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Description
Fire EelBring home one of the most fascinating oddball fish in the freshwater hobby, the Fire Eel (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia). Known for its striking red lateral stripes and snake like body, this nocturnal beauty hails from the sluggish, plant rich rivers and floodplains of Southeast Asia. Despite its name, the Fire Eel is not an eel but a spiny eel, part of the Mastacembelidae family, and is admired for its intelligence, behavior, and unique appearance.
Bring home one of the most fascinating oddball fish in the freshwater hobby, the Fire Eel (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia). Known for its striking red lateral stripes and snake-like body, this nocturnal beauty hails from the sluggish, plant-rich rivers and floodplains of Southeast Asia. Despite its name, the Fire Eel is not an eel but a spiny eel, part of the Mastacembelidae family, and is admired for its intelligence, behavior, and unique appearance.
This species is ideal for experienced aquarists looking to create a large, well-decorated, and dimly lit aquarium with powerful filtration and specialized care.
At our Splashy Fish tropical fish store, our Fire Eel for sale and other freshwater fish for sale are carefully selected and packed with love! Visit us to buy them online or at our aquarium store in Virginia for more betta fish for sale, freshwater shrimp for sale, live aquatic plants for sale, and aquarium supplies.
Key Features:
- Stunning Appearance: Long, dark body with bold red-orange lateral stripes
- Large & Impressive: Can grow up to 39 inches (100 cm) in length
- Nocturnal Behavior: Hides during the day, active and entertaining at night
- Burrowing Nature: Loves soft sand substrate for digging and wallowing
- Territorial Intelligence: Recognizes keepers and displays individual behavior
Tank & Water Requirements
- Tank Size: 125+ gallons for adults
- Temperature: 75°F – 82°F (24°C – 28°C)
- pH Level: 6.0 – 7.5
- Water Hardness: Up to 18 dGH
- Lighting: Dim or diffused via plants and decor
- Substrate: Soft sand with leaf litter or Indian Almond Leaves
Ensure a tight-fitting lid because Fire Eels are notorious escape artists. Block gaps with sponge or secure covers.
Tank Setup Suggestions
- Soft sand base for burrowing
- PVC pipes, caves, smooth rocks, and driftwood for hiding
- Floating plants to diffuse light
- Blue moonlight for nighttime viewing
- Stable decor: larger Fire Eels may dislodge weak structures
Diet & Feeding
- Fire Eels are carnivorous and prefer a varied diet of frozen or live meaty foods.
- Staple Foods: Bloodworms, white mosquito larvae, brine shrimp
- Larger Treats: Mysis shrimp, chopped krill, prawns, lancefish
- Note: Dried foods are usually ignored; feed frozen for best health
- Feeding Tip: Feed at dusk or under dim lighting to align with natural activity
Tank Mates & Compatibility
- Best Kept With: Peaceful, medium to large tankmates (e.g., Geophagus, Severums, Knifefish, large Gouramis, peaceful Loaches)
- Avoid: Small fish (may be eaten) and aggressive or overly territorial species
- Intraspecies: Best kept singly unless in a very large group (5+) in a massive, well-decorated tank
Breeding (Rare in Captivity)
- Successfully bred only in very large aquariums
- Breeding pairs are usually 20+ inches long
- Spawning occurs in dense vegetation with 800–1200 eggs
- Fry require pristine water and minuscule live foods
- Still considered a rare achievement among hobbyists
Fire Eel Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Fire Eel aggressive?
Fire Eels are generally peaceful, but they can become predatory toward smaller fish, especially at night. While not overtly aggressive, they should be kept with similar-sized or larger, non-aggressive tank mates to avoid accidental predation.
Are Fire Eels rare?
Fire Eels are not considered rare overall, but their populations have declined locally in regions like Cambodia and Thailand due to overfishing. They are still commonly available in the aquarium trade, though large, healthy specimens may be harder to find.
How big of a tank do you need for a Fire Eel?
Fire Eels require a minimum tank size of 75 gallons, but a 120-gallon aquarium or larger is recommended for adult specimens. These fish grow quite large and need plenty of space to swim and hide, so a long, spacious tank with a secure lid is ideal.
Shipping Notes
- Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
- Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
- Delivery to the USA:
- Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
- If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
- We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
- Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
- To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
- Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
4.2 ★★★★★
Based on 20 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
Beneath the perfect surface
Format: Kindle
Yesteryear completely caught me off guard in the best possible way. What begins as a fascinating look into social media influence, curated perfection, and historical living slowly unfolds into something far deeper and far more emotional than I expected.
The storytelling was incredibly well done, especially the way the author balanced the polished modern influencer world against the harsh realities of 1800s frontier life. The transitions between timelines and perspectives were seamless, and by the end, every piece fit together in a way that completely redefined the story.
What made this especially compelling for me was how layered Natalie’s character felt. Her upbringing, family expectations, faith, public image, and the pressure to maintain perfection all shaped the choices she made throughout the story. Rather than feeling one-dimensional, she felt like someone slowly buckling under the weight of everything she believed she was supposed to be.
