Electric eels are the most powerful generators of electricity among fish. Electric fish

Dominic Statham

Photo ©depositphotos.com/Yourth2007

Electrophorus electricus) lives in the dark waters of swamps and rivers in northern South America. This is a mysterious predator with complex system electrolocation and capable of moving and hunting in low visibility conditions. Using "electroreceptors" to detect distortion electric field caused by his own body, he is able to detect a potential victim while remaining undetected himself. It immobilizes the victim with a powerful electric shock, strong enough to stun such large mammal like a horse, or even kill a person. With its elongated, rounded body shape, the eel resembles the fish that we usually call the moray eel (order Anguilliformes); however, it belongs to a different order of fish (Gymnotiformes).

Fish that can detect electric fields are called electroreceptive, and those capable of generating a powerful electric field, such as an electric eel, are called electrogenic.

How does an electric eel generate such high electrical voltage?

Electric fish are not the only ones capable of generating electricity. Virtually all living organisms do this to one degree or another. The muscles in our body, for example, are controlled by the brain using electrical signals. The electrons produced by the bacteria can be used to generate electricity in fuel cells called electrocytes. (see table below). Although each cell carries only a small charge, by stacking thousands of cells in series, like batteries in a flashlight, voltages of up to 650 volts (V) can be generated. If you arrange these rows in parallel, you can produce an electric current of 1 Ampere (A), which gives an electric shock of 650 watts (W; 1 W = 1 V × 1 A).

How does an eel avoid shocking itself?

Photo: CC-BY-SA Steven Walling via Wikipedia

Scientists don't know exactly how to answer this question, but the results of some interesting observations may shed light on this problem. First, the eel's vital organs (such as the brain and heart) are located near the head, away from the electricity-producing organs, and are surrounded by fatty tissue that can act as insulation. Skin also has insulating properties, as acne with damaged skin has been observed to be more susceptible to self-stunning by electrical shock.

Secondly, eels are able to deliver the most powerful electric shocks at the moment of mating, without causing harm to the partner. However, if a blow of the same force is applied to another eel not during mating, it can kill it. This suggests that eels have some kind of defense system that can be turned on and off.

Could the electric eel have evolved?

It is very difficult to imagine how this could happen through minor changes, as required by the process proposed by Darwin. In case shock wave was important from the very beginning, then instead of stunning, it would warn the victim of danger. Moreover, in order to evolve the ability to stun prey, the electric eel would have to simultaneously develop a self-defense system. Every time a mutation arose that increased the power of the electric shock, another mutation must also arise that improved the electrical insulation of the eel. It seems unlikely that a single mutation would be sufficient. For example, in order to move organs closer to the head, a whole series of mutations would be required, which would have to occur simultaneously.

Although few fish are capable of stunning their prey, there are many species that use low-voltage electricity for navigation and communication. Electric eels belong to a group of South American fish known as knife eels (family Mormyridae) that also use electrolocation and are thought to have evolved this ability along with their South American cousins. Moreover, evolutionists are forced to declare that electrical organs in fish evolved independently of each other eight times. Considering the complexity of their structure, it is striking that these systems could have developed during evolution at least once, let alone eight.

Knives from South America and chimaeras from Africa use their electrical organs for location and communication, and use a number of various types electroreceptors. Both groups contain species that produce electric fields of various complex waveforms. Two types of knife blades Brachyhypopomus benetti And Brachyhypopomus walteri are so similar to each other that they could be classified as the same species, but the first of them produces current DC voltage, and the second is the alternating voltage current. The evolutionary story becomes even more remarkable when you dig even deeper. To ensure that their electrolocation devices do not interfere with each other and do not create interference, some species use a special system with the help of which each of the fish changes the frequency of the electrical discharge. It is noteworthy that this system works almost the same (using the same computational algorithm) as the glass knife from South America ( Eigenmannia) and African fish aba-aba ( Gymnarchus). Could such a system for eliminating interference have independently evolved in the course of evolution in two separate groups fish living on different continents?

