An electric eel is a freshwater fish that uses electricity to hunt and defend itself.
It may be *shocking* that people keep these fish as pets. You might be wondering, can eels shock you? Would an electric eel kill a human?
As they are dangerous fish, we should leave housing to the experts.
What Are Electric Eels?
Are electric eels actually electric? Yes! Electric eels have three organs that produce electricity. They can produce up to 600 volts of electricity.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute says:
“The electric eel has a slender, snake-like body and flattened head. Its thick, scaleless skin is generally dark gray to brown, and its underside is a yellow-orange color.”
A dangerous predator, the National Aquarium says that:
“Electric eels live in muddy waters. Mostly blind, they rely on low-level electrical pulses to navigate and explore their surroundings. Higher levels of voltage are generated to stun or kill prey and to protect them from predators.”
- Common Names: Electric eel
- Electric Eel Scientific Name: Electrophorus electricus
- Origin: South America — Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Peru, & Brazil
- Length: 8 ft (2.4 m)
- Aquarium Size: 540+ gallons
- Temperament: Semi-aggressive
- Ease of Care: Expert
Are all eels electric? The surprising truth is that NO eels have an electric charge because the electric eel isn’t even a true eel.
Electric Eels Aren’t Eels
What is an eel?
- Has a continuous dorsal fin that connects with the caudal and anal fins
- Small, embedded scales or no scales
- Freshwater eels spend part of their lives in freshwater and part in saltwater
- They produce slime
- They have many sharp teeth
- Juvenile eels are flat and look like a ribbon
Why aren’t electric eels true eels?
- Electric eels do not have a dorsal fin, but a long anal fin
- Electric eels do not spend part of their lives in saltwater, they are solely freshwater fish
- Electric eels do not have teeth.
- Electric eels breathe air
So, electric eels are not true eels. Instead, they are a type of knifefish and are more closely related to catfish and carp.
How To Care For An Electric Eel
In many places, it’s legal to keep an electric eel as a pet, you’ll just need to be careful when caring for them.
Fortunately, electric eels are adaptable. They can deal with a wide range of water parameters.
With that said, they are sensitive to changes in the water parameters, so you should aim to keep them stable. Test the water regularly to ensure the parameters are stable.
Electric eels are tropical fish used to warmer water, so keep the aquarium between 73-82°F (23-28°C). The pH should be between 5.5-7.0, and the water hardness should be between 1-12dGH.
Tank Size & Decorations
Electric eels can grow to enormous sizes. So, you’ll need a tank that is at least 540 gal (2,040L) for a single fish.
The most important thing to have when keeping these fish is a sturdy, secure lid. Electric eels are skillful jumpers, and they will leap out of the tank if they have the chance. Secure the lid to the top of the tank, don’t simply place it over the top. Also, be sure that the lid covers the entire tank, leaving no gaps.
They aren’t particular about decorations. But, you should provide them with places to hide. Large, smooth rocks are ideal, but you can also include large pieces of driftwood.
Choose a sandy or muddy substrate to mimic their native habitats.
The waters of their native rivers are dark and murky, so avoid bright lighting. Opt instead for a soft glow.
Water Flow
In their native habitat, electric eels like gentle, slow-moving waters. So, make sure that the current is not too strong in your aquarium.
Avoid filling the aquarium all the way to the top. Electric eels are obligate air breathers, so they need to surface to breathe. Leave at least 6 in (15.24 cm) between the water line and the top of the tank.
What Does Electric Eel Eat?
Electric eels are carnivores. While they prefer live food, it is possible to wean them onto live food with time. Breeding in captivity is extremely difficult, and there hasn’t been much success so far. So, any electric eel kept in an aquarium will be wild-caught. So, you’ll need to start them on live food.
Many keepers provide trout, whitebait, and other kinds of fish.
Juveniles need smaller food choices like earthworms, insect larvae, prawns, or mussels.
When feeding these fish, you should only feed them at the surface. They will begin to associate you with food and come to the top of the tank when it’s time to eat. DO NOT attempt to hand-feed these fish as they may shock you.
Cleaning
As these fish can shock you, you’ll need to take special care when cleaning their tanks. They’re messy fish, so placing your hands in the tank is unavoidable.
A shock from your fish is unlikely, but not impossible.
To prevent severe shock, wear rubber-bottomed shoes when cleaning. If you need to move the fish, do not touch it with your hands. Instead, use a long, wooden-handled net.
Electric Eel Tank Mates
Electric eels are large, dangerous predators. They are likely to kill anything that comes their way. They’re not extremely aggressive. Still, the way they hunt means they will kill anything in the tank, even fish larger than themselves.
So, electric eels are best kept alone.
Avoid keeping two electric eels together. They will viciously fight with each other.
It’s possible to keep electric eels in groups of three or more. To house a group, you will need at least 2,500 gal (9,463 L). For most hobbyists, a tank that large is not possible or sustainable.
How Does the Electric Eel Compare To Other Eels?
Are you not sure if an electric eel is right for your aquarium? See how they compare to other common aquarium eels.
| Electric Eel | Green Wolf Eel | Snowflake Moray Eel | Fire Eel | Honeycomb Moray Eel | Ribbon Moray Eel | |
| Temperament | Semi-Aggressive | Aggressive | Semi-Aggressive | Mostly Peaceful | Aggressive | Semi-Aggressive |
| Preferred Habitat | Low-light, sandy/muddy substrate with rocks | Live Rock | Live Rock & Caves | Gravel substrate, low-light, with rocks/caves | Live Rocks & Caves | Live Rock |
| Lifespan | Males: 10-15 years Females: 12-22 years | 5+ years | 5-15 years | 10 years | 30 years | 20 years |
| Size | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 18 in (45.7 cm) | 24 in (61 cm) | 40 in (100 cm) | 4-5 ft (1.2-1.5 m) | 36-48 in (91.4-121.9 cm) |
| Saltwater VS Freshwater | Freshwater | Saltwater | Saltwater | Freshwater | Saltwater | Saltwater |
| True Eel? | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Conclusion
It is legal in many areas to keep an electric eel as a pet. Still, care should be left to aquariums, zoos, and expert aquarists. They are hardy fish, but need a large amount of water and can be dangerous to clean. But, if you’re up to the task, there’s no doubt that you’ll have the most interesting pet in your neighborhood.
FAQs
Are electric eels dangerous?
It’s extremely unlikely, but not impossible for an electric eel to kill a human. They can produce up to 600 volts of electricity. Some people have died receiving only about 100 volts.
But, it’s not all about the strength of the shock.
Besides the voltage, you must also consider the current and the resistance. So, the amount of electricity an electric eel produces is highly unlikely to kill a human.
But, if an electric eel delivers several continuous shocks to a human (also unlikely), it may cause the heart to stop.
It’s also possible (but unlikely) for an electric eel to immobilize someone enough that they can’t lift their head above water. In such a case, a person could drown.
The exact date of discovery is unknown. But, people knew about electric eels long before the discovery of electricity.
The “electric” eel didn’t get its scientific name (Electrophorus electricus) until about 250 years ago. Before that, it was called “arimma” by the indigenous people of Venezuela. “Arimma” translates to “something that deprives you of motion”.
Early European naturalists later referred to the fish as a “numb eel”.
You can eat electric eels, but there’s no point in doing so. Most of their body consists of bones and the organs that produce electricity. About 80% of their body cavity is filled by those organs alone.
So, once you remove the organs and bones, there’s not much left to consume. What meat the fish does have isn’t very nutritious.
