Questions about fire eels

[Night owl]

Personally I would say a foot long needs 100-180 but the bigger the better and they will grow well in the biggest available. Best way to grow a fish is in a big tank, grow outs are a common misconception, a small tank makes a fish grow more slowly and can stunt them and the water fluctuates much more as a small drop of pollution is a lot in a small body of water, the ph, ammonia and temp etc...all change far more in a small body of water.

So a 200 gallon is best then

 

[Just Toby]

So a 200 gallon is best then

Not compared to a 600 gallon. Lol

 

[Night owl]

Not compared to a 600 gallon. Lol

Lol if I win the lottery that'd be the plan or if I had the money I'd get a 2000 gallon lol

 

[Drstrangelove]

So a 200 gallon is best then

Imo, a 200 gallon would be too small with the other stock (tinfoil barbs, silver dollars and angels) that you mentioned.... unless you are prepared to do 75% water changes every 3 days.

If you are, it's feasible. If not, your water quality will suffer due to nitrate buildup, fish appetite and immunity will decline, and you'll be dealing with multiple problems.

If a larger tank would allow you to do larger water changes (more water but less frequently), then a larger tank would be "best." Otherwise, what might be better is to skip tinfoil barbs, angels and silver dollars) and maybe opt for something like a couple colorful and peaceful variety of tetras.

Alternatively, as an example, just angels or just silver dollars with the fire eel. Alternatively develop a lot of plants for the tank (e.g., pothos), to minimize the nitrates.

Lots of choices and the surface isn't scratched. But a 200 gallon with that other stock and infrequent WC will not be best, imo, in a tank that small.

And this assumes the fire eel only gets to 30", which is by no means it's limit in aquariums.

 

[Night owl]

Imo, a 200 gallon would be too small with the other stock (tinfoil barbs, silver dollars and angels) that you mentioned.... unless you are prepared to do 75% water changes every 3 days.

If you are, it's feasible. If not, your water quality will suffer due to nitrate buildup, fish appetite and immunity will decline, and you'll be dealing with multiple problems.

If a larger tank would allow you to do larger water changes (more water but less frequently), then a larger tank would be "best." Otherwise, what might be better is to skip tinfoil barbs and maybe opt for something like a couple colorful and peaceful variety of tetras.

Alternatively, as an example, just angels with the fire eel. Alternatively develop a lot of plants for the tank (e.g., pothos), to minimize the nitrates.

Lots of choices. But a 200 gallon with that stock and infrequent WC will not be best, imo.

OK would à planted 200 work with angels and the fire eel

 

[Drstrangelove]

Yes, imo. That would dramatically improve the water quality and reduce the water change schedule.

 

[Night owl]

Or some black skirt tetras