Description
Fire Eel – A Fiery Beauty with Graceful Movements
(Mastacembelus erythrotaenia)
The Fire Eel (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia) is a stunning and exotic species known for its striking appearance and graceful, eel-like movements. With its long, slender body, vibrant reddish-orange coloration, and hypnotic swimming style, the Fire Eel is a true centerpiece in larger aquariums. Native to Southeast Asia, this species is a bottom-dweller with a peaceful temperament, though it can become quite large and requires a spacious environment.
Key Features:
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Vibrant Coloration: Reddish-orange body with black markings and a subtle gradient
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Elegant Swimmer: Long, thin body with fluid, serpentine movements
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Large Size: Grows up to 1 meter (39 inches) in ideal conditions
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Peaceful Nature: Typically non-aggressive, but may eat smaller fish or invertebrates
Tank Requirements:
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Minimum tank size: 300 liters (80 gallons) for a juvenile; 500 liters (125 gallons) or more for adults
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Temperature: 24°C–30°C (75°F–86°F)
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pH: 6.5–7.5
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Prefers a soft, sandy substrate with plenty of hiding spots such as rocks, caves, or plants
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Needs a secure tank lid—can jump if startled
Compatibility:
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Generally peaceful with other non-aggressive, similarly sized fish
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Not suitable with very small fish or invertebrates, as it may prey on them
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Ideal tankmates include larger catfish, large barbs, or cichlids
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Best kept with species that do not compete for bottom space
Feeding Tips:
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Omnivorous—prefers a varied diet of live foods (e.g., worms, shrimp, fish) and high-quality pellets
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Can also enjoy frozen food like bloodworms, daphnia, and earthworms
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Feed 2–3 times a week with a balanced diet to ensure healthy growth
Why Choose the Fire Eel?
The Fire Eel is a striking and graceful addition to any large aquarium. With its stunning coloration and peaceful nature, it is a perfect choice for aquarists seeking a beautiful, long-term pet with a unique and intriguing appearance. Its striking visual impact and elegant swimming make it a standout showpiece for any tank.
Click & Collect
Livestock will only be bagged once you arrive, or if you contact us in advance to request it ready beforehand.
Local Delivery
Order anything from our in-store range and have it delivered right to you.
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Minimum spend: £50
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Delivery up to 10 miles: £10
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Delivery up to 25 miles: £20
Distances are measured “as the crow flies”, not by road.
Once your order is placed, we’ll be in touch to arrange a suitable delivery date and time.
Please note, delivery may take a little longer as we often group orders together to build an efficient delivery run.
Important: If you’re ordering a large aquarium, please ensure someone is available to help unload the van on arrival.
Dry Goods Delivery
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DPD Next Day: 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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DX Next Day (Heavy Items & Small Aquariums): 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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Express Pallet: 1–3 working days
If you'd like to add more items to an existing order that hasn't yet been dispatched, please place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to combine the orders.
Please note: We currently only dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Pre-Order
Want the full details? Check out our Terms & Conditions.
Livestock Delivery
Thursday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Wednesday afternoon
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Delivered Thursday before 1pm
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Order by Wednesday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Friday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Thursday afternoon
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Delivered Friday before 1pm
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Order by Thursday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Saturday Delivery – £29
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Dispatched Friday afternoon
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Delivered Saturday before 1pm
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Order by Friday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
📦 Want to Add to an Existing Order?
No problem! Just place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to link it with your original one (as long as it hasn’t been dispatched yet).
🛒 Dry Goods Now Included!
You can now include dry goods in your livestock delivery – perfect for topping up supplies in one go.
❄️ Please note: We can’t send frozen food with livestock – please order frozen items separately.
⚠️ Delivery Exclusions
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver livestock to the following postcodes:
Scotland & Isles:
AB30–AB56, DD8–DD10, DG3–DG9, DG12–DG14, FK17–FK21, KA18–KA19, KA26–KA30, PA20–PA38, PA80, PH3–PH40
Cornwall Isles: TR21–TR25
All of the following postcodes are excluded:
BT, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW
Plus Channel Islands and Shetland Islands
Payment & Security
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