Common name: European conger
General information
The European Conger, Conger conger, is a species of conger eel native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. This eel is the largest of the conger eels and can reach a significant size, making it an impressive sight in any large marine aquarium. They are known for their elongated bodies, sharp teeth, and excellent hunting skills.
Details
- Recommended minimum tank volume
- 5,000 liter (1,300 gallons)
- Salinity
- S.G. 1.020 to 1.026
- Temperature
- 10 to 24 °C (50 to 75 °F)
- Acidity
- pH 7.8 to 8.4
- Average size
- 3 m (10′)
- Care level
- Very difficult
- Diet
- Carnivore Feeds on fish and cephalopods
- Social
- Solo
- Reefsafe
- No Predatory towards fish/inverts
- Aggression
- Aggresive Highly territorial and predatory
- Captive bred
- No
- Conservation statusSource: IUCN Red List
Taxonomy
- KingdomAnimalsAnimalia
- PhylumChordatesChordata
- ClassRay-finned FishesActinopterygii
- OrderEelsAnguilliformes
- FamilyConger eelsCongridae
- GenusConger EelConger
- SpeciesEuropean congerConger conger (Linnaeus, 1758)
- SynonymsAnguilla conger (Linnaeus, 1758)Anguilla obtusa Swainson, 1839Conger communis Costa, 1844Conger niger (Risso, 1810)Conger rubescens Ranzani, 1839Conger verus Risso, 1827Conger vulgaris Yarrell, 1832Leptocephalus candidissimus Costa, 1832Leptocephalus conger (Linnaeus, 1758)Leptocephalus gussoni Cocco, 1829Leptocephalus inaequalis Facciolà, 1883Leptocephalus lineatus Bonnaterre, 1788Leptocephalus morrisii Gmelin, 1789Leptocephalus pellucidus (Couch, 1832)Leptocephalus spallanzani Risso, 1810Leptocephalus stenops Kaup, 1856Leptocephalus stenops kaup , 1857Leptocephalus vitreus Kölliker, 1853Muraena conger Linnaeus, 1758Muraena nigra Risso, 1810
Care
Caring for a European Conger in a home aquarium requires a very large tank due to their potential size, often exceeding 2 meters in length. They need plenty of hiding spaces to feel secure and a sandy substrate to mimic their natural environment. Their diet should consist of meaty foods such as fish, squid, and crustaceans. Due to their predatory nature, they are not suitable for a reef tank and should only be kept with other large, non-competitive species.
Reproduction
In the wild, European Congers migrate to deep water to spawn, and the larvae, known as leptocephali, drift with the currents before metamorphosing into glass eels and eventually maturing. Reproduction in captivity is rare and not well documented for this species.
Habitat
European Congers are found in a range of habitats from shallow coastal waters to depths of up to 1000 meters. They prefer rocky outcrops and wrecks where they can find shelter during the day, coming out to hunt at night. Their geographical distribution spans from the coast of Norway, down to West Africa, and into the Mediterranean Sea.