# How do electric eels not electrocute themselves and anything else in their vacinity? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 27, 2001, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017 "2001-07-27T22:31:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![marekd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@marekd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marekd)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/1 "2001-07-27T22:31:01Z")
I was watching a programme on the TV the other day about what happens to the rainforests when the Amazon basin floods. They showed lots of creatures, about how they adapt to the flooding and so on. One of the creatures was the electric eel and they showed how it stunned its prey, which was cool. Apparently it gives off 600 volts of electricity when it does this. My question is how does it not, at least, shock itself or anything else in its vaccinity, except whatever it touches? This defies logic as everyone knows that water and electricity don’t mix. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/2 "2001-07-27T23:36:53Z")
IANAEE ¦þ Sorry I have no cite, and I looked, but IIRC electric eels have a thick layer of fat that acts as an insulator. This natural insulation protects them from their own (or other) bursts. ---
**Author:** ![MrDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/22d042/32.png) [@MrDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDeath)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/3 "2001-07-28T01:03:29Z")
Really long grounding straps? ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/4 "2001-07-28T01:21:51Z")
A very shocking question indeed but I am sorry I am not current on this as I lack the capacity to understand how this might work. Did the eel meet with resistance from the prey? Was the eel charged with assault? ---
**Author:** ![Fredge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@Fredge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fredge)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/5 "2001-07-28T03:45:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dooku \* > \*\*IANAEE ¦þ > > Sorry I have no cite, and I looked, but IIRC electric eels have a thick layer of fat that acts as an insulator. This natural insulation protects them from their own (or other) bursts. \*\* Will my thick layer of fat do the same for me? Maybe there is a good reason to keep it after all? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/6 "2001-07-28T06:18:46Z")
Before the days of Thomas Edison, electric eels had to stun their prey with gas. Or so I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![choosybeggar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@choosybeggar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choosybeggar)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/7 "2001-07-28T07:05:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sailor \* > \*\*A very shocking question indeed but I am sorry I am not current on this as I lack the capacity to understand how this might work. Did the eel meet with resistance from the prey? Was the eel charged with assault? \*\* Electrifying! A lightning stroke of genius.🆒 **marekd** , the reason why the eel isn’t hurt is that the current doesn’t travel through it’s body. The current producing organs are on the surface of the eel, and when they discharge, the current travels towards ground. When you’re in a river, ground is all around you. So current flows from the eel outwards, creating tempura in its wake. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/8 "2001-07-28T19:48:11Z")
Watt can I say? I find eels re-volting but living in the bottom of the sea they must feel insulated from the outside world. Maybe we could induce them to move although I would not want to be the one to conduct such a scheme. LED them remain. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/9 "2001-07-28T22:25:53Z")
All the bad puns here are disturbing my aura. I need to go meditate. Ohmmmmm… Ohmmmmm… ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/10 "2001-07-28T23:02:07Z")
Give a man an eel and you’ve shocked him Faraday… but if you marry him to the eel he’ll be in shock for quite a while. While I feel a magnetic attraction to making puns I gauss this is getting tiring… ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2001, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/11 "2001-07-29T00:27:35Z")
Address:[http://www.sciencenet.org.uk/database/Biology/0104/b00906d.html](http://www.sciencenet.org.uk/database/Biology/0104/b00906d.html) ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2001, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/12 "2001-07-29T03:01:42Z")
Contrary to popular opinion, water is not a conductor. Its the salts that acutally conduct electricity. Thus, if eels are freshwater (as I beleive they are) it is possible (keep in mind this is just my guess) that they might not conduct the current into the water and only effect what’s touching them. How they don’t harm themselves? I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2001, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/13 "2001-07-29T04:58:37Z")
