Zebra spiny eel
Mastacembelus zebrinus
- Tank length
- 150 cmabout 5 ft (59 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C75–82 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Adult size
- 12.9 cm5.1 in
- Lifespan
- 8–15 yrs
Banded spiny eel that buries in sand and hunts small fish; tight-fitting lid is essential.Banded spiny eel that buries in sand and hunts small fish; tight-fitting lid is essential.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
Amano shrimpZebra spiny eel may eat Amano shrimpZebra spiny eel may eat Amano shrimp
Assassin snailZebra spiny eel may eat Assassin snailZebra spiny eel may eat Assassin snail
Black neon tetraZebra spiny eel may eat Black neon tetraZebra spiny eel may eat Black neon tetra
- Black phantom tetra
Zebra spiny eel may eat Black phantom tetraZebra spiny eel may eat Black phantom tetra
- Bleeding heart tetra
Zebra spiny eel may eat Bleeding heart tetraZebra spiny eel may eat Bleeding heart tetra
- Blue emperor tetra
Zebra spiny eel may eat Blue emperor tetraZebra spiny eel may eat Blue emperor tetra
- Blue lyretail
Zebra spiny eel may eat Blue lyretailZebra spiny eel may eat Blue lyretail
Celestial pearl danioZebra spiny eel may eat Celestial pearl danioZebra spiny eel may eat Celestial pearl danio
- Checker barb
Zebra spiny eel may eat Checker barbZebra spiny eel may eat Checker barb
- Cherry barb
Zebra spiny eel may eat Cherry barbZebra spiny eel may eat Cherry barb
Cherry shrimpZebra spiny eel may eat Cherry shrimpZebra spiny eel may eat Cherry shrimp
- Cherry spot rasbora
Zebra spiny eel may eat Cherry spot rasboraZebra spiny eel may eat Cherry spot rasbora
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 24–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 6–25 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Myanmar | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | sedentary | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 8–15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 24 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 150 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |