{"product_id":"spotted-spiny-eel-macrognathus-siamensis","title":"Spotted Spiny Eel | Macrognathus siamensis","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Spotted Spiny Eel, better known as the Peacock Eel, is a snake-like sand-burrower with peacock-spotted flanks and a long, questing snout. Peaceful with anything too large to swallow but a determined escape artist, it commonly reaches 20–25 cm and can approach 30 cm, making a fascinating, characterful resident for a soft-sand aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMacrognathus siamensis is native to the slow rivers, floodplains and still backwaters of mainland Southeast Asia — Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. It lives over soft, silty or sandy bottoms among leaf litter, roots and vegetation, spending the day buried with only its eyes and snout showing.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn elongate, eel-shaped fish (not a true eel) with a slender, pointed snout, low-set fins and a series of eye-like \"peacock\" spots along the rear of the body. The base colour is warm sandy brown with fine mottling, giving superb camouflage against the substrate.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePeaceful and rather shy, it is nocturnal and predatory only toward small fish and invertebrates it can swallow — small tetras, rasboras and nano fish will be eaten. With larger, calm tank mates it is a model citizen, emerging at dusk to hunt along the bottom. It may squabble with its own kind over hiding spots.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA carnivore that prefers meaty, sinking foods offered after dark. Frozen and live bloodworm, blackworm, earthworm pieces, brine shrimp and chopped prawn are relished; many individuals are slow to accept dry foods, so be patient and feed in the evening once tank mates have settled.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide at least 150 L, ideally 200 L or more, with a soft sand substrate that it can burrow into safely — sharp gravel damages the snout and skin. Keep the temperature at 23–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5 and soft to neutral water. Provide caves, timber and shade, and above all a very tight-fitting lid, as spiny eels are legendary escapees. It is largely plant safe, though it may dislodge plants while burrowing.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBreeding in home aquaria is uncommon and rarely reported in detail. Spiny eels are egg-scatterers thought to spawn among fine plants when well conditioned, but sexing is difficult and success is rare outside dedicated setups. Most fish in the trade are wild-caught or farmed rather than home-bred.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMacrognathus siamensis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpotted Spiny Eel, Peacock Eel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMainland Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommonly 20–25 cm; can approach 30 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–18 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (nocturnal; predatory on small fish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e150 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore: frozen and live bloodworm, blackworm, earthworm, prawn\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e23–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft to neutral, around 4–15 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft-sand community aquariums with larger, calm tank mates\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMostly (may dislodge plants while burrowing)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include medium peaceful fish such as larger rainbowfish, larger barbs, gouramis, angelfish, peaceful cichlids and larger corydoras.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with small fish and shrimp that will be eaten, aggressive or boisterous species, and sharp gravel substrates that injure the snout.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232872874275,"sku":"AA1738-S","price":19.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232872907043,"sku":"AA1738","price":24.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232872939811,"sku":"AA1738-L","price":29.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-25cm)","offer_id":55351970627875,"sku":"AA1738-XL","price":34.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/spotted-spiny-eel-macrognath-43091554402595-lv.webp?v=1790307724","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/spotted-spiny-eel-macrognathus-siamensis","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}