Fire eel

The fire eel is one of the largest spiny eels in the hobby, reaching a full metre in length, though most aquarium specimens stay somewhat smaller. It comes from sluggish rivers and floodplains across Southeast Asia, where it spends the day buried in soft sediment with only its nose poking out. A tank of at least 500 litres is essential, with fine sand for burrowing and a tight-fitting lid — these eels are notorious escapers. Temperature should be 24°C to 28°C with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 and soft to moderate hardness, matching the soft, slightly acidic waters of its lowland habitat. Despite its size the fire eel is not aggressive toward fish it cannot eat, but it will consume any tankmate small enough to swallow, so choose companions that are too large to be mistaken for food. It is a carnivore that thrives on a varied diet of prawn, krill, mussel, and earthworms, with occasional live foods to keep it active. Frozen bloodworms alone will not sustain a full-grown specimen long-term. The striking pattern of red and black spots along the body gives the fish its common name, and each individual's marking is unique. With patient care fire eels can live fifteen years or more, gradually becoming bold enough to take food from the keeper's hand. They are best kept singly due to potential aggression toward conspecifics.