Do electric eels live in saltwater?

Electric eels, members of the Gymnotiformes order of fish, are exclusively found in freshwater habitats. They are native to South America, primarily inhabiting rivers and streams in countries like Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil, and Peru. These electric fish prefer warm, calm, and shallow waters with abundant vegetation, as they use both electric discharges and burrows for hunting and protection.

Saltwater environments, such as oceans and seas, are not suitable for electric eels. Their bodies are specifically adapted for freshwater conditions, and they cannot osmoregulate or maintain proper water and electrolyte balance in saltwater. Furthermore, the high salt concentration in seawater would disrupt the electrical fields that they generate for sensing their surroundings and capturing prey.

Therefore, electric eels are strictly freshwater fish found in rivers, streams, and other freshwater bodies in South America.