CichlidMan@<3
I'm Nuts
Do you think its possible to acclimate a saltwater eel to an african cichlid tank?
Moray in freshwater
- Thread starter CichlidMan@<3
- Start date
My understanding is this, there are some eels who when young can handle freshwater but as eels get older they, in the wild, tend to move to brackish (a mix of fresh and saltwater I believe around a 1.017 SG) and in the adult stages of life tend to move into saltwater. So to answer your question simply no a moray eel wouldn't do well long term in a freshwater tank, I would suggest going with a freshwater eel but even they prefer a more salty environment later in life.
ryan115
New member
if you are talking about a moray eel (Moraniedae) than no, there are only a few eels that are truly diadromous (living in both fresh and salt water at different stages of life). The only one that comes to mind is th American Eel Anguilla rostrata they will typically live in fresh to brackish water for most of their life and then as breeding adults will migrate to the Sargasso sea where they will have a huge spawning agregation. The adults die off leaving the young to swim back to the fresh waters of their parents. So to simplify the answer.... no.
lifesworksataol
New member
what about them eating your fish? even if they could live there.
chris22582
New member
I have tried a couple freashwater eels in my cichlid tank and it didnt go well with any of them. I had one that hid most of the time and he lasted the longest. They dont seem to do well with the cichlids for the most part in my experiance. There is a type that is native to the lakes tho that does better just cant remeber what its called.
CichlidMan@<3
I'm Nuts
Sweet, I guess I am stuck with getting the freshwater moray... also called a snowflake. I don't care if they hide, I kinda like when they stick their head out and thats all you can see. Thanks for all the info.
chris22582
New member
Thats the typ eI had that lasted the longest with the cichlids. Neat little guys while they last.
