Above: In this picture is a nice premium quality Freshwater Peacock Eel, swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us took this picture.

Comments: These are Eels that we rarely see in the live fish stores or in the online stores that we visit.

Premium Eels like these Eels are more hardy and more colorful than eels from other sources.

Click here for more about our Premium Freshwater Fishes.

Origin: This Eel lived in Thailand, where it was caught by a very skillful fish collector and shipped to us.

Maximum Size: In aquariums, this eel often grows to be about 12" long, but they live many years and continue to grow slowly for their entire lives.

Behaviors: They stay at the bottom of the tank, or hidden in caves or rocks. You'll mostly see them move around at night, when they feed.

They are escape artists and will jump out of an aquarium if given a chance. So the aquarium must be covered.

They will also intentionally try to climb out of any holes in the cover. So the aquarium must be completely and tightly covered at all times.

Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include any community fish, or even cichlids, provided they aren't too aggressive toward this Eel.

Small fish and shrimps may be eaten by this Eel, so be careful when selecting tankmates.

Click here to read more about compatible groups of eels.

Temperature: This Eel can live pretty well from about 75 to 80 degrees F., but they're probably most comfortable from about 78 degrees F.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Live foods like Black Worms, small fish, and shrimps.

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Water Conditions: This eel can tolerate a wide range of water conditions. Probably a pH of about 6.5 with low hardness is best.

Most water in the US has a higher pH and is harder but seems to be OK, so it's probably best not to adjust the pH or the hardness of the water.

Here in our facilities the water is hard and the pH is usually about 7.8. We ship them in this water.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: When young and still small these guys do well living in a 50-gallon aquarium, but of course bigger is better.

Decor: These Eels do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

Click here for more about aquarium gravel.

Live Plants are beautiful, improve the water quality. Click here for more about aquarium plants.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended. A Penguin 350B Filter in an aquarium with 40-gallons is OK for a young small Tiretrack Eel, but eventually it will need a bigger aquarium with as many Penguin 350B Filter as will fit across the back of the aquarium.

Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.

The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range. Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: This Eel can live for several years, maybe many years with excellent care, including excellent water and live foods.

Gender: It is very hard to distinguish males from females. Presumably a female will become plumper, when it fills with eggs.

Breeding: There haven't been any known cases of successful breeding.

Popularity: These freshwater Eels are rather popular.

Names: This species name is Macrognathus siamensis.

Variations: We do not know of any variations, but this fish lives across a wide regions, and so expect there are variations.

Click here for more information about Freshwater Eels.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.