Tire track eels and yellowtail botia

I just add my 4 Tiretrack eels in my +300L tank. I only have one small bar tigerfish and 2 yellowtail botia in there. It looks like the botia is attacking my eels, but there is no biting marks, should I remove the botia?

 

Hey there

You might want to clarify exactly what that 'small bar tigerfish' is. It could mean one of many things, from tiger barbs (Puntius tetrazona) to African tigerfish (Hydrocynus sp) or even Asian Tigerfish (Datnoides sp). Some of the above mentioned are illegal, and some are predators that could easily slurp up your eels.

Besides that, yes, it may be best to remove the botia. They're known to cause problems with other fish, especially other bottom dwellers. Even if there are no marks on the eels now, eventually damage could be done. Rather remove the problem before it gets worse. I can also forsee the botia out-comepeting the eels for food.

 

Salmon, from what i remember, those eels are huge!!

 

They can get big, but they don't start off big. Normally when they come into the shop, they'll range from 5cm to 20cm. An easy mouthful for some fish.

 

It's a Datnoides, not illegal in Namibia, eels about 30cm+

 

As I'm sure you know, they have big mouths. The eels are big enough to handle themselves, but I'd still keep an eye out.

And I'd still consider removing the botia.

 

update...all is gr8..botia and eels are best buddies now!!

 

Hey XW - green with envy over your Datnoides - have been wanting one since kiddie days,but they are BL'd here....Saw some truely giant specimens in a tank with an Arapaima gigas(baby) on a biz trip to Taiwan once - couldnt tear myself away....so enjoy yours!!!

 

That Datnoides is the legend when it comes to fish survival!!

Or what do you say XW?

 

Oh I do and I love him to bits..He eats anything...pellets,bloodworms,brine shrimp, frozen shrimp and once a week he gets live food that I breed myself.He is still a baby, but getting bigger by the day

---------- Post added at 13:10 ---------- Previous post was at 13:10 ----------

Yep, that is why his name is Lucky. When he got here he had almost no water in the bag. He layed on the bottom of the tank for 2 days. Tried to get him to eat and then decided to offer him my shrimp, he ate them all in a couple of seconds. He was a loner from the start and his brothers and sisters use to pick on him, so I sold them all and only kept lucky.I do not think he knows he is a fish, but that is okay with me.He stole my hart from the first day I saw him!!