Electric Eel (Electrophorus electricus)
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Electric Eel
Electric Eel
Electrophorus electricus
757 Litres (200 US G.)
200-250 cm (78.7-98.4")
Freshwater
6.2 - 7.2
23 -25 °C (73.4-77°F)
5-10 °d
1:1 M:F
5-8 years
Family
Gymnotidae
Contents
Additional names
- Electric Eel
Additional scientific names
- Electrophorus multivalvulus, Gymnotus electricus, Gymnotus regius, Gymnotus tremulus
Origin[edit]
- South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins, and related areas in northern South America.
Sexing[edit]
- There are no known external sexual differences.
Tank compatibility[edit]
- Electric Eel compatibility varies between fish. Some are happy to allow tank mates in the tank, whilst others will kill them and must be kept in a species only tank. If kept with fish they should be large fish which would not be at risk of being eaten. Adding tank mates should be done with suitable care and consideration. These fish grow large very fast, so tank mates should be of a large size to start off with to ensure they keep up with the Electric Eels growth rates.
Diet[edit]
- Carnivorous, feed meaty foods such as shrimp, freshwater mussel and fish fillets. May be challenging to get to feed dead food.
Feeding regime[edit]
- Feed once a day.
Environment specifics[edit]
- Requires a large and spacious tank with soft substrate and secure hiding places in bogwood. They do not like bright lighting.
Behaviour[edit]
- An active predatory fish. Will usually spend most of their time on the substrate. They are able to take in air from the surface.
Identification[edit]
- Electrics have an elongated and cylindrical body, the body colour is dark with the anterior ventral part yellowish and it is almost without scales. The head is flattened and the mouth is large with one row of conical teeth on each jaw. They have three abdominal pairs of electric organs.
Pictures[edit]
Electric Eel
Electric Eel
Videos[edit]
| At London Zoo: |
External links[edit]
- Fishbase (Mirrors:
)
