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

Peacock EelSpot-Finned Spiny Eel ~ Peacock Spiny Eel ~ Siamese Spiny Eel

Family: Mastacembelidae

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Macrognathus siamensisPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

     With its six attractive 'eyespots' you can readily see where the name 'Peacock' Eel comes from!

     The handsome Peacock Eel is very hardy and commonly available, making it a great starter fish for first time spiny eel keepers. It is generally a willing feeder and readily adapts to aquarium life. It is also relatively small, with its maximum adult size being just under a foot long. As it is nocturnal you may not always see it though. It will usually hide during the daytime by burying itself in the substrate. Although not considered to be true eels, the body shapes of all members of the spiny eel family, Mastacembelidae, are definitely eel-like.

     Peacock Eels are peaceful fish that can be kept in a community tank with larger fish. As you can see from the photo above where this adult specimen is housed with a Jack Dempsey cichlid, they are great with a variety of tankmates. Unlike many of the spiny eels, this species will also get along well with others of its own kind as long as they are of a similar size.

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

Distribution:      The Peacock Eel was described by GĂĽnther in 1861. They are found in Asia: Mekong, Chao Phraya, Maeklong, Peninsular and Southeast Thailand. They inhabit slow-moving, thickly vegetated areas of rivers and the still waters of flooded fields. They are nocturnal and will bury themselves (except for the head) in the silt or fine sand substrate during the day. They will emerge at night to feed on insect larvae, crustaceans, and worms.

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

Description:      The body of the Peacock Eel is elongated with a pointed snout. Both the dorsal and anal fins are extended back to the caudal fin, which is quite small. There can be some color and pattern variations depending upon it place of origination, but it is primarily light brown in color and it has a thin pale yellow stripe running from the eye to the base of the tail. Its common name 'Peacock' Eel is derived from the approximately 3 to 6 ocelli or 'eyespots' found along the base of the dorsal fin.

Size - Weight:      These fish can grow to about 11.8 inches (30 cm) in length.

Care and feeding:      The Peacock Eels are carnivores. Like all spiny eels they prefer a diet of live and fresh frozen foods such as brine shrimp, black worms, earthworms or bloodworms. Some spiny eels can be trained to eat freeze dried brine shrimp or bloodworms but this is not something that can be counted on.
     Provide a tank with a sand or fine gravel substrate as they will burrow into it. Also make sure they have plenty of hiding places among roots, rocks, or other decor so they will feel secure in their new home. Floating plant cover is great but plants buried in the substrate may get uprooted.
     Small specimens can be kept in a tank that is about 24 inches long and about 20 gallons. Larger specimens will need a bigger area, tanks that are 36 inches in length and about 35 gallons and up will suit an adult. Provide a tight fitting lid as spiny eels are escape artists. These fish respond poorly to copper based medications, so these should be avoided.

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

Acceptable Water Conditions:      Temp: 73 - 82 ° F (23 - 28 ° C)
     Hardness: 6 - 25 dGH
     pH: 6.0 - 8.0

Social Behaviors:      A nocturnal species, they are generally peaceful and shy. They mostly ignore other tankmates. They can be kept in a community tank with a wide variety of larger fish. Unlike many of the spiny eels, this species will also get along well with others of its own kind as long as they are of a similar size.

Sexual Differences:      Sexual differences are unknown and it is almost impossible to identify the sexes, though a mature female may be more full bodied.

Breeding/Reproduction:      The Peacock Eel has not been bred in captivity. Only a few spiny eels have been bred in the aquarium, possibly because they are generally kept singly rather than in a group where a male and female can find each other. Though it is not documented what makes them spawn, trying to emulate the bounty of the flood season can help stimulate breeding behavior. Feed more and higher quality food than you normally would and providing an influx of clean water. Their courtship lasts for several hours, where they chase each other and swim in circles.
     The eggs are deposited among floating plants. They are sticky so will adhere to the plants and then hatch in 3 to 4 days. The fry becoming free swimming a few more days after that and should be fed nauplii. The fry are something of a challenge to raise as they are susceptible to fungal infections. Regular water changes and the use of an antifungal water treatment can help.

Availability:      The Peacock Eel is commonly available and reasonably priced.

