Common Names: Peacock Eel, Siamese Spiny Eel
Scientific Name: Macrognathus siamensis
Maximum Size: 12 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Temperature Range: 73 – 82°F
pH Range: 6 – 8
Water hardness: 6 – 25dH
Temperament: Peaceful and shy
Origin: India, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Sumatra
Aquarium Setup:
The natural habitat for the Peacock eel is the slow moving waters of streams and rivers in Southeast Asia. This eel thrives in the dense aquatic plants and a substrate of sand, silt and fine gravel. These are the conditions that should be duplicated in the aquarium.
The Peacock eel likes to have plenty of hiding places as this helps it to feel safe and secure. A lot of plants, especially floating ones are recommended as well cave like areas created by using rocks, wood, artificial ornaments, and even short sections of PVC piping.
When they are introduced to a new aquarium it can often take several weeks before they become accustomed to their new home. Providing the proper habitat can significantly reduce the time it takes for them to settle in.
Peacock eels are notorious jumpers so it is very important that your tank be covered well. If you use an external power filter or pump pay particular attention to any openings around them as the eel will eventually work its way to escaping the aquarium.
Diet:
Peacock eels are often difficult to feed because of their shy nature. In the wild Peacock eels eat live food such as insect larvae, crustaceans and worms. Try to provide similar types of food for the Peacock eel in your aquarium. Mosquito larvae, brine shrimp and blood worms work quite well, but small earthworms are a particular favorite.
The Peacock eel is a nocturnal creature, so the best time to feed them is at night when the lights are turned out.
Tank Mates/Community:
The Peacock eel is a good addition to a community aquarium because it is very peaceful. However, it will often consider smaller fish to be food. The best companions for the Peacock eel are other similar sized peaceful fish and aquatic animals that like the same water conditions.
Behavior:
The Peacock eel is very peaceful and tolerant when housed with fish of similar size.
Color:
There are different coloration patterns among specimens from different areas, but generally Peacock eels are brown in color with the back being darker than its sides. A thin yellow line runs along its sides from its snout to the caudal (tail) fin. The Peacock eel also has a series of five eye-spots that run from the dorsal fin and back to the caudal fin.
Breeding:
Breeding the Peacock eel is very difficult. In fact, there are only very few known instances where they have been successfully bred in captivity. The Peacock eel, in the wild, is known only to spawn during the monsoon season.
Don’t forget to visit our Aquarium Store. Also you can buy this fish today below:
thankz for soooo much information that i needed
I wanted to know how old they get befor they die? Also I wanted to know if worms from your garden are good for them to eat?
i have one question my eel is randomly bursting around my tank then just lays at the bottom upside down. does anyone know whats going on?
I too would like to know if feeding worms from organic soil would be ok or would they need to go through any sort of cleansing feeding such as cornmeal, lettuce, or something else before being fed to the aquarium?
How about Mealy worms? Would those be ok to be fed to aquarium fish? I have those for my lizard & have been successful in breeding them, keeping a live cycle going at all times.
I would recommend using live blackworm, the are almost hair like and easier for them to eat. Take the worm, by hand, and place it as close to the bottom as possible. This will give the worms a chance to bury itself. It will still hang out About 1 to 2 cm, this will make a more natural feeding ground for them to use there anteater like snout to dig And catch the worms. The worm wil live longer, decompose poop And the other fish love to hunt the worms too. I have a couple peacock eel, cichlids, and jack Dempsey all chill together.
I have a baby peacock eel and would also like to know about the life span and i also hve some blue gourami fish with it but when it gets older and bigger should i move the peacock eel to another tank so it doesn’t eat the other fish
Also does the food have to be live or can i just get some blood worms from the pet store?
I just got my first eel today. having an external filtering system, i have about an inch or more of opening right next to it. do I have to now worry about this? will the eel jump out of it? any suggestions about how to fix this issue?
Hi. Guys. This species have the habit of poking their nose in holes. That means it may even think of poking it’s nose inside the filter’s delivering end.
As for feeding they are not picky about worms. They just love them. But their favorite is small earthworms. yes from organic soil. just wash them up.
Hi … i just add some more fish to my tank . and i have the peacock too . i just need to know if the peacock will eat my smaller fishs ??? i have the fancy guppies . the neon tetra the ghost fish . and little mollys !!! thank u so much !!!
WOW, I just got a peacock eel and the next morning i found it lying on the floor, i have 95% of the top covered with just a very small 1/4″ area around the filter open, he obviously tried escaping through this and actually knocked the lid off the biowheel area. Looks like it’s time for the seran wrap!
hi i just got my peacock last night and its not rele moving or anything its just laying on the bottom of the tank upside down …..is this normal when you get them? im so worried about him…..hes my little guy…
Got my first Pea Cock Eel very beautiful swims everywhere in my 55 gallon with Dalmation Mollys as well as a school of Tetras an they get along great. The eel has a giant Bonsai Tree/ Cave he can hide in as well as a giant shell 7″ wide. A wonderful addition to any tank be mindful he ate my baby Molly’s but thats what happens in an aquatic ecco system which is what I wanted. Also lives with my 2 eastern Painted turtles Argento and Cisero both hatchlings. Make sure to give the eel some bubbles he love playing in them as well as an LED nightlight. An a lot of areas so he can hide. Don’t worry about when he is missing he is just where you can’t see him. Enjoy your fish buddies an take good care of them. Feed your eel at night so your other fish won’t eat all the food before it reaches him.