All fish / Mastacembelidae

Peacock Eel

Macrognathus siamensis

Also known as peacock spiny eel, spot-finned spiny eel, siamese spiny eel, peacock eel, spotfin spiny eel, ปลากระทิงไทย, ปลาหลด, tilan, ピーコックイール, sili, 孔雀鳗, 暹罗刺鳅

A slender brown spiny eel with a pointed fleshy snout, a pale line along the body and a row of black, pale-ringed eyespots along the base of the dorsal fin. It is kept for its curious behaviour, burrowing in sand with only its head showing, and it often becomes tame enough to take food from the hand.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

25 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a small group in a large tank

Diet

Carnivore: bloodworm, blackworm, brine shrimp, chopped prawn and earthworms; some accept sinking pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Mekong and Chao Phraya basins and peninsular Thailand

Breeding

It scatters adhesive eggs among plants, and spawning has been achieved by commercial farms in Asia, sometimes with hormones. Home breeding is rare and poorly documented.

Good to know

Needs a soft sand substrate and a very tight lid, as it escapes through tiny gaps. It will eat small fish and shrimps, and often refuses dry food at first, so wild-caught fish should be given live or frozen foods.