Peacock Eel

Looks how to spot one

Slim, eel-like body with tiny scales and a row of small spines along the back

A long, brown fish with a pointed, trunk-like snout and a pale yellowish line running down each side. Its signature feature is a row of 3-6 dark, ringed eyespots along the base of the rear back fin.13

Personality what they are like

Gentle and shy. It gets along with calm fish too big to eat, such as rainbowfish, larger gouramis and swordtails, but may snack on very small fish or shrimp.32

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Comes out at dusk and night to search the bottom for food, and spends much of the day buried in sand with just its head showing.1

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Give it several centimetres of fine, soft sand so it can burrow, plus caves and plants. A well-fitted lid is sensible for a slim, wriggly fish.32

Home where they are happiest

A long tropical freshwater tank; Fishkeeping World suggests at least 35 US gallons (about 130 L), 22-28 °C, pH 6.0-7.0 and 6-25 dGH. Soft sand is essential, along with dim areas, roots and plants.3

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Carnivore. In the wild it hunts insect larvae, small crustaceans and worms on the bottom. In the aquarium it prefers live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia, best offered in the evening.13

Company who they like around

Can live alone or with others of its kind in a roomy tank that has plenty of hiding spots, so each eel has its own space.3

The story where it all began

Albert Günther described this fish in 1861 as a subspecies of another spiny eel, and it was later moved to the genus Macrognathus. It has long been traded both as a food fish in its homeland and as an aquarium fish.21

Recognised by the official bits

FishBase

Described by Günther in 1861 (originally as Rhynchobdella aculeata siamensis); family Mastacembelidae, the spiny eels, which are not true eels.1

IUCN Red List (via FishBase)

Least Concern (assessed 2011).1