Mongo S wants to know:
I have a 70 gallon tank with 2 yellow labs that are anywhere from 2-4 inches, a 3-4 inch red jewel, another cichlid that is 3 inches, and a 5 inch long pleco. Is there enough room for an eel, and if there is what kind?
I have a 70 gallon tank with 2 yellow labs that are anywhere from 2-4 inches, a 3-4 inch red jewel, another cichlid that is 3 inches, and a 5 inch long pleco. Is there enough room for an eel, and if there is what kind?
July 10th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Most ‘true’ eels are not freshwater, although petstores would have you believe they are. Commonly mislabelled as a ‘freshwater’ eel for example is the snowflake eel, it is sold as the juvenile form - which is tolerant of freshwater up until a certain size. Petstores often do the same with ‘freshwater’ puffer fish - which are often brackish water. They can get away with it because many juvenile salt water fish are actually born in estuaries (where fresh river water meets ocean water and the tides create freshwater/brackish water cycles).
Make sure to do your research first regarding eels…the majority would not be compatable with cichlids as eels are non-aggressive, shy and delicate and would likely be picked to death by cichlids. They are also reknowned as picky eaters.
A good resource for freshwater ‘eel’ info (not ‘true’ eels):
Another good resource website is:
July 13th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Is there enough room? Probably.
What kind? It depends on whether you want the eels to eat the cichlids or you want the cichlids to eat the eels, because one or the other will happen eventually if you put them together.