HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOddballs & predatorsLesser spiny eel Lesser spiny eel (Macrognathus aculeatus) Scientific name: Macrognathus aculeatus Bloch, 1786 The Lesser spiny eel (Macrognathus aculeatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Mastacembelidae that grows to about 38 cm (15 in). It is easy to keep and aggressive, suits community aquariums and needs a tank of at least 115 L (30 US gal), water at 20–28°C (68–82°F) and a pH of 6.5–7.5. Native range: Asia, Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Borneo and Indonesia. Lesser spiny eel care at a glanceCare levelEasyTemperamentAggressiveCommunity tankGoodAdult size38 cm (15 in)Minimum tank115 L (30 US gal)Temperature20–28°C (68–82°F)pH6.5–7.5Hardness6–35 dGH (107–625 ppm)DietOmnivore. Accepts live foods. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 14 - 20; Dorsal soft rays (total): 52-56; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 50 - 54. Body with series of obliquely oriented bars. Dorsal and anal fins with a row of isolated spines followed by a long continuous soft portion, both fins extending to but not confluent with caudal fin. Pelvic fins absent. Caudal fin rounded.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameMacrognathus aculeatusFamilyMastacembelidae (Spiny eels)OrderSynbranchiformes (Spiny eels)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length38.0EnvironmentFreshwater; brackish;; pH range: 6.5 - 7.5; dH range: ? - 15 benthopelagic; potamodromousClimateTropicalDistributionAsia: Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Borneo and Indonesia. Reported from Bangladesh and Nepal; India.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec>1000) More oddballs & predatorsParachanna obscuraAlfaro cultratusChanna aurantimaculataPirapatingaPiaractus brachypomusIndonesian snakeheadChanna micropeltesDario darioSee all oddballs & predators Can it live with...?Lesser spiny eel and African bonytongueLesser spiny eel and Amazon leaffishLesser spiny eel and Black ghostLesser spiny eel and Eel LoachLesser spiny eel and Elephantnose fishLesser spiny eel and Freshwater butterflyfishLesser spiny eel and Gangetic leaffishLesser spiny eel and Glass knifefishLesser spiny eel and Indonesian snakeheadLesser spiny eel and PirapatingaLesser spiny eel and Zig-zag eel SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026