All fish / Mastacembelidae

One-stripe Spiny Eel

Macrognathus aral

Also known as one stripe spiny eel, one-striped spiny eel, lesser spiny eel, aral spiny eel, striped spiny eel, bengal spiny eel, 一线刺鳅

A slim, eel-like fish with a pointed, trunk-like snout, a pale stripe along each side and two to six eyespots at the base of the dorsal fin. People keep it for its odd shape, inquisitive nature and habit of burrowing in sand with only its head showing.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a small group with plenty of hiding places

Diet

Carnivore: bloodworm, blackworm, brine shrimp, chopped prawn and earthworms; rarely takes dry food

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Myanmar (Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra basins)

Breeding

In the wild it spawns in the rainy season and scatters adhesive eggs among plants. Captive breeding is rarely reported and is not done on a commercial scale.

Good to know

Use a soft sand substrate and a tightly fitted lid, as spiny eels escape through small gaps and can scratch themselves on gravel. It will eat small fish and shrimp, and is often confused with other Macrognathus species in shops.