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Burmese spiny eel

Macrognathus orthosemos

Also known as Orthosemos spiny eel

FreshwaterFish

Burmese spiny eel (Macrognathus orthosemos)

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
8.7 in
22 cm
Minimum tank
53 gal
200 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Mastacembelidae
Origin
Southern Myanmar streams

Overview

The Burmese spiny eel is a solitary, burrowing spiny eel for a soft-bottomed tank. It is best with a little experience.

Did you know

The Burmese spiny eel was only formally named in 2020. Its naming is a reminder that new spiny eels are still being described from Southeast Asia.

Caring for the Burmese spiny eel

Give the Burmese spiny eel at least 53 gal (200 L) with a secure lid. It spends daylight hours buried with only the snout showing, so provide a deep bed of fine, soft sand. Add scattered wood and leaves, with shaded cover from plants or floating growth.

Give it soft to neutral water at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C), a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 and a gentle current. It emerges after dark to forage, so feed meaty foods in the evening, such as frozen bloodworm, chopped earthworm and blackworm. Drop the food near its hide until it learns the routine.

Keep it on its own, since it can be short-tempered with others of its kind in anything but a very large tank. It is peaceful toward tank mates too big to eat, but small fish and shrimp are fair game. Match it with calm, medium-sized companions. No aquarium breeding has been recorded for it.

Good to know

The Burmese spiny eel, Macrognathus orthosemos, was named by Ralf Britz and Maurice Kottelat. It belongs to the family Mastacembelidae and carries the group's short pre-dorsal spines and flexible, probing snout. The name orthosemos points to the upright markings along its flanks. It is also called the orthosemos spiny eel.

In the wild

The Burmese spiny eel comes from lowland streams in the Tanintharyi region of southern Myanmar. The streams run slow and gentle over sand and leaf litter, in forested lowlands.

Common questions

What size tank does a Burmese spiny eel need?

A Burmese spiny eel needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Burmese spiny eel need?

A Burmese spiny eel is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a Burmese spiny eel eat?

A Burmese spiny eel eats meaty foods in the evening, such as frozen bloodworm, chopped earthworm and blackworm. Small fish and shrimp are fair game too.

How big does a Burmese spiny eel get?

An adult Burmese spiny eel reaches about 8.7 in (22 cm).

Related species