Asian swamp eel
Monopterus albus
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The Asian swamp eel from East and Southeast Asia lives in rice paddies, canals, swamps and slow rivers. It breathes air and, in the dry season, burrows into moist mud, where it survives for a long time. Nocturnal, it hunts fish, worms and crustaceans. It changes sex during its life, and the male guards the nest. It is an important food fish and has been introduced to the United States.
- Scientific name
- Monopterus albus
- Family
- Synbranchidae
Fact sheet
General
- Water
- Freshwater
- Group
- Fish
Taxonomy
- Family
- Synbranchidae
- Order
- Synbranchiformes
- Synonyms
- Aptergia immaculata, Aptergia nigromaculata, Apterigia immaculata, Apterigia nigromaculata, Apterigia saccogularis, Fluta alba, Gymnotus albus, Monopterus alba, Monopterus cinereus, Monopterus helvolus, Monopterus javanensis, Monopterus javanicus, Monopterus laevis, Monopterus marmoratus, Monopterus xanthognathus
Origin
- Native region
- Oceania, Ásia
Water
- Temperature
- 25–28 °C
- pH
- 6–8
- General hardness (GH)
- 3–25 °dGH
Size and lifespan
- Adult size
- 100 cm
- Minimum tank (volume)
- 648 L
- Minimum tank (length)
- 180 cm
Behavior
- Swimming level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Carnivore
Care
- Care difficulty
- Moderate
Conservation and trade
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
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