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Tanganyikan Spiny Eel

Mastacembelus ellipsifer

Freshwater Lake Tanganyika, Africa

A splendid rift lake endemic showing pale creamy skin layered with bold, dark brown ring markings. It hunts among rock crevices for small fish and invertebrates. Soft sand and a weighted, escape-proof aquarium lid are non-negotiable requirements for keeping this elusive species.

40 cm adult length, drawn to scale. eel body.

Outgrows a typical home tank. Check this fish against the adult size above before buying a juvenile. The minimum shown is the least it is kept in for good, not a comfortable size.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 1 fish added.

What it needs

ItemValueBecause
Adult length 40 cm Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank 450 L, at least 150 cm long estimated The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish 100 L estimated What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load Class 4 of 5 estimated How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature 24 to 27 C Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH 8 to 9.2 Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness GH 10 to 25, KH 8 to 18 Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow Medium Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light Moderate Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size Single fish is fine Not a schooling species.
Temperament Semi-aggressive Territorial: weak.
Swims in Near the bottom Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan About 12 years A fish is a long commitment.
Experience Experienced keepers only A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.
Jumps Yes Keep the tank covered.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Diet and tank layout

Tanganyikan Spiny Eel is an carnivore that swims in the lowest part of the tank. It is safe with plants. Give it plenty of cover. It digs, so anchor plants and keep hard rock off loose sand. It will eat fish small enough to swallow.

Tankmates

Works with

No close matches in the data. Check the pair tool.

Depends

Avoid

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.