Masterpiece of God's creation

The energy unit of the electric eel has eclipsed all human creations with its compactness, flexibility, mobility, environmental safety and self-healing ability. All parts of this device in an ideal way integrated into the sleek body, which gives the eel the ability to swim with high speed and agility. All the details of its structure - from tiny cells that generate electricity to the most complex computing complex that analyzes the distortions of the electric fields produced by the eel - point to the plan of the great Creator.

How does an electric eel generate electricity? (popular science article)

Electric fish generate electricity much like the nerves and muscles in our body. Inside electrocyte cells there are special enzyme proteins called Na-K ATPase pump out sodium ions through cell membrane, and absorb potassium ions. (‘Na’ is the chemical symbol for sodium and ‘K’ is the chemical symbol for potassium. ‘ATP’ is adenosine triphosphate, an energy molecule used to operate the pump). An imbalance between potassium ions inside and outside the cell results in a chemical gradient that pushes potassium ions out of the cell again. Likewise, an imbalance between sodium ions creates a chemical gradient that draws sodium ions back into the cell. Other proteins embedded in the membrane act as potassium ion channels, pores that allow potassium ions to leave the cell. As positively charged potassium ions accumulate on the outside of the cell, an electrical gradient builds up around the cell membrane, causing the outside of the cell to be more positively charged than the inside. Pumps Na-K ATPase (sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase) are designed in such a way that they select only one positively charged ion, otherwise negatively charged ions would also flow in, neutralizing the charge.

Most of the electric eel's body consists of electrical organs. The main organ and the Hunter's organ are responsible for the production and accumulation of electrical charge. Sachs's organ produces a low-voltage electrical field that is used for electrolocation.

The chemical gradient acts to push potassium ions out, while the electrical gradient pulls them back in. At the moment of balance, when chemical and electrical forces cancel each other out, there will be about 70 millivolts more positive charge on the outside of the cell than on the inside. Thus, a negative charge of -70 millivolts appears inside the cell.

However more Proteins embedded in the cell membrane provide sodium ion channels - these are pores that allow sodium ions to re-enter the cell. Normally these pores are closed, but when the electrical organs are activated, the pores open and positively charged sodium ions flow back into the cell under the influence of a chemical potential gradient. In this case, balance is achieved when a positive charge of up to 60 millivolts accumulates inside the cell. There is a total voltage change from -70 to +60 millivolts, and this is 130 mV or 0.13 V. This discharge occurs very quickly, in about one millisecond. And since approximately 5000 electrocytes are collected in a series of cells, up to 650 volts (5000 × 0.13 V = 650) can be generated due to the synchronous discharge of all cells.

Na-K ATPase (sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase) pump. During each cycle, two potassium ions (K+) enter the cell, and three sodium ions (Na+) leave the cell. This process is driven by the energy of ATP molecules.

Glossary

An atom or molecule that carries an electrical charge due to an unequal number of electrons and protons. An ion will have a negative charge if it contains more electrons than protons, and a positive charge if it contains more protons than electrons. Potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+) ions have a positive charge.

Gradient

A change in any value when moving from one point in space to another. For example, if you move away from the fire, the temperature drops. Thus, the fire generates a temperature gradient that decreases with distance.

Electrical gradient

Gradient of change in the magnitude of electric charge. For example, if there are more positively charged ions outside the cell than inside the cell, an electrical gradient will flow across the cell membrane. Because like charges repel each other, the ions will move in a way that balances the charge inside and outside the cell. Movements of ions due to the electrical gradient occur passively, under the influence of electrical potential energy, and not actively, under the influence of energy coming from an external source, for example from an ATP molecule.

Chemical gradient

Chemical concentration gradient. For example, if there are more sodium ions outside the cell than inside the cell, then a chemical gradient of sodium ion will flow across the cell membrane. Because of the random movement of ions and the collisions between them, there is a tendency for sodium ions to move from higher concentrations to lower concentrations until a balance is established, that is, until there are equal numbers of sodium ions on both sides of the membrane. This happens passively, as a result of diffusion. Movements are conditioned kinetic energy ions, rather than energy received from an external source such as an ATP molecule.

