Longtail spiny eel (Mastacembelus frenatus)

Scientific name: Mastacembelus frenatus Boulenger, 1901

Longtail spiny eel (Mastacembelus frenatus)

The Longtail spiny eel (Mastacembelus frenatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Mastacembelidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 23–27°C (73–81°F). Native range: Africa, Lake Victoria through Lake Tanganyika and their associated catchment basins to the Upper Zambezi and Okavango Rivers.

Longtail spiny eel care at a glance

Temperature
23–27°C (73–81°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 29 - 35; Dorsal soft rays (total): 64-73; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 67 - 80; Vertebrae: 95. Anterior nostril in the form of a short tentacle. Snout produced as a fleshy appendage. The anal fin with 2 separate spines. Color extremely variable, ground color brown with a variable reticulated and blotched pattern.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Mastacembelus frenatus
Family
Mastacembelidae (Spiny eels)
Order
Synbranchiformes (Spiny eels)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
40.0
Environment
Freshwater;; pH range: 7.4 - 8.4; dH range: 7 - 30 demersal
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Africa: Lake Victoria through Lake Tanganyika and their associated catchment basins to the Upper Zambezi and Okavango Rivers.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries:
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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