The Conger Eel is Atlantaquaria’s largest inhabitant. It grows over 2m (7 feet) in length and 70kg (180 pounds) weight. The largest Congers are all females; males don’t grow to more than a few kilos weight.

The Conger Eel is a voracious predator, which eat lots and grow fast. When it reaches maturity, at around 10 years of age, it goes through a dramatic change. Its reproductive organs increase enormously in size and mass, particularly the females ovaries. As more energy goes into producing eggs, its skeleton starts to decrease in mass, and its teeth fall out. It begins to swim into the mid-Atlantic, towards the Azores , where it meets up with large numbers of other Congers. It mates, releases its eggs, and then dies of exhaustion. When the baby elvers hatch, they begin the long journey back in the opposite direction, where they inhabit just about the entire European coastline.

Conger Eels have a reputation as fearsome beasts which will attack divers and swimmers, but in-fact this couldn’t be further from the truth. Apart from when it is feeding, the Conger Eel is a quiet, shy animal, and will swim away from a diver or swimmer rather than attack. It is a powerful, solid fish, with strong jaws and razor sharp teeth, but unless you are stupid enough to stick your finger in its mouth, it poses little danger.