Mastacembelus ellipsifer: Difference between revisions
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'''''Mastacembelus ellipsifer''''' is a [[species]] of [[spiny eel]] that is [[Endemism|endemic]] to [[Lake Tanganyika]] in Africa and sometimes kept in aquariums. Although sometimes called the '''Tanganyikan spiny eel''',<ref name="Seriously"/> it is only one of fifteen spiny eel species in the Tanganyikan basin (fourteen [[Endemism|endemic]]).<ref name=Brown2010>{{cite journal | last1 = Brown | first1 = | last2 = Rüber | first2 = | last3 = Bills | first3 = | last4 = Day | first4 = | year = 2010 | title = Mastacembelid eels support Lake Tanganyika as an evolutionary hotspot of diversification | url = | journal = BMC Evolutionary Biology | volume = 10 | issue = | page = 188 | doi = 10.1186/1471-2148-10-188 }}</ref><ref name=Brown2011>{{cite journal | last1 = Brown | first1 = | last2 = Britz | first2 = | last3 = Bills | first3 = | last4 = Rüber | first4 = | last5 = Day | first5 = | year = 2011 | title = Pectoral fin loss in the Mastacembelidae: a new species from Lake Tanganyika | url = | journal = Journal of Zoology | volume = 284 | issue = 4| pages = 286–293 | doi = 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00804.x }}</ref> |
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'''''Mastacembelus ellipsifer''''', the '''Tanganyikan spiny eel''', is a [[species]] of [[spiny eel]]. It is [[Endemism|endemic]] to [[Lake Tanganyika]] in Africa and sometimes kept in aquariums. |
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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In [[Captivity (animal)|captivity]], they eat small animals such as [[prawn]], [[cockle (bivalve)|cockle]], [[mussel]], [[earthworm]]s,<ref name="Seriously" /> [[shrimp]],<ref name="African" /> and [[Chironomidae#Behavior and description|bloodworm]]. The aquarium needs piles of rocks for sheltered areas. The base of the tank needs to be covered in sand; gravel should not be used because it can damage the eel's skin. If there is light, it should be dim.<ref name="Seriously" /> The temperature of the water needs to be 73–81 °F (23–27 °C), the [[pH]] in the range 8.0–9.5, and the [[Hardness scale|hardness]] 8–25°H.<ref name="Seriously" /> [[Breeding in the wild|Breeding]] has occurred in tanks. The tank size needs to be {{convert|88|gal}}.<ref name="African" /> |
In [[Captivity (animal)|captivity]], they eat small animals such as [[prawn]], [[cockle (bivalve)|cockle]], [[mussel]], [[earthworm]]s,<ref name="Seriously" /> [[shrimp]],<ref name="African" /> and [[Chironomidae#Behavior and description|bloodworm]]. The aquarium needs piles of rocks for sheltered areas. The base of the tank needs to be covered in sand; gravel should not be used because it can damage the eel's skin. If there is light, it should be dim.<ref name="Seriously" /> The temperature of the water needs to be 73–81 °F (23–27 °C), the [[pH]] in the range 8.0–9.5, and the [[Hardness scale|hardness]] 8–25°H.<ref name="Seriously" /> [[Breeding in the wild|Breeding]] has occurred in tanks. The tank size needs to be {{convert|88|gal}}.<ref name="African" /> |
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The species might cohabit with other species that are too large for it to eat.<ref name="Seriously">{{cite web | url = |
The species might cohabit with other species that are too large for it to eat.<ref name="Seriously">{{cite web | url = https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/mastacembelus-ellipsifer/ | title = Mastacembelus ellipsifer - Tanganyikan Spiny Eel | accessdate = 2010-06-07 | work = Seriously Fish}}</ref> However, it can be aggressive to other species and might require more space.<ref name="African">{{cite web | url = http://www.riftlakes.com/cichlids/aethiomastacembelus_ellipsifer_e.html | title = Aethiomastacembelus ellipsiferA | accessdate = 2010-06-07 | work = African Cichlids }}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 21:00, 14 May 2018
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| Species: | M. ellipsifer
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| Mastacembelus ellipsifer Boulenger, 1899
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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,[1] it is only one of fifteen spiny eel species in the Tanganyikan basin (fourteen endemic).[2][3]
Description
The eel is up to 45 centimeters (18 in) long. The color is brownish-beige with a ring-shaped dark brown pattern. The dorsal fins are hard.[1] The fish is endemic to Lake Tanganyika and can commonly be found along the shores of the lake. It can commonly be found in intermediate zones.[1] The eels prefer coastal waters with a sandy, rock, or a muddy bottom. The species environment is benthopelagic freshwater.[4] The eels eat small fish in the wild. The species is nocturnal.[1] Human uses for this eel are fisheries and aquariums. The eel is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.[4] It was one of the species that was photographed as part of a FishBase mission which had the primary objective to document and photograph the rich fish diversity of Lake Tanganyika with the help of ichthyologist Dr. Tyson R. Roberts.[5]
Aquarium
In captivity, they eat small animals such as prawn, cockle, mussel, earthworms,[1] shrimp,[6] and bloodworm. The aquarium needs piles of rocks for sheltered areas. The base of the tank needs to be covered in sand; gravel should not be used because it can damage the eel's skin. If there is light, it should be dim.[1] The temperature of the water needs to be 73–81 °F (23–27 °C), the pH in the range 8.0–9.5, and the hardness 8–25°H.[1] Breeding has occurred in tanks. The tank size needs to be 88 US gallons (330 L; 73 imp gal).[6]
The species might cohabit with other species that are too large for it to eat.[1] However, it can be aggressive to other species and might require more space.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Mastacembelus ellipsifer - Tanganyikan Spiny Eel". Seriously Fish. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
- ^ Brown; Rüber; Bills; Day (2010). "Mastacembelid eels support Lake Tanganyika as an evolutionary hotspot of diversification". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 10: 188. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-10-188.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Brown; Britz; Bills; Rüber; Day (2011). "Pectoral fin loss in the Mastacembelidae: a new species from Lake Tanganyika". Journal of Zoology. 284 (4): 286–293. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00804.x.
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2012). "Mastacembelus ellipsifer" in FishBase. October 2012 version.
- ^ "Lake Tanganyika: Kigoma, Tanzania and Mpulungu, Zambia". FishBase. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
- ^ a b c "Aethiomastacembelus ellipsiferA". African Cichlids. Retrieved 2010-06-07.