Gymnotiformes

Not a good beginner's species, due to its very respectable adult size, but it makes a stunning oddball addition to communities of larger fish. It's sensitive to many aquarium medications, particularly those containing copper. The genus Gymnotus has undergone considerable taxonomic revision in recent years, with over 20 new species being described since 1994, including several that were originally considered to be G. carapo. The systematics of the genus are still not fully understood...

One of the most notorious fish in the world, the electric eel is a truly fascinating species. Its vital organs are contained in the front portion of the body, with up to 80% of it being reserved for the enormous electricity-producing organs. It uses electricity in several ways. The species is nocturnal and has very poor eyesight and so uses a weak electric field to navigate and identify its surroundings. This weak, pulsing signal is produced by the Sachs organ, one of 3 electricity-producing org...

The genus Gymnotus has undergone considerable taxonomic revision in recent years, with over 20 new species being described since 1994, of which this stunning species is one. It's still very rare in the hobby and tends to command a high price when available. Like other Gymnotids, it produces a weak electric field using specially-adapted muscle tissue located towards the tail. It also possesses electroreceptors which allow the fish to receive electrical signals. With these the fish can sense ...