All fish / Gymnotidae

Electric Eel

Electrophorus electricus

Also known as electric eel, electric knifefish, eel, poraquê, ปลาไหลไฟฟ้า, belut elektrik, デンキウナギ, belut listrik, 电鳗

This is a long, cylindrical, dark grey to brown knifefish. It has no dorsal fin and swims using a long anal fin that runs along the underside, and adults often show an orange throat. It is not a true eel. Public aquariums and a few specialists keep it because it can produce strong electric discharges and has unusual air-breathing habits.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

150 cm

Temperature

24 to 30 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

2000 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: fish, prawns, earthworms and other meaty foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 20 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

South America: Guiana Shield rivers of Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and northern Brazil

Breeding

The male guards a foam nest made from saliva, and the young stay with the parents after hatching. Breeding in captivity is very rare and has only been reported in large public aquarium setups.

Good to know

Adults pass 1.5 m and can deliver shocks of several hundred volts, which can injure keepers during tank maintenance, so only experienced keepers with very large tanks should attempt it. It must have access to the surface to breathe air, and many countries and US states restrict or ban keeping it. In 2019 the genus was split into three species, so specimens sold under this name may actually be E. voltai or E. varii.