Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Freshwater Eels and Eel-like Fishes > Electric Eel

Electric Eel

Family: Gymnotidae

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Electrophorus electricus Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Ken Childs

   With its ability to create electricity, the Electric Eel is a most amazing creation of nature!

   While many fish are able to create an electrical charge to use as “radar”, this is one of the few species that can create a charge that’s strong enough to disable its prey! Even though it is eel shaped, the Electric Eel is not a true eel but is more closely related to many of the knifefish that are found in South America.

   Because of their ability to generate a strong electrical charge, this large animal is definitely a candidate for a single species aquarium. Electric Eels are very hardy but avoid specimens that are less than 1 foot in length. For some reason, the smaller ones tend to be weak.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:
   The Electric Eel was described by Linnaeus in 1766. It is a very common South American fish and is found throughout most of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. It prefers to inhabit muddy calm waters, streams and pools with low oxygen levels.

Status:
   The species is not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Description:
   The body of the Electric Eel is elongated, cylindrical, and almost scaleless. It has a flattened head and large square mouth at the end of its snout. The body is mostly a dark grayish green getting yellowish on the underside. Juveniles have yellowish spots.
   A rather unique feature of this species is that they gain almost 80% of their oxygen by gulping air at the surface. But perhaps the most interesting feature is that they are capable of generating an incredible amount of electricity. They use electricity to stun and kill their prey, to communicate with others of their kind, and it is also thought that they may use it for finding and choosing a mate.

Size - Weight:
   These fish can get up to 8 feet long (250 cm) and can weigh as much as 45 pounds (20 kg), they are usually smaller in the aquarium reaching only about 4 - 5 feet (125 - 152 cm).

Care and feeding:
   Electric Eels are predatory fish, carnivores that will eat almost any animal that’s small enough to fit into their mouth. In the wild this mainly includes fish, invertebrates and small mammals. You will probably have to feed them live fish at first but usually they can be trained to eat dead freshwater fish such as defrosted frozen smelt.
   They can grow as large as 8 feet long and can weigh as much as 45 pounds, although the size attained in an aquarium will be smaller. They are not a particularly active fish so they will not need a tank as large as other species their size would require. If the tank is longer that the fish is and it has plenty of room to turn around, it should suffice but remember that even in captivity, this fish can grow to over 4 or 5 feet.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   They will spend most of their time resting on the bottom of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
The Electric Eel  is not very fussy about Ph or water hardness.
   Temp: 74-82 F (23 – 28°C)

Social Behaviors:
  The Electric Eel is not aggressive but due to its method of catching its prey, it is suitable only for a single species aquarium.

Sexual Differences:
   There are no known external sexual differences.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Has not been bred in captivity.

Availability:
   Electric Eels are commonly available but due to their specialized behavior, many aquarium fish suppliers do not carry them. You may need to place a special order to get yours.

Author: Ken Childs

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Latest Comments
I have had a electric eel for a year now. About a month ago my son fell in its huge tank and it electricuted him and them ate him! You got to be careful with these fish. Editor's note: Your 'fish tale', is quite humorous and is a cute way to point out that fish keepers need to be careful with this fish! Trevor 2009-03-20
Electric eels should have an empty tank but with dechlorinated water sand or smooth gravel, and a filter. I keep mine at 85 degrees and has a ph of 7.2. Mine does well in a 55 gal. and I'm going to get a bigger tank. It lives with plecos. Kenny 2009-03-14
shocking harry 2008-09-10

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