Tire Track Eel (Mastacembelus armatus)

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Contents 1 Alternative names 1.1 Synonyms 2 Sexing 3 Tank compatibility 4 Diet 5 Feeding regime 6 Environment Specifics 7 Behaviour 8 Identification 9 Pictures 10 Video 11 External links

Alternative names

Tire Track Eel, Zig-Zag Eel, White-Spotted Spiny Eel, Marbled Spiny Eel

Synonyms

Macrognathus armatus, Macrognathus caudatus, Macrognathus hamiltoni, Macrognathus hamiltonii, Macrognathus undulatus, Mastacembelus armatus, Mastacembelus armatus armatus, Mastacembelus manipurensis, Mastacembelus marmoratus, Mastacembelus ponticerianus, Mastacembelus undulatus

Sexing

Mature females are plumber than males.

Tank compatibility

Will co-habit with other Tire Track Eels, and other medium to large community fish. Do not keep with small fish as they will be eaten.

Diet

Will take most meaty foods including ghost shrimp, brine shrimp, bloodworm and tubifex. Prefers live food.

Feeding regime

Feed once or twice a day but is nocturnal so may only feed after lights out.

Environment Specifics

Can be kept in lightly planted tanks with sandy substrate but they may be uprooted. Hiding places must be provided. Will tolerate low-end brackish conditions.

Behaviour

A relatively peaceful large nocturnal fish. Will hunt smaller fish. Burrows in the substrate when young and hides during the day.

Identification

An elongated fish with a snake-like body shape. No pelvic fins are present and the anal and dorsal fins are elongated and joined to the caudal fin. The back is dark beige and the head is silver-beige. The body colour is beige and the belly is lighter in colour. The body is marked with brown circular patterns. The eye always has a brown stripe running laterally through it.

Pictures

Video

Feeding (with Myxocyprinus asiaticus at the end):

External links

• Fishbase (Mirrors: )

• Mongabay
• Aqua-Fish
• Aqua Hobby