HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOther freshwater fishEelpout Eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) Scientific name: Zoarces viviparus Linnaeus, 1758 The Eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Zoarcidae. BiologyInhabits rocky shores under stones, among algae and in tide pools, between tide marks down to 40 m. May remain out of water under rocks or seaweeds. Feeds on gastropods, chironomids, crustaceans, eggs and fry of fishes. Gives birth to live young. Bones colored green by the harmless pigment Vivianit. Breathes air when out of water. Mating takes place in August - September with internal fertilization of the eggs. Female give birth to 30-400 developed young (35-55mm).Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameZoarces viviparusFamilyZoarcidae (Eelpouts)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length52.0Common length30.0Depth range0–40 m (0–131 ft)EnvironmentMarine; brackish; demersal; depth range 0 - 40 m, usually 2 - 20 mClimateTemperateDistributionNortheast Atlantic: White Sea, Cheshskaya Guba and Murmansk coast (Barents Sea) southward to English Channel (River Somme); eastern coasts of Scotland, England, also Irish Sea; the Orkneys, Shetlands and in shallow waters of North Sea and Baltic.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariumsResilienceLow, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=2; tmax=10; Fec=30; K=0.19-0.4) More other freshwater fishLined soleAchirus lineatusPumpkinseedLepomis gibbosusShort-tailed pipefishMicrophis brachyurus brachyurusFinescale tigerfishDatnioides microlepisFreshwater garfishXenentodon cancilaSouth American lungfishLepidosiren paradoxaSee all other freshwater fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026