All fish / Mastacembelidae

Barred Spiny Eel

Macrognathus pancalus

Also known as striped spiny eel, barred spiny eel, spotted spiny eel, pancalus spiny eel, half-banded spiny eel, pancal spiny eel, 斑纹刺鳅

A slim, eel-like fish with a pointed, trunk-like snout, a pale brown body marked with faint dark bars and small light spots, and a row of short spines along the back. It spends much of its time buried in soft sand with only its head showing, which gives it plenty of character, and it stays smaller than most spiny eels.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

15 cm

Temperature

20 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

100 litres

Keep as

Single or a small group in a roomy tank

Diet

Carnivore: bloodworm, blackworm, brine shrimp, small earthworms and sinking meaty foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

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

Breeding

Rarely bred in home aquariums; in the wild it spawns during the monsoon, scattering adhesive eggs among vegetation. Captive spawning has mainly been achieved with hormone treatment in fish farms.

Good to know

Needs fine sand to burrow in and a tightly sealed lid, as it escapes through tiny gaps. It will eat small fish and shrimp, and is prone to skin infections on coarse gravel or in poor water.