Fire eel (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia)

Scientific name: Mastacembelus erythrotaenia Bleeker, 1850

The Fire eel (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia) is a freshwater fish of the family Mastacembelidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 24–28°C (75–82°F). Native range: Asia, Thailand and Cambodia to Indonesia.

Fire eel care at a glance

Temperature: 24–28°C (75–82°F)

Biology

Soft-rayed portions of median fins and pectoral fin with a sharply defined white distal margin, basal portion of dorsal, anal and caudal fins dark, that of pectoral fin dark or with broad vertical bars; head and anterior part of body with longitudinal red and black bands, rest of body with red spots or elongate marks on a black background.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Mastacembelus erythrotaenia
Family: Mastacembelidae (Spiny eels)
Order: Synbranchiformes (Spiny eels)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 100.0
Environment: Freshwater;; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 19 demersal
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Asia: Thailand and Cambodia to Indonesia.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)