the tire track eel
Spiny eels are not eels, but elongated fresh water fishes with eel-like bodies and numerous spines preceding the dorsal fin. Very often they stay under the mud substratum, and are mostly nocturnal.
These are images of a Tire track eel or a Spiny eel, mastacembelus armatus, which we caught for our fishpond*, from the Meenachil River flowing near by our home, Kerala, India.
The name tire track? Probably due to the tire-track-like patterns along their body! The tire track eels are said to reach a size of 50-90cms. So the one in the image is that of a juvenile (~10cms).
Malayalam names of spiny eel: Aaron (ആരോന്), Aaral (ആരല്).
Date: 03 Jan 2008
Location: Meenachil River, Kottayam, Kerala, India
Camera: Nikon D80 + Tamron SP AF90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Lens
*We have a large fishpond at our home, where we grow, breed and observe freshwater fishes; both native and ornamental. Aquatic plants (~25 species), rocks, gravel, muddy substratum are all arranged and the pond is in a self sufficient state to cater to the feeding, hiding, and breeding needs of ~50 different species of fishes.
i need one peacock eel , can i buy one in kerala?
require this tire track eel fish please say how to buy or availability
require tire track eel fish any one
I have a tire track eel with me. Contact if needed
Really great post! Learned something new today! Keep posting these intros…
you bet! 😀
bindu, praveen, happy to show something you rarely see, but beautiful… there is so much in nature to stop by and relish on…
aah…this is something I’ve never seen in my life…
Have seen eels in NGC n all …and this fish luks exctly the same..
nice photogrphy too
Such an interesting fish! It’s very pretty. Thanks for stopping by my blog. You have an interesting site here, and I’ll be back.
I have a big kolam in my home… can be called a swimming pool in english… but double the size of that…
I will try finding this stuff there… Do they bite…?
wow, that is great. what do you use it for? from what i know, these kind of spiny eels don’t bite humans… check one for yourself 😉
I will try it roxy and …
I do not know about BSNL my colleague Mahesh said he had some bitter experiences with them.
In addition, good news, I got a tata indicom connection today.
hey Roxy, let me know the next release time, I shall come with a basket !! 😀
This is called Aaarakan in our area. I would like to see your fish pond…
kishore
enthina basket, athum njan tharameda.
come visit our home for your next honeymoon @ kerala 😉
And what a beauty that pond must be!
it is our favorite pastime mridula!
Interesting….Never knew there were fishes that looked like eels. The name Aaral sounds familiar. Is this something malayalees catch and eat ?
When the breeding and study is done, does he/she get to go back to his/her original habitat 🙂
Yes this is what keralites catch and eat. Usually these spiny eels get caught while catching other fishes.
We catch them during summer when the streams are drying up. Have released different fishes back to their original habitats, but usually when they breed and over populate. We had to catch and release ~125 Melon Barbs (Puntius melanampyx, വാഴയàµâ€à´•àµà´•à´¾à´µà´°à´¯à´¨àµâ€) last year.