The Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus) is an unusual freshwater fish with a snake-like body and no scales. Native to East and Southeast Asia, it lives in wetlands, rice paddies, canals, and slow-moving streams. It can breathe through its skin and the lining of its mouth, allowing it to survive in oxygen-poor water and even spend days out of water when conditions require it.
A video shows a man keeping Asian swamp eels in large pots filled with mud and aquatic plants on an outdoor terrace. The eels emerge from the mud at feeding time in a way that is way cuter than one would expect. Feeding this little gentleman looks like a healing experience.
The species is also known for traveling over land by wriggling across wet ground in search of new habitat when ponds dry up or food becomes scarce. That combination of amphibious ability, resilience, and unusual appearance has made the Asian swamp eel one of the more remarkable freshwater fish in its native range.