[1][2] The peacock eel is native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, which make up the countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

[3] They are mostly found in slow-moving backwaters that have a sandy or muddy bottom, such as swamps, canals, and ponds.

[2] There is an invasive population of peacock eels in the Everglades region of Florida, most likely being released due to the aquarium trade.

[3][4][5] The eels were first discovered in the C-111 canal in 2002, and in 2004 were also found to inhabit mangrove swamps further south.

[6] These fish lack scales and require a soft substrate to burrow into, such as sand, mud, or silt.