African Starry Night Eel - Afromastacembelus frenatus 8-12cm

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Common name: African Starry Night Eel

Scientific name: Afroastacembelus frenatus

Average size of adult fish: They can reach 40 cm.

Place of Origin: East Africa

The eel Mastacembelus frenatus exists in Central Africa and has been found in Kasa, Haut-Congo and in the Luapula-Moero system. In East Africa, this species occurs in the Victoria basin. It is also known from the Nabugabo system, the Victoria Nile and the Aswa River, as well as Lake Tanganyika and its main ones, namely the Rusizi and Malagarazi, Akagera, Lake Kyoga and the associated small lakes and rivers. In southern South Africa, fish are found in the Upper Zambezi, Okavango and Kafue Systems, and are spread throughout the Upper Zambezi System, including many northern tributaries such as the Kabompo and West Lunga.

The Great Lakes eel is characterized by a short forehead. The snout resembles a fleshy. The is carried by 2 separate pins. The color is extremely variable, but the background color is brown with a variable, dotted pattern.

Typical tank installation: They like aquariums with plants, with rocks, logs and burrows that can serve as hiding places. Surface plants can be used. Weaker light may encourage them to go out more to walk around the aquarium and feed.

Minimum recommended capacity for aquariums: 300 liters

Compatibility: Peaceful, and behaves very well in a medium/large sized community aquarium. They should not be together with fish that are too small to be considered as food.

Temperature: 23 - 27 degrees C

Water chemistry: pH 7.5 - 8.5

Food: they are omnivorous and feed on small fish and small invertebrates: krill, shrimp and lancefish can be some options. Plant matter and detritus can also be part of the diet, but it is rare.

A well-decorated aquarium with roots and rocks that offer burrows and hiding places, with sand or fine substrate, as they are a species that likes to bury in the sand.

Ilustrative Photo. | Illustrative photo.