Care
The Barred Spiny Eel is known from heavily vegetated canals, inundated fields, ponds, and the sluggish sections of streams and rivers. This uncommon import makes an unusual addition to the peaceful 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, bogwood, smooth rocky caves, PVC pipes and so on. Indian Almond Leaves (Terminalia catappa) are also very much appreciated as 'leaf litter', but these must be replaced on a regular basis as they gradually decompose. 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. Be sure that the aquarium has no gaps at the top, as these fish are great escape artists. Barred Spiny Eels are not aggressive, but adults are capable of taking small fish overnight, so tankmates must be chosen with care. Neon Tetra sized fish, for example, are not recommended. Suggested tankmates could include large Rasboras, large gouramis, rainbowfish, good sized peaceful botiid loach species, Geophagus species, L-number suckermouth cats etc. Keep only one eel per tank unless the aquarium is very spacious and has an abundance of visual barriers, in which case a group of 5+ may be kept together. Clean, well-filtered water is absolutely essential, but keep water movement gentle. May also be seen on sale as the Yellowfin Spiny Eel.
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.
