Electric eel

Heiko Bleher

Hi all of yopu,

this is Heiko Bleher and I am on my way again to the Amazon (and elsewehre) and I just wanted to give some experience with electric eels (Electrophorus electricus), as some of you seem not to know much about this unique Amazon-basin fish.

First of all it has so far mostly been kept in public aquariums around the world and millions of visitors look at those every year, with their discharge shown on a monitor (display). And that can be up to 800 V (not 500).

It is no problem to keep one or two in an aquarium of not to large size at all, and it will not grow to 8 feet in it (rarely more than 4-5, unless you have a giant aquarium and they are feed daily with large amounts of food). In a smaller aquarium they will adapt easily, although if bought in small size (some ship them in 4-6 inch size), they must be feed 3 times a day at least. And best is beef heart (cheapest), naturally blood worms, fish, shrimps, mussels, even granulate (larger) food they will take (some times need a few days).

If they are in healthy condition when bought or received (be sure they have no whitish slime, or white spots and that their mouth is not damaged), than they should give you no problem in a tank with fine white (or beige) sand and some driftwood. They are not much for plants.

When handeling, cleaning the aquarium, or having to go into it with your hand do ALWAYS were a rubber protection over your hands and do net get them wet. That is important and than nothing can happen.

I once had a couple of 5-6 feet long and in a very large vat. One day I forgot to cover my hands and took a hand net with a iron handle and it blew me 10 feet aways... It was my error. I never forget.

So just follow my advice if you want to keep one. They are extreme interesting and need to take in always atmospheric air, so they must always come to the top, and therefore the best is a open aquarium.

Best regards from one who knows, and collects,

always

Heiko Bleher

and have alook at my website and my biotope aquariums: www.aquapress-bleher.com

herefishy

Oh, Mr. Bleher, this is one fish that I would not recommend to the average fishkeeper. I, too, got the "business" from one of these fish and it took me to my knees, literally.

There are oddball fish that may be kept in a home aquarium, this is not one of those fish. Sometimes we must just say, "Nice fish" when seeing certain fish in our local shops. This is definitely one of those instances. We must, at times, throttle our awe of certain species and descend from the clouds to ground ourselves to the realities of keeping some species.

okiemavis

Hehe, regardless of whether it's 500 or 800 volts, it's still more than sticking my finger in a socket. OUCH! I think I'm gonna stick to some safer fish...perhaps ones that like me and appreciate that I feed them.

I did see an interesting documentary recently on a guy in the Amazon who uses the frequency the electric eels emit to monitor water quality, as it changes before other signs can be seen. Very cool!

comando489

great advice. i had 2 do it.

Pleco_stomus

ive never been shocked by one, ive seen em at the mall of america. the closest ive been to being shocked by one, when i was 4 i jammed a fork in a light socket........i wasnt the brightest kid, but i had the best hair do afterwards :P

Seamoe

Indeed. It appears grounding might be advisable with such a fish. :P

bmvbab

what would happen to the equipment that we might have in the tank-heater,powerhead,filter whatever...guess they are all already insulated...otherwise it would not be the eel that I would be afraid of frying the other fish :D

ErnstF

I'm looking for an electric eel to "rent." I have a show in Las Vegas that is up for 6 weeks and I am looking for an electric eel owner who would like to showcase his fish in Downtown Las Vegas during that time. It will be the main attraction at the Brett Wesley gallery from end of February till mid-April. We will of course go to any and all lengths to protect the animal and make it feel comfortable. Please let me know of any leads or ideas. I will be very grateful.
Thank you,
Ernst

ErnstF

I'm looking for an electric eel to "rent." I have a show in Las Vegas that is up for 6 weeks and I am looking for an electric eel owner who would like to showcase his fish in Downtown Las Vegas during that time. It will be the main attraction at the Brett Wesley gallery from end of February till mid-April. We will of course go to any and all lengths to protect the animal and make it feel comfortable. Please let me know of any leads or ideas. I will be very grateful.
Thank you,
Ernst