Care
Mastacembelus ellipsifer is endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it is found fairly close to shore in areas where the rocks give way to sandy and muddy substrates. This uncommon import makes an unusual addition to the hardwater Tanganyikan fish community where there are no small fish present. The aquarium should have a soft sand substrate so that these diggers can bury themselves, and plenty of hiding places amongst plant thickets, driftwood, smooth rocky caves, PVC pipes and so on. Larger specimens are capable of undermining the decor, so do ensure everything is well supported and secure - many aquarists like to place the decor on the base of the aquarium prior to adding substrate around it. The footprint (length and width) of the tank is much more important than the height, and be sure there are no gaps at the top, as these fish are great escape artists. Lighting should be diffused with the use of floating plants, and it is also a good idea to use a blue moon light timed to come on just before the main lights go out, so that you can view the antics of these nocturnal creatures under their preferred dimly lit conditions. Although they tend to stay buried for much of the day with just their snouts protruding from the cover, they do become very active at night. Tanganyikan Spiny Eels are not particularly aggressive, but adults will take small fish overnight, so tankmates must be chosen with care. More than one can be kept in the same aquarium providing it is very spacious and there is an abundance of visual barriers amongst the decor. Clean, well-filtered water is absolutely essential, but keep water movement gentle.
Feeding
Must be given frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, daphnia etc. Larger specimens will take bigger frozen foods such as Mysis shrimp, finely chopped krill etc. Dried foods are rarely accepted.
Breeding
This species has not been bred in the home aquarium.