Length from 1 to 3 m, weight up to 40 kg. The electric eel has bare skin, without scales, and the body is very elongated, rounded in the front and somewhat compressed laterally in the back. The color of adult electric eels is olive-brown, the underside of the head and throat is bright orange, the edge of the anal fin is light, and the eyes are emerald green.

It is interesting that the electric eel develops special areas of vascular tissue in the oral cavity, which allow it to absorb oxygen directly from the atmospheric air. To capture a new portion of air, the eel must rise to the surface of the water at least once every fifteen minutes, but usually it does this somewhat more often. If the fish is deprived of this opportunity, it will die. The electric eel's ability to use atmospheric oxygen to breathe allows it to remain out of water for several hours, but only if its body and mouth remain moist. This feature provides increased survival of eels in unfavorable conditions existence.

Almost nothing is known about the reproduction of electric eels. Electric eels do well in captivity and often decorate large public aquariums. This fish is dangerous if you come into direct contact with it.

An interesting thing about the structure of electric eels are the electric organs, which occupy more than 2/3 of the body length. Generates a discharge with a voltage of up to 1300 V and a current of up to 1 A. The positive charge is in the front of the body, the negative charge is in the back. Electric organs are used by the eel to protect against enemies and to paralyze prey, which consists mainly of small fish. There is also an additional electric organ that plays the role of a locator. It is not dangerous for humans, but if it receives an electric shock it will be very painful.

Notes

Links

Categories:

• Animals in alphabetical order
• Species out of danger
• Gymnotiiformes
• Electric fish
• Animals described in 1766
• Fishes of South America

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See what “Electric eel” is in other dictionaries:

electric eel- Electric eel. electric eel (Electrophorus electricus), fish of the electric eel family. Endemic to South America. The body is elongated (about 2 m), weighs up to 20 kg, there are no dorsal or ventral fins. The color on top is olive green with light... ... Encyclopedic reference book"Latin America"

Fish of the order Cyprinidae. The only species of the family. Has electrical organs occupying approx. 4/5 body length. Gives a discharge of up to 650 V (usually less). Length from 1 to 3 m, weighs up to 40 kg. In the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. Local fishery object... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Fish of the order Cyprinidae. The only species of the family. Has electrical organs occupying about 4/5 of the body length. They give a discharge of up to 650 V (usually less). Length from 1 to 3 m, weight up to 40 kg. Inhabits the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. Local object... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

GYMNOT OR ELECTRIC EEL is a bony fish from the family. acne; water in America; has the ability to produce strong electricity. blows. Dictionary foreign words, included in the Russian language. Pavlenkov F., 1907. HYMNOT or ELECTRIC EEL... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

- (Electrophorus electricus) fish of the Electrophoridae family of the order Cypriniformes. Lives in fresh waters of Central and South America. The body is naked, up to 3 m long. Weighs up to 40 kg. Electric organs are located along the sides. Dorsal... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Fish neg. carp-like. unity family species. Has electric organs occupying approx. 4/5 body length. They give a discharge of up to 650 V (usually less). Dl. from 1 to 3 m, weight up to 40 kg. Lives in pp. Amazon and Orinoco. Local fishery object. Lab... ... Natural science. Encyclopedic Dictionary

electric eel- elektrinis ungurys statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Electrophorus electricus English. electric eel rus. electric eel ryšiai: platesnis terminas – elektriniai unguriai… Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

See Electric Fish... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

Electric catfish ... Wikipedia

ELECTRICAL, electrical, electrical. 1. adj. to electricity. Electric current. Electrical energy. Electric charge. Electric discharge. || Exciting, producing electricity. Electric machine. Electric station.… … Dictionary Ushakova

Books

• Spark of life. Electricity in the Human Body, Francis Ashcroft. Everyone knows that electricity powers machines, but what is less known is that the same can be said about ourselves. The ability to read and understand what is written, see and hear, think...