Right theory on water not conducting a current, but not quite accurate in practice. Absolutly pure water won’t conduct a current. However, the tropical rivers or swamps the eels live in are far from pure. So is just about any natural fresh water… you can still get fried in a bath tub, even if the only salts present just washed into the water from your skin. I’d say any water source containing life will conduct a current to varying degrees. Muddy water will have even more conductivity. Markxxx’s post has the best description of how the eels protect themselves… even though it’s not fully understood yet. My question is even if they have insulated outer skin and nerves on the body, how do they prevent the current from entering through their gills which are notoriously thin-skinned and fragile in all fish? Just keep their mouths closed I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Marcus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Marcus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marcus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2001, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/14 "2001-07-30T12:22:18Z")
When an eel lunges out And bites you on the snout It’s a moray ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2001, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/15 "2001-07-30T13:53:17Z")
a punishing thread indeed _\__ ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/16 "2001-07-31T02:32:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sailor \* > Was the eel charged with assault? And battery. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/17 "2001-07-31T15:40:04Z")
I can understand how you would feel **electrified** by this question, a very **shocking** question indeed which **resonates** in my mind and which I cannot **brush** aside. I even know of a lady who suffered an attack of **hysteresis** as a **direct** result when she was told this. It has me **galvanised** and I do not understand how some people can feel **neutral** or even **reluctant** about it, but I am sorry I am not **current** on this as I lack the **capacity** to understand how this might work. Still, I often go through **cycles** when feel a **magnetic** attraction to the subject **alternating** with despair that I will never know the answer. It just brings up a **series** of questions: What is the **primary** reason for this behavior? Is the eel a **dynamic** animal or does it lack **energy**? Did it meet with **resistance** from the prey? Was the eel **charged** with assault and **battery**? **Watt** was the prey’s **reactance**? Did it have the **power** to defend itself? With what **frequency** does the eel do it? Personally I find eels re- **volting** but living in the bottom of the sea they must feel **insulated** from the outside world. Suddenly a **light** turned on in my brain: Maybe we could **induce** them to move closer to the **poles** if only **far-a-day** and they may feel **transformed** during this **phase**. Other tests could be done in **parallel** although they could be **shunted** by lack of funds. On the other hand, I would not want to be the one to **conduct** such an experiment as I **gauss** it may be dangerous. Better **LED** them remain where they are. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/18 "2001-07-31T18:38:47Z")
Besides, I’m just mad I didn’t think of any of them first. 😃 WAG follows. I don’t know how much 600 volts is but I would guess it’s not a whole lot. When I was a young lad in high school physics we got to play with a [Wimshurst generator](http://premieremedical.safeshopper.com/259/1637.htm?732) and the teacher made us calculate how much voltage was in the spark being generated. IIRC my calculations came out to something like 2x10[sup]6[/sup] volts which made me think I’d really screwed it up, but he assured me I had figured it out correctly. Of course, he also believed Rutherford and Farady lived in the 14th and 15th centuries, so y’all are welcome to correct me on this. Anyhoo, given the fact that there was a serious amount of voltage needed just to bridge the inch or so gap between the two nodes, 600 volts probably won’t do much of anything outside of what it touches directly. I’ll back this up further by saying I once brushed against a 300v wire on an electric fence - not the most pleasant of sensations to be sure, and it kinda knocked me loopy for a bit. Given that it didn’t actually arc through the air but jolted me only in direct contact with it, I’d say that doubling the amount of voltage still wouldn’t be enough to jolt anything the source wasn’t in direct contact with. Even in a better conductor like water. ---
**Author:** ![marekd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@marekd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marekd)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/19 "2001-08-01T21:47:27Z")
The narrator of the programme said it was enough to kill a small child and stun a grown man. I suppose its relative, but just by looking at the things and what they did i can believe it. ---
**Author:** ![cichlidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@cichlidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cichlidiot)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017/20 "2001-08-01T23:29:34Z")
I found this interview in text format: [http://www.aip.org/radio/scripts/electric\_eels.txt](http://www.aip.org/radio/scripts/electric_eels.txt) As an interesting side note, we (my town) at one time had a pet store that kept a pair of electric eels in an aquarium. The owner had set up the tank so the eels actually powered their filtration system and lights. Pretty fascinating stuff. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-electric-eels-not-electrocute-themselves-and-anything-else-in-their-vacinity/74017.md?page=2)