The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Xanthic Golden Fire Eel Mastacembelus Erythrotaenia 40cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Xanthic Golden Fire Eel is a rare colour form of the Fire Eel, a large spiny eel with a long, tapering body and pointed snout; here the usual dark base and red stripes are replaced by a glowing golden yellow. Fire Eels come from sluggish lowland rivers and floodplains of Southeast Asia. A spectacular centrepiece for experienced keepers with a large, calm tank.
- Adult Size: Around 60–90 cm (24–35 in) in aquaria; up to 100 cm (39 in)
- Lifespan: 15–20 years with good care
Origin
- Native to: Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia
- Habitat: Sluggish lowland rivers, floodplains, soft muddy and sandy beds
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous, strongly prefers meaty foods
- Preferred Foods: Earthworms, prawn, krill, lancefish, mussel, bloodworm
- Feeding Habits: Feed at dusk; daily when young, two to three times weekly as adults
Tank Mates
- Best with: Large peaceful fish: big barbs, silver dollars, calm cichlids, robust catfish
- Avoid: Small fish, shrimp, other fire eels, aggressive or nippy species
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Peaceful towards suitably sized fish; predatory to small ones
- Territoriality: Aggressive to conspecifics; keep one per tank
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
- Challenges: Very large adult size, escape risk, sensitive to medications and poor water
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft to moderately hard
- Temperature: 24–28°C (75–82°F)
- pH: 6.0–7.5
- Hardness: 5–12 dGH
- Flow: Slow to moderate
- Tank Size: Minimum 450 litres for an adult; 120 cm long footprint or more
Final Notes
A 40 cm specimen is already well on the way to adult size, so this is a long-term commitment to a large, wide tank. Provide sand for burrowing, caves, dim lighting or floating plants and a tight lid, as fire eels squeeze through tiny gaps. Scaleless, they react badly to copper and many medications. Sexing is possible only when females fill with eggs; captive breeding is accidental. Hand-tame and long-lived, they become real characters.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.