The electric eel is the only representative of the genus Electrophorus. The fish with the body of a snake is the same Electrophorus electricus. This fish lives in South America, giving preference mainly muddy water Amazon and Orinoco. The electric eel is found in stagnant, shallow water with low oxygen levels.

Description of the electric eel

The electric eel has quite large sizes – average length the body is 2-2.5 meters, and some individuals reach 3 meters.

Electric eels weigh about 40 kilograms. The body shape is snake-like and the body is slightly compressed on the sides. The head is flat.

It is noteworthy that the electric eel completely lacks scales. The pectoral and caudal fins of the eel are very well developed, with their help the fish swims well and can move in different sides. The color is camouflage gray-brown, it helps during hunting. The color of the head may differ from the general color and have an orange tint.

The unique feature of the electric eel

The name emphasizes the uniqueness of this fish; it is capable of generating electricity. The body of the electric eel is covered with special cells that are connected by nerve canals.

At the very beginning of the body the electrical discharge is weak, but towards the tail it becomes stronger. The electric eel's current is deadly not only for small fish, but also for large opponents.

The power of the electrical impulse of this fish is on average 350 V. For people, such an electric shock is not fatal, but it can stun or cause loss of consciousness, so you should stay away from the electric eel.

The electric eel's mouth has unique vascular tissue, so it must sometimes rise to the surface to take a breath of air. It can remain on the surface for more than 10 minutes, while no other species of fish remains in the air for more than 30 seconds.

Electric eel hunting

This predator attacks suddenly; it does not give in even to large victims. If there is any living creature near the eel, it shakes its body, resulting in the formation of a charge with a power of 300-350 V, which instantly kills the prey located nearby, as a rule, this is a small fish.

When the paralyzed prey sinks to the bottom, the electric eel slowly approaches it and swallows it whole. After eating food, he rests for several minutes, digesting it.

Reproduction of electric eels

Very little is known about the reproduction of these fish. Scientists still don't fully know life cycle electric eel. It is known that at certain times eels swim away to hard-to-reach places, and they appear together with their grown-up offspring.

Some scientists believe that male electric eels make a nest out of saliva, and the female lays eggs in this nest. Approximately 17 thousand small fish emerge from one clutch. Individuals that are born first most often eat the rest of the eggs from the clutch.

Science does not know how the fertilization process occurs, where the young animals develop and what the babies eat. But it is clear that an electric eel with a body length of 10-12 centimeters is considered an adult.

Interesting facts about electric eels

The vision of these fish is extremely poor; it is believed that with age they are generally unable to see, and they are active mainly at night. They receive information about nearby obstacles using locators with low-frequency waves;
The electric eel has nothing in common with the common eel. The electric eel is a member of the class of ray-finned fish;
The electric eel has short teeth, so it does not chew its food, but swallows it completely;
Predatory eels eat not only small fish, but also amphibians, birds, crustaceans and small mammals;
With the help of electrical charges, individuals communicate with each other;
If you take a young electric eel, you can feel a slight tingling sensation;
Information about these fish first appeared in the 17th century. Then they were considered unknown creatures of the Antilles Sea. But 100 years later, Alexander von Humboldt made a description of the electric eel.

Life of electric eels in an aquarium

Unfortunately, the proximity of other eels and other types of fish will not work, since the neighbors are unlikely to be able to tolerate the electrical discharges emitted by the eel. When an eel simply swims, it emits discharges with a power of 10-15 V, which act as electro-navigation, but when the prey approaches it, the signal power becomes much stronger.

Aeration is not necessary in the electric eel's home. The water temperature should not fall below 25 degrees, acidity is maintained within 7-8, and hardness 11-13 degrees. Electric eels do not tolerate frequent changes of water. It is believed that these fish create their own microclimate, accumulating antimicrobial substances that prevent them from getting sick, and if the water is changed too often, ulcers begin to develop on the surface of the eel’s body.

A sandy substrate is created at the bottom of the reservoir, and some pebbles are also allowed. The amount of vegetation in an electric eel aquarium should be moderate, and there should also be driftwood, rocks and caves.

