Tire Track Eel (Mastacembelus armatus)
From The Aquarium Wiki
Tire Track Eel
Tire Track Eel
Mastacembelus armatus
208 Litres (55 US G.)
80-90 cm (31.5-35.4")
6.5 - 7.5
22 -28 °C (71.6-82.4°F)
5-15 °d
1:2 M:F
8-18 years
Family
Mastacembelidae
Contents
Additional names
- Tire Track Eel, Zig-Zag Eel, White-Spotted Spiny Eel, Marbled Spiny Eel
Additional scientific names
- Macrognathus armatus, Macrognathus caudatus, Macrognathus hamiltoni, Macrognathus hamiltonii, Macrognathus undulatus, Mastacembelus armatus, Mastacembelus armatus armatus, Mastacembelus manipurensis, Mastacembelus marmoratus, Mastacembelus ponticerianus, Mastacembelus undulatus
Sexing
- Mature females are plumber than males.
Tank compatibility
- Will co-habit with other Tire Track Eels, and other medium to large community fish. Do not keep with small fish as they will be eaten.
Diet
- Will take most meaty foods including ghost shrimp, brine shrimp, bloodworm and tubifex. Prefers live food.
Feeding regime
- Feed once or twice a day but is nocturnal so may only feed after lights out.
Environment specifics
- Can be kept in lightly planted tanks with sandy substrate but they may be uprooted. Hiding places must be provided. Will tolerate low-end brackish conditions.
Behaviour
- A relatively peaceful large nocturnal fish. Will hunt smaller fish. Burrows in the substrate when young and hides during the day.
Identification
- An elongated fish with a snake-like body shape. No pelvic fins are present and the anal and dorsal fins are elongated and joined to the caudal fin. The back is dark beige and the head is silver-beige. The body colour is beige and the belly is lighter in colour. The body is marked with brown circular patterns. The eye always has a brown stripe running laterally through it.
Pictures
Video
| Feeding (with Myxocyprinus asiaticus at the end): |
External links
- Fishbase (Mirrors:
)
