| Despite the fact that most eels are predators, | | | | Female eels of the Juvenile American specie grow |
| many people consider them like the right choice | | | | larger than the males, nearly 3 feet (90 cm), |
| for a home aquarium. However, eels are also a | | | | although some records include eels as big as 5 |
| perfect catch for anglers, consisting of 4 | | | | feet (150 cm). Male eels do not grow longer than |
| suborders of the Anguilliformes with 19 families, | | | | 1.5 feet (50 cm). In the wild, the is no evidence of |
| 110 genres and near 400 different species. | | | | how long freshwater eels live, but females spend |
| Anguillidae is the suborder of freshwater eels, but | | | | from 10 to 20 years in the American rivers to |
| there are also Heterenchelyidae, Chlopsidae (false | | | | mature and then they return to the oceans or die |
| morays), Myrocongridae, Moringuidae (worm eels), | | | | after breeding once. |
| and Muraenidae (moray eels). Other classification | | | | Freshwater American eels are predators that |
| based on the FishBase System, dividing eels into | | | | feed at night, usually all types of meat they can |
| 15 families. In fact, there are several classification | | | | find including insects, frogs, crayfish, snails, fish, |
| databases including the ITIS, and Systema | | | | and earthworms, although other predators seek |
| Naturae 2000, each one giving different categories | | | | eels as their meal such as cormorants, walleye, |
| and suborders. | | | | herons and mergansers, and sometimes land |
| Juvenile American eels (Anguilla rostrata) are one | | | | animals such otters and minks. |
| of the varieties of freshwater acclimated eels in | | | | In the eastern United States, the American eels |
| the United States. Originally found in Lesueur, | | | | are harvested commercially, with a modest |
| Minnesota back in 1817. This snake-like fish used | | | | market of consumers. There is no a special |
| to appear more frequently in the state than they | | | | concern status in Minnesota to preserve them. |
| do today, when they are more commonly seen | | | | American eels probably have to fear to natural |
| along the lower Mississippi River | | | | enemies: anglers in freshwater and sharks when |
| Following the Mississippi's tributaries, including the | | | | they return to the ocean. |
| Minnesota, Saint Lawrence Seaway, and Saint | | | | There is a website that has great information on |
| Croix rivers, anglers can find them profusely in | | | | most species of freshwater fish. It has details |
| the area, and sometimes in Lake Superior. | | | | that pertain to each species of fish such as |
| Freshwater Females Eels swim all the way up the | | | | habitat, spawning, eating habits, the best lures and |
| Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico to reach | | | | baits and more, the website is called: Fishing |
| Minnesota for reproduction. | | | | Stringer, and can be found at this url: |
| When eels are not migrating, it is easy to find | | | | By Robert W. Benjamin |
| them in medium to large size lakes and streams | | | | Copyright © 2007 |
| with quiet waters and muddy bottoms. Eels are | | | | You may publish this article in your ezine, |
| more active at night, so they need the mud or | | | | newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is |
| underwater objects to be hidden during the day. | | | | reprinted in its entirety and without modification |
| Freshwater American eels live longer, and there is | | | | except for formatting needs or grammar |
| reference of captive eels living as long as 88 | | | | corrections. |
| years. | | | | |