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And dangerous, it lives in shallow muddy rivers of the northeastern part of the South American continent. It has nothing to do with common eels, being a gymnotic fish. Its main feature is the ability to generate electric charges of various strengths and purposes, as well as detect electric fields.

Habitat

Over thousands of years of evolution, electric eels have adapted to survive in extremely unfavorable conditions of overgrown and silted water bodies. Its usual habitat is stagnant, warm and muddy. fresh water with severe oxygen deficiency.

The eel is breathing atmospheric air, so every quarter of an hour or more often it rises to the surface of the water to capture a portion of air. If you deprive him of this opportunity, he will suffocate. But without any harm, an eel can go without water for several hours if its body and mouth are moisturized.

Description

The electric eel has an elongated body, slightly compressed from the sides and back, and rounded in front. The color of adults is greenish-brown. The throat and lower part of the flattened head are bright orange. Characteristic feature- lack of scales, skin covered with mucus.

The fish grows on average up to 1.5 m in length and weighs up to 20 kg, but there are also three-meter specimens. Absence of abdominal and dorsal fin enhances the resemblance of an eel to a snake. It moves in wave-like movements using a large anal fin. Can equally easily move up and down, back and forth. Pectoral fins Small in size, they act as stabilizers when moving.

Leads a solitary lifestyle. Spends most of its time at the bottom of the river, frozen among thickets of algae. Eels wake and hunt at night. They feed mainly on small fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and if they are lucky, birds and small animals. The victim is swallowed whole.

Unique Feature

In fact, the ability to create electricity is not some extraordinary feature. Any living organism can do this to some extent. For example, our brain controls our muscles using electrical signals. The eel produces electricity just like the muscles and nerves in our body. Electrocyte cells accumulate a charge of energy extracted from food. Their synchronous generation of action potentials leads to the formation of short electrical discharges. As a result of the summation of thousands of tiny charges accumulated by each cell, a voltage of up to 650 V is created.

The eel emits electrical charges of various powers and purposes: impulses of protection, fishing, rest and search.

In a calm state, it lies at the bottom and does not generate any electrical signals. When hungry, it begins to swim slowly, emitting pulses of voltage up to 50 V with an approximate duration of 2 ms.

Having detected prey, it sharply increases their frequency and amplitude: the voltage increases to 300-600 V, duration - 0.6-2 ms. A series of pulses consists of 50-400 discharges. The electrical discharges sent paralyze the victim. To stun small fish, which the eel mainly feeds on, it uses high-frequency pulses. Pauses between discharges are used to restore energy.

When the immobilized prey sinks to the bottom, the eel calmly swims up to it and swallows it whole, and then rests for a while, digesting the food.

Defending itself from enemies, the eel emits a series of rare high-voltage pulses ranging from 2 to 7, and 3 small-amplitude search ones.

Electrolocation

The electric organs of eels serve not only for hunting and protection. They use weak discharges with a power of up to 10 V for electrolocation. The vision of these fish is weak, and with old age it deteriorates even more. They receive information about the world around them from electrical sensors located throughout their body. In the photo of an electric eel, its receptors are clearly visible.

An electric field pulsates around a swimming eel. As soon as any object, for example a fish, a plant, a stone, is within the sphere of action of the field, the shape of the field changes.

Catching the distortions of the electric field it creates with special receptors, it finds a path and hiding prey in the muddy water. This hypersensitivity gives the electric eel an advantage over other species of fish and animals that rely on vision, smell, hearing, touch, and taste.

Electric organs of eels

The generation of discharges of varying power is carried out by organs of different types, occupying almost 4/5 of the length of the fish. In the front part of his body there is a positive pole of the “battery”, in the tail area there is a negative one. Men's and Hunter's organs produce high-voltage impulses. Discharges for communication and navigation functions are generated by the Sachs organ located in the tail. The distance at which individuals can communicate with each other is about 7 meters. To do this, they emit a series of discharges of a certain type.

The highest eels recorded in fish kept in aquariums reached 650 V. In fish one meter long, it is no more than 350 V. This power is enough to light five light bulbs.

