All fish / Mastacembelidae

Zebra Spiny Eel

Macrognathus zebrinus

Also known as zebra spiny eel, burmese zebra eel, banded spiny eel, zebra eel, striped spiny eel, ゼブラスパイニーイール, 斑马刺鳅

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A slender, eel-like fish with a pointed, trunk-like snout and many thin dark bars over a brown to golden body. It spends much of the day buried in sand with only its head showing, and keepers like it for its curious behaviour and striking banding.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

25 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a small group in a roomy tank

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Myanmar (Irrawaddy and Sittang basins), possibly northeastern India

Breeding

Not reliably bred in home aquariums, and almost all fish in the trade are wild caught. Little is known about how it spawns in the wild.

Good to know

Use soft sand rather than gravel because it burrows and can injure its skin, and fit a tight lid as spiny eels escape through small gaps. It will eat very small fish and shrimp, and it is often confused with other banded Macrognathus species.