The emotional impact of this book surprised me. Beneath the historical elements and social media commentary is a story about identity, appearances, family, and the toll that constant performance can take on a person and those around them.
This is one of those books where the less you know going in, the better the experience will be. I expected an entertaining premise, but I ended up with a story that lingered long after I finished the final page.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2026
★★★★★ 3
About that twist…
Format: Kindle
SPOILER ALERT!
The thing about big, improbable twists in stories is that the less time you have to think about them, the better their effect. For fans of the classic TV show The Twilight Zone, it has always been clear that the half-hour shows were far better and far more punchy and memorable than their rather sad hour-long cousins. And a book has far, far more time to contemplate a twist than a TV show.
Unfortunately, despite some pointed observations by the author (narcissistic people are pretty much unlikable, cruelty and brutality give power to weak men, abused children very often cling to their abusers), the big, improbable twist in Yesteryear almost completely sinks the story.
The twist is the same one that sank M. Night Shyamalan’s 2004 movie The Village, and it fares no better here. Yes, people can and do live off the grid. But avoiding every single sign of civilization for years on end? Even if you’re not in a commercial flight path, there are such things as helicopters and small private planes, especially in remote areas. Perhaps people rarely stray onto private land in the wilderness, but once in a while, stray they do. And when that wilderness home was once widely publicized? Excuse me, but people are going to look for it.
This is all not to say that Yesteryear was not entertaining - it was. I read it in one sitting. The characters, as unlikable and unreliable as they are, were well drawn. A couple of the children were also quite believable, but the author’s excuse for the rest of the kids being cyphers was that their mother saw them as cyphers as well. Okay, that’s fair, but knowing them better would have enhanced the story for the reader.
This is certainly a promising book. It held my attention and was very well-written. But that twist - well, it sank M. Night Shyamalan, too.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2026
★★★★★ 4
Good read
Format: Hardcover
This book has been getting a lot of hype, and I can understand why. First, it is a very unique storyline. Very different plot. Second, the main character, Natalie, is totally unlikable. In fact, I would honestly say I loathed her. She has no likeable qualities whatsoever. I guess that is what makes you want to keep reading, to find out what happens to this nasty woman. That said, I admit I was confused at the end. I am still not sure what exactly happened to Natalie, how the situation came about, and how 10 years went by when Natalie seemed to only be telling a few months time. Was she delusional? Did she have a mental breakdown? I wish it was more clear as to what exactly happened.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2026
★★★★★ 5
What did i spend so much time reading??
Format: Kindle
Spoilers ahead This book makes me angry. A misogynistic fable that holds women as mothers as inherently either deeply flawed or as if some fairy tale perfect mother exists. I found the early parts of the novel quite funny. Thinking this poor woman why do people expect such crazy standards? Also social media influencers somehow we are to take for reality? It is entertaining and that's why we want to spend our time looking at it. It is a fantasy world. Yet that is somehow turned from something comical and poignant dissolving into madness where there can be a 16 year old that can take away your children for what I'm not sure. Filming them? Having nannies? And then again the next bunch for living off the grid? I get that this isn't going for realism. It ultimately became for me this poorly written satire maybe? Obviously what started as comically intriguing for me descended into one totally crazy crazy turn to the darkest of places. I recognize this was supposed to be some sort of cracked fairytale where nearly everyone is evil and/or mental but 30 years for child abuse? This is like a nightmare not a thriller. The book demonstrates a hatred for mothers. Just awful! It made me crave for a totally unrealistic thriller. I came to be entertained and left pissed off.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Excellent satire of tradition cult
Format: Kindle
I read this book in two days. I was eager to read it once I read the description in a Facebook post. I am a theologically conservative Christian frustrated with the tradition culture that has co-opted the faith. I see this in my social and social media circles quite a bit, and I was intrigued by a novel that took this movement to task.
Furthermore, I truly enjoy well done satire and farce. I have had a hard time finding these works written well in the past, so I was bracing myself to be disappointed. I am thankful to say, I wasn’t. I didn’t expect the novel to go the way it did (and no, I won’t post spoilers), but I literally laughed out loud a several points.
Let me compliment the author for one particular point: She doesn’t just blast the “tradwife” movement. Plenty of cultural movements and groups of people have their sins exploited. Rather than shooting a 12-gauge at religious conservatives, she takes a Tommy gun and hits a wide range of systems.
I do want to warn squeamish readers about another issue: The novel can be quite graphic at times, explicitly detailing the intimacy struggles with the main couple. It borders on the pornographic side, but not for titillation. It’s meant to show the dysfunction in the supposedly happy couple.
There were quite a few humorous moments, such as the protagonist enjoying the sounds of the chickens, only to grow wistful about their impending deaths so she can taste chicken broth. Or the protagonist’s evangelical mother reacting to her son-in-law’s purchase of a yoga mat.
I was a little disappointed in the resolution of the central issue, i.e., the time travel. But overall, the novel was an enjoyable read and worth your time.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2026