Fire eel
Mastacembelus erythrotaenia
- Adult size
- 60 cm24 in
- Start with
- 1
- Tank length
- 200 cmabout 7 ft (79 in)
- Lifespan
- 10–20 yrs
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C75–82 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness
- 5–19 dGH
- Diet
- carnivore
Slow-growing but reaches near a metre; needs soft substrate, pristine water and tankmates too big to eat.Slow-growing but reaches near a metre; needs soft substrate, pristine water and tankmates too big to eat.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
Fire eel may eat Acei cichlidFire eel may eat Acei cichlid
- African butterfly cichlid
Fire eel may eat African butterfly cichlidFire eel may eat African butterfly cichlid
- African clawed frog
Fire eel may eat African clawed frogFire eel may eat African clawed frog
- Agassiz's cory
Fire eel may eat Agassiz's coryFire eel may eat Agassiz's cory
- Ajamaru rainbowfish
Fire eel may eat Ajamaru rainbowfishFire eel may eat Ajamaru rainbowfish
Amano shrimpFire eel may eat Amano shrimpFire eel may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Fire eel may eat American flagfishFire eel may eat American flagfish
- Angfa rainbowfish
Fire eel may eat Angfa rainbowfishFire eel may eat Angfa rainbowfish
- Arfak rainbowfish
Fire eel may eat Arfak rainbowfishFire eel may eat Arfak rainbowfish
Assassin snailFire eel may eat Assassin snailFire eel may eat Assassin snail
- Banded gourami
Fire eel may eat Banded gouramiFire eel may eat Banded gourami
- Bandit cory
Fire eel may eat Bandit coryFire eel may eat Bandit cory
Sources
| temperature | 24–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 5–19 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Mekong and Chao Phraya basins and Sundaland, Southeast Asia | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | Slow-growing but reaches near a metre; needs soft substrate, pristine water and | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #3A2E28, #D9432E | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | sedentary | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 10–20 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 36 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.002,"b":3.1} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| min tank length | 200 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | loach | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |