Home / Fishes / Spiny eels and swamp eels / Mastacembelus ellipsifer
No federal permit to keepMastacembelus ellipsifer
Mastacembelus ellipsifer
Fishes › Spiny eels and swamp eels (Synbranchiformes) › Mastacembelidae (Spiny eels)
Mastacembelus ellipsifer is a species of spiny eel that is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Africa and sometimes kept in aquariums.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 90 in long and 36 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 17.7 in / 45 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 47 × 18 in (roughly 64 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: hard, alkaline water, 73–81 °F, pH 8–9.5, 8–25 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament predatory.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Use piles of rocks to form sheltered areas.”
- Diet: “In nature, the spiny eel preys on small fish but aquarium specimens readily accept dead alternatives.”
- Tankmates: “Peaceful with species it cannot fit into its mouth.”
- Breeding: “Has not been bred in the hobby.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Spiny eels
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: The listed Asian spiny eels inhabit freshwater rivers, backwaters and floodplains, with fire eels associated particularly with sluggish lowland water. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Use soft sand that permits burrowing; avoid sharp gravel.
- Provide daytime shelters using wood, caves or appropriately sized PVC tubes.
- Fit a close-fitting cover and seal escape gaps.
- Use subdued lighting, floating plants and gentle flow for fire eels.
- The fire-eel profile specifies 48 × 24 × 24 inches, about 114 US gallons, but also reports adults up to 39 inches; plan accommodation around actual adult size and enlarge accordingly.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 75.2–82.4°F |
Diet
- Prawns and krill for large Mastacembelus.
- Lancefish or other suitable meaty foods for large specimens.
- Small live or frozen invertebrates for juveniles and smaller species.
Social life
- Usually house large Mastacembelus singly; small fishes may be eaten. Smaller Macrognathus can be more sociable, but compatibility requires species-specific assessment.
Handling
- For necessary capture use a deep soft net and prepare a deep double bag; minimize abrasion.
Health watch
- Skin trauma from substrate or capture.
- Bacterial skin infections.
- Parasitic infections.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
Although sometimes called the Tanganyikan spiny eel, it is only one of fifteen spiny eel species in the Tanganyikan basin (fourteen endemic).
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Mastacembelus ellipsifer” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. Inhabits coastal waters with sandy, rocky or muddy bottom. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 86°F (up to 91°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 59°F (down to 54°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 68–81°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 54–72% on average (driest month about 57%) |
| Rainfall | about 1057 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons |
Measured at 19 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Mastacembelus ellipsifer is a species of spiny eel that is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Africa and sometimes kept in aquariums. Although sometimes called the Tanganyikan spiny eel, it is only one of fifteen spiny eel species in the Tanganyikan basin (fourteen endemic). — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | M. ellipsifer can up to 45 cm long. It is brown, with a darker ring-shaped pattern running down its back. Its dorsal fins are hard. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Inhabits coastal waters with sandy, rocky or muddy bottom. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 47 × 18 in (about 64 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Mastacembelus erythrotaenia — Seriously Fish Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Spiny Freshwater Eels, Family Mastacembelidae — Bob Fenner Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Spiny Eel Foods and Nutrition — WetWebMedia Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
