Peacock Eel information?

I was just at my LFS and I saw they had a 6 in long peacock eel. I really liked it so I researched it as much as I could in the store, but I ended up not getting it because I couldn't find the information I wanted.

1. I hear they are picky eaters. Is this true? What will they eat?
2. What's the minimum tank size?
3. Are they okay alone? Alone as in the only eel in the tank, but with other community fish.

Does anyone have experience or information about these?

 

Bump, I don't know anything about them. Maybe someone will see it who knows the answers.

 

I have had them. He was very shy. His tank mates where tetras and a synodontis with some ghost shrimp. I never saw him eat. They are very lithe creatures, I had to keep my water level down because he kept going into the BioWheel filter. I can tell you that the tank I had him in was way too small. I would say a minimum of 55 gallons since they can reach around a foot in length. As far as I know they are solitary creatures but will tolerate others of its kind.

I currently have a Yellow tail spiny eel. They are amazing creatures. They are very shy at first but the more comfortable he gets the more he comes out. I have seen him eat live black worms, blood worms, brine shrimp and spectrum pellets. These guys do appreciate the company of their own kind but can be solitary as well. They only attain a length of about 6-7 inches in aquaria. So a 3' tank ought be enough for one.

 

Thanks guys. I did some more research and almost everywhere said that they only reach around 7-8 inches in aquaria. I also read a couple places that they have a 20 gallon minimum tank size. I realize that's a little small. I was kinda hoping to put him in my 36g because it has all peaceful fish. Although if you really recommend bigger, he could go in my 75g.

I don't really mind if I don't see him that much. I just have a feeling he won't really be bought at the LFS. One of the employees said that someone just dropped it off about a week ago and they didn't even know what it was. I just want to give him a good home.

 

I would put him in the 75. It will make him feel more at home with more space. Just be aware that small fish may be eaten.

 

We had one for a while in our 38g tank. Something bigger would probably be better, but it was ok- it definitely used the whole space. My opinion is that the most important considerations are that you have a sand substrate, and you have a way to make sure it gets food. We had ours in with small aquarium gravel, and I believe it injured it's nose, which led to it's eventual death. They can definitely be picky eaters, but if someone had it for a while already, that's a good sign that it may have adapted well. The LFS we went to suggested burying a cube of bloodworms under the substrate so that the other fish can't get them, and the eel will find them. I think dosing your sand with live blackworms would be great. Some people manage to get them eventually eating out of their hands. They can't take most medications, and if they get ill or go on a hunger strike, things generally don't go well, so you want to make sure to maintain great tank conditions.

 

Thanks for the info. I guess I'm not gonna be able to get it. I have gravel in my 75 gallon and I don't want him to get hurt. I did see a thread before though where someone put a PVC pipe under the gravel with 2 ends sticking up do they can go in the PVC under the gravel.