American eel

Anguilla rostrata

• Distinguishing characteristics: Things like their rounded tails, greenish-yellowish-blackish body, and white bellies give American eel’s distinct looks.

In the Wild

• Habitat:  American eels are usually founded in rivers, bays and are also located in many more freshwater locations.
• Diet:  An American eel’s prey includes worms, small fish and crustaceans.
• Predators:  The only predators of the eels are fish eating birds and other large fish.
• Size:  Males can grow up to 2 feet long; females can grow 3-5 feet long.
• Breeding:  Eels are catadromous so they spawn in saltwater. They spawn in January.
• Life Span:  Eels can live 15-20 years old sometimes it depends.

In the Aquatics Lab

• Diet: We feed this creature squid so he can be satisfied.
• Size: The American eel in the aquatics lab is about 12 inches.
• Quantity:  We only have one eel in the aquatics lab.

Other information

• Virginia Regulations:  In VA, the legal catching size is 9 inches and you can only have 25 eels per person.
• Commercial Uses:  Yes they are used for commercial uses, often as bait for fishermen.