Author: Clarice Brough, CFS

• Peacock Eel: $9.99

Striped Peacock Eel Offered By: PetsMart Price: $9.99

Comments
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Latest Comments
We bought a Peacock Eel about a year ago. He quickly burried into the rocks, and for the first 3 months or so we would only catch glimpses of him (head or tail sticking out of the rocks). Then he dissapeared for 8 or 9 months, during which time we ceased to feed him as we figured he had escaped and been consumed by a dog. He just re-appeared 2 weeks ago and has enjoyed swimming above ground every day since. He even plays in the bubbles and swims around during the day. He does not seem stressed, but I am not sure what to think now. I have been feeding him fresh frozen brine shrimp every couple of days (now that I know he is around). The tank is home to several tropical semi-aggressive fish and two two large plecostomuses (sucker fish?). Does anyone have any thoughts on the best way to feed him? Also, he seems to enjoy one farily exposed rock, and I am wondering if we should find him a better hiding spot. Any thoughts? Thanks! Reply Jeremiah 2010-03-14
Replies (1) Hi Jeremiah, You can always offer more hiding places, but if he seems comfortable with the one he's got, I wouldn't disturb it. It sounds like feeding him the brine shrimp is working out, are you afraid he's not getting enough because of the semi-aggressive fish?... Editor's Note
I got a female eel yesterday. Two neon tetras dissappeared the same night. Is this possible? She is 5 inches or so... ANY HELP WOULD BE DEEPLY APPRECIATED! Reply zack 2010-03-08
My boyfriend and I just recently got a 55 gallon tank for our tiger oscars, and silver-tipped sharks, and our pleco. We went to petsmart to possibly get a catfish that would be compatible with our oscars, and that's when we found the Peacock Eel. So far we really enjoy him. We did just get him today so we haven't fed him yet. But I am a little worried about the space behind our tank. We have a lid on it, but I have read several stories about them getting out. Does anyone have any ideas to reassure us he won't get out? But so far so good. =] Reply Taelor 2009-05-11
Replies (1) I rolled up gallon size freezer baggies and placed them under the air and heater tubes/wiring to cover the openings in the back of the tank top. The tubing holds the plastic in place as it stretches from end to end of the openings. I have not lost my frog or peacock eel.... Anonymous
I have had my peacock for 3-4 months now and though they are peaceful in general, do be careful of tankmates. They are a predator and mine ate 10 neons in one night! It also killed a fancy guppy and a cardinal. Mine eats ghost shrimp, small feeders, black worms and angle worms. It doesn't hide ever and I have it in fine sand for substrate. I have mollies, neons, cardinals, dwarf gouramis, fancy guppies, german rams, and a gold nugget pleco for tankmates. Reply Scott 2009-10-06
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Some of the bestest comments - here's the beef!
I have had a striped peacock eel for a few months now and absolutely love him, living in a 29 gallon with platys, tetras, and a loach. He disappeared one morning and thinking he had just buried himself under the gravel, I continued with my plan to clean my Whisper filter (you know - the external waterfall type filter) Taking it to the sink, I change out the filter bags and carbon and dumped the excess water down the drain to scrub the inside and too late, I watched my eel slide out of the filter - very much alive- and right into the garbage disposal. I was about to give him up for lost (i couldn't figure out how to open the pipes to try to save him in the u-part of the pipe), but before I did I shined the flashlight down the drain one last time and there he was sitting on the platform slithering around out of water and between the blades. After a 1/2 hour trying, I finally fished him out with a twisted up fish net and a spoon. I dumped him in a spare tub of aquarium water to "rinse" off the gunk he accumulated in the drain and quickly placed him back in the tank. 5 days later he is still alive and well, eating as usual and none the worse for wear - only a small scratch that is healing well. I never would have expected him to swim upstream/uphill AND out of the tank into my filter, not to mention surviving a 1/2 hour out of water and the stress of being chased around with implements to save his life. I thought for sure he was a goner, but he is hardier than I thought! Reply Kirsten 2009-04-28
Replies (1) Actually it has been recorded that many varieties of eel can in fact survive out of water fo periods of time and even travel over land; usually in order to travel to mating grounds when full grown.... Jeff
I had a peacock eel before that was doing okay until one day I noticed that he/she was missing! So about a mounth later I finally got my mom to check around the tank. We found him in a hole under a rock! I WAS SO HAPPY! The next morning he was gone again. We checked the tank one more time, no eel. I gave up and asked my mom if I could get another. She said yes. I got a 7in. striped peacock eel. He is doing very well in our 75 gallon tank. He loves to hide in a plant that I bought just for him. It has been about 17 days or so since we fist checked the tank and found him. I still have not seen my first eel. but I'm happy with my new eel. He is very active at night. p.s. if your eel is hiding under the rocks and if he/she has not been in your tank for that long, put a good plant in there if you want to see him more often. Reply zack 2009-03-25
Replies (1) "he might have jumped out of the tank, eels of all kinds like to explore and jump. even pushing up lids(if they are light enough) to get out. so i suggest covering any holes, even around the filter, to prevent this one from escaping.... Austin
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Questions - Answers
Got a new peacock eel recently. Typical behavior hides during the day and comes out at night. Very heatly and plump. However I found out recently that I have to go out of town for two weeks meaning she will be by herself for two weeks potentially. The employee at the pet store who is quite a spiny eel fan said she would be okay as long as I put about 1/2 Oz of live blood worms in the tank. Which was her current diet when I bought her. I am wondering if I would be wrong to take his advice and leave her for two weeks. What do you think? Reply KR 2010-03-11
Replies (1) The eel should be okay for that amount of time. You can also buy one of the pyramid vacation feeders that can reduce the amount of time he goes without food. As you can see from other comments, they often go for a week or two without feeding... Dave B
WELL MY PEACOCK STRIPED EEL is startin to turn the peacock eel color in jus 2 up an down stripes so wuts up wit dat? Reply brad 2009-06-14
I've had a peacock eel for one week, I've never seen him eat. I have tried hand feeding but he won't eat, and earthworms he won't touch. What do I do? Reply Mike 2008-12-15
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