How eels protect themselves from electric shock

The voltage generated during hunting by an electric eel reaches 300-600 V. It is fatal to small inhabitants such as crabs, fish and frogs. And large animals, such as caimans, tapirs and adult anacondas, prefer to stay away from dangerous places. Why don't electric eels shock themselves?

The vital organs (including the heart) are located close to the head and are protected by fatty tissue, which acts as an insulator. Its skin has the same insulating properties. It has been observed that when the skin is damaged, the vulnerability of fish to electric shocks increases.

One more recorded interesting fact. During mating, eels generate very powerful discharges, but they do not cause damage to the partner. A discharge of such power, produced under normal conditions, and not during the mating period, can kill another individual. This suggests that eels have the ability to turn the electric shock defense system on and off.

Reproduction

Eels spawn with the onset of the dry season. Males and females find each other by sending impulses in the water. The male builds a well-hidden nest from saliva, where the female lays up to 1,700 eggs. Both parents take care of the offspring.

The skin of the fry is a light ocher shade, sometimes with marble stains. The first hatched fry begin to eat the rest of the eggs. They feed on small invertebrates.

Electrical organs in fry begin to develop after birth, when their body length reaches 4 cm. Small larvae are capable of generating an electric current of several tens of millivolts. If you hold a fry that is only a few days old, you can feel a tingling sensation from electrical discharges.

Having grown to 10-12 cm in length, the juveniles begin to lead an independent lifestyle.

Electric eels do well in captivity. The lifespan of males is 10-15 years, females - up to 22. How long do they live in natural environment- not known for certain.

The aquarium for keeping these fish must be at least 3 m long and 1.5-2 m deep. It is not recommended to change the water in it often. This leads to the appearance of ulcers on the body of the fish and their death. The mucus that coats the skin of acne contains an antibiotic that prevents ulcers, and frequent changes of water appear to reduce its concentration.

In relation to representatives of its species, the eel, in the absence of sexual desire, shows aggression, so only one individual can be kept in the aquarium. The water temperature is maintained at 25 degrees and above, hardness - 11-13 degrees, acidity - 7-8 pH.

Is eel dangerous for humans?

Which electric eel is especially dangerous to humans? It should be noted that for a person an encounter with him is not fatal, but can lead to loss of consciousness. The electrical discharge from the eel causes muscles to contract and become painfully numb. Unpleasant feeling may last several hours. In larger individuals, the current strength is greater, and the consequences of a shock will be more dire.

This predatory fish attacks even a larger opponent without warning. If any object comes within the range of its electric field, it does not swim away or hide, preferring to attack first. Therefore, under no circumstances should you approach a meter-long eel closer than 3 meters.

Although the fish is a delicacy, catching it is deadly. Local residents have invented an original way to catch electric eels. To do this, they use cows, which can withstand electric shocks well. Fishermen drive a herd of animals into the water and wait for the cows to stop mooing and rushing about in fear. After this, they are driven onto land and begin to catch harmless eels with nets. Electric eels cannot generate current indefinitely, and the discharges gradually become weaker and stop altogether.

The electric eel (lat. Electrophorus electricus) is one of the few fish that has developed the ability to generate electricity, which not only helps in orientation, but also kills.
Many fish have special organs that produce a weak electric field for navigation and searching for food (for example, elephant fish). But not everyone has the opportunity to shock their victims with this electricity, as the electric eel does!

For biologists, the Amazonian electric eel is a mystery. It combines a variety of characteristics that often belong to different fish. Like many eels, it needs to breathe to live. atmospheric oxygen. He often spends most of his time at the bottom, but every 10 minutes he rises to swallow oxygen, so he receives more than 80% of the oxygen he needs.
Despite its shape, which is typical of an eel, the electric one is more closely related to the knifefish that lives in South Africa.

