Keeping african cichlids with eels

[buddy1]

Has anyone had success keeping eels with their african cichlids, specifically mbunas and peacocks.

[coltin]

Most freshwater aquarium eels originate from soft water environments, which makes them less adaptable to hard water conditions. Eels are also notorious for burying themselves during the day, and without a sand substrate, they're unable to do so effectively. In a tank with gravel, shells, or crushed coral, they risk damaging themselves when attempting to burrow.

As for housing them with mbunas, it's likely that the mbunas will be aggressive towards any eel that ventures into their territory, making cohabitation challenging.

[buddy1]

I figured the mbunas might be too aggressive for them, just wanted to check. Guess I'll probably have to set up another tank now. Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.

[willie32]

There are indeed Spiney Eels found in Lake Malawi, but as coltin mentioned, most common species won't thrive in hard water. You'd need to research specific species that can handle those conditions, I found this link helpful - https://malawicichlids.com/mw11000.htm#mast. To make it work, plan around them from the start, focusing on peaceful Mbunas like labs and rusties. Ensure your rocks are secure, with sand around them, rather than on top, to prevent any damage.