The Wolf Eel

Well, since the juvenile Wolf Eels are my favorite animals to feed at the aquarium so far, here's some information about them.

The Wolf Eel, Anarrhichthys ocellatus, is a member of the Anarhichadidae family. It is actually not related to other eels, instead is one of five fish in the 'wolffish' family. They can get about 8 feet in length, curling up in caves with just their heads sticking out to catch prey. Wolf Eels mate for life and will take special care of their eggs as they develop. By around the age of seven, females can lay up to 10,000 eggs at a time. She will then coil around them with her body to shape them into a sphere roughly the size of a grapefruit. After she's finished she will remain this way and the male will then coil around her to add another layer of protection. To keep the water and oxygen flowing around the eggs the female will periodically 'massage' the sphere with her coils. The eggs will take about four months to hatch.

Above: Juvenile Wolf Eels are brightly colored and about 1.6 inches after hatching. Below: Wolf Eels fade to a storm grey as they mature and can get up to 8 feet long.