Level electric current, which the eel can produce, is much higher than that of other fish of its family. It produces it with the help of a very large organ consisting of thousands of elements that produce electricity. In fact, 80% of his body is covered in such elements. When it is resting, there is no discharge, but when it is active, an electric field is generated around it. Its normal frequency is 50 kilohertz, but it is capable of generating up to 600 volts. This is enough to paralyze most fish, and even an animal the size of a horse, and it is just as dangerous for humans, especially residents of coastal villages.

He needs this electric field for orientation in space and hunting, and of course also for self-defense. There is also an opinion that with the help of an electric field, males find females.
Two electric eels in the same aquarium usually do not get along; they begin to bite each other and shock each other. Due to this and its method of hunting, as a rule, only one electric eel is kept in an aquarium.

Video - electric eel kills a crocodile:

The South American electric eel was first described in 1766. This is very common freshwater fish, which lives in South America along the entire length of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. Habitat in places with warm but muddy water- tributaries, streams, ponds, even swamps. Places with a low oxygen content in the water do not frighten the electric eel, since it is able to breathe atmospheric oxygen, after which it rises to the surface every 10 minutes. This nocturnal predator, who has very poor vision and relies more on his electric field, which he uses to navigate in space. In addition, with its help, he finds and paralyzes prey.

Juvenile electric eels feed on insects, but mature individuals eat fish, amphibians, birds, and even small mammals that wander into a body of water. Life is also made easier for them by the fact that in nature they have almost no natural predators. A 600-volt electric eel shock can not only kill a crocodile, but even a horse.

Description

The body is elongated, cylindrical in shape. This is very big fish, in nature, eels can grow up to 250 cm in length and weigh more than 20 kg. In an aquarium they are usually smaller, about 125-150 cm. However, they can live for about 15 years. Generates a discharge with voltage up to 1300 V and current up to 1 A.

The eel does not have a dorsal fin, but instead has a very long anal fin, which it uses for swimming. The head is flattened, with a large, square-shaped mouth. The body color is mostly dark gray with an orange throat. Juveniles are olive-brown with yellow spots.

Difficulty in content

Keeping an electric eel is not difficult, provided you can provide it with a spacious aquarium and pay for its feeding. As a rule, he is quite unpretentious, has a good appetite and eats almost all types of protein feed. As already mentioned, it can produce a current of up to 600 volts, so only experienced aquarists should keep it. Most often it is kept either by very enthusiastic hobbyists, or in zoos and exhibitions.

Feeding

The electric eel is a predator; it eats everything it can swallow. In nature, these are usually fish, amphibians, small mammals. Juveniles eat insects, but adult fish prefer fish. At first they need to be fed with live fish, but they are also capable of eating protein foods such as fish fillets, shrimp, mussel meat, etc.

They quickly understand when they will be fed and rise to the surface to beg for food. Never touch them with your hands, as this may cause the strongest blow electric shock!

Electric eel eats goldfish:

The electric eel is a very large fish that spends most of its time at the bottom of the aquarium. It requires a volume of 800 liters or more so that it can move and unfold freely. Remember that even in captivity, eels grow over 1.5 meters!

Juveniles grow quickly and gradually require more and more volume. Be prepared that you will need an aquarium of at least 1500 liters, and even more to keep a couple. Because of this, the electric eel is not very popular and is mainly kept in zoos. And yes, it still gives an electric shock; it can easily poison a careless owner to a better world.

These massive fish that leave behind a lot of waste require a very powerful filter. External is better, since the fish easily breaks everything that is inside the aquarium.

Since he is practically blind, he does not like bright light, but loves twilight and plenty of hiding places. Temperature for keeping 25-28C, hardness 1 - 12 dGH, ph: 6.0-8.5.

Compatibility with other fish

The electric eel is not aggressive, but due to the methods with which it hunts, it is only suitable for solitary keeping. It is also not recommended to keep them in pairs, as they may fight.

Sex differences

Mature females are larger than males.

Breeding

Does not breed in captivity. The electric eel has a very interesting way reproduction. The male builds a nest from saliva during the dry season, and the female lays eggs in it. There is a lot of caviar, thousands of eggs. But the first fry that appear begin to eat these eggs.

Aug 27, 2014 admin