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Zebra Spiny Eel, photographed on a transparent background
Photo: George Henry Ford · Public domain

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Zebra Spiny Eel

Macrognathus zebrinus

The Zebra Spiny Eel (Macrognathus zebrinus) is a tropical freshwater fish of the family Mastacembelidae. It swims in midwater, close to the bottom. It grows to 46 cm (total length). The IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern. In the aquarium it is kept at 23–26 °C.

Size
46 cmtotal length
Temperature
23–26 °C
pH
6.5–7.5
Tank footprint
120 × 45 cm

In the aquarium

Temperature23–26 °C
pH6.5–7.5
Hardness5–15 °dGH
Drawn to scale in a 120 cm tank

In the wild

Water type
Freshwater
Climate zone
Tropical
Habitat
Midwater, close to the bottom
Aquarium trade
Traded commercially

Conservation status

Classification

  1. OrderSynbranchiformes
  2. FamilyMastacembelidae
  3. GenusMacrognathus
  4. SpeciesMacrognathus zebrinus

Quick answers

Zebra Spiny Eel size: how big does it get?
It grows to 46 cm (total length).
Zebra Spiny Eel tank size: what is the minimum?
A tank with a footprint of at least 120 × 45 cm.
Zebra Spiny Eel water parameters: what does it need?
Temperature 23–26 °C, pH 6.5–7.5, hardness 5–15 °dGH.
Zebra Spiny Eel: is it endangered?
The IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern.

All species A–Z

Sources

The figures on this page are compiled from the references below.