I do have questions as to why.
A. I know they are a really elongated fish, but from my reports they usually use minimal space, or just sit around or burrowed into the substrate thus they don't use that much tank space?
B. This tank in general probably wont be the longest lasting as college is coming up soon...so re homing is most likely inevitable, however id still like to admire while i can.
c. Is it because of their diet and waste output?
So basically im not going to get a tire track eel, im just curious as to finding out what an appropriate tank size would be for such.

In terms of the zebra spiny eel, they look neat! Do they get as plump or well rounded as tire tracks or fire eels?

Shovelman · Nov 27, 2011

ps the tank is 48" long 16" wide 20"tall It looks alot wider and longer than what the tank dimensions seem like

creeker · Nov 28, 2011

If you buy a Tiretrack, and put it in your tank, it will live in there for quite a while before it outgrows it. You will get attached to it. Mine would come up and take food from my hand. I did not notice any excess waste output from it. By far my favorite fish ever, and I have had almost everything you could imagine. You won't want to sell it. You will probably end up getting a bigger tank for it someday. If you do decide to sell it, demand is good for the larger ones, you would have no trouble re-homing it. Consider yourself warned, it would be like giving away a dog that you love.
Sorry, but the Zebra Spiny Eel is one I haven't had. It probably would not have quite the personality of the Tiretrack, but it would still look nice in your tank, and be a better size match.

Shovelman · Nov 28, 2011

creeker said:
If you buy a Tiretrack, and put it in your tank, it will live in there for quite a while before it outgrows it. You will get attached to it. Mine would come up and take food from my hand. I did not notice any excess waste output from it. By far my favorite fish ever, and I have had almost everything you could imagine. You won't want to sell it. You will probably end up getting a bigger tank for it someday. If you do decide to sell it, demand is good for the larger ones, you would have no trouble re-homing it. Consider yourself warned, it would be like giving away a dog that you love.
Sorry, but the Zebra Spiny Eel is one I haven't had. It probably would not have quite the personality of the Tiretrack, but it would still look nice in your tank, and be a better size match.

Not trying to prove or justify that having a tire track in a 65 gallon is right but i got an email back from the WetWebMedia crew that suggested that a tiretrack would work fine....... >.> idk...still not getting one until MANY more opinions.