What you need to know!
- Local TikTok Creator gains hundreds of thousands of followers across social media platforms.
- TikTok creator turns old cistern into an “Eel Pit”.
- Beyond the cistern, TikTok creator cares for more than just eels.
A local TikTok creator has turned an ordinary cistern into an extraordinary underground “eel pit”, capturing the attention of millions online.
Nick Tobler, known online as “Cowturtle,” gained fame for turning an old cistern under his garage into the so-called “eel pit”. With over 1.4 million TikTok followers and 23.5 million likes, plus hundreds of thousands on Instagram and YouTube, his unique project has made him a notable internet personality.
A project that started in 2022
Tobler, who graduated from Northern Kentucky University in 2021, grew up in Erlanger.
In 2022, he and his brother moved into a house built by his grandfather, and that is when he started his eel pit journey.
The home built in the 1950s has a cistern in the garage, which has become the infamous eel pit.
He began by adding minnows and other small fish to develop the aquatic ecosystem.
Early videos document the initial stages of what would become a complete, self-sustaining underground enclosure.
Today, the cistern houses a wide variety of fish species, including several with names chosen by his followers.
Among them are a Platinum Alligator Gar named Garlic, a Yellow Gar named Garfield, and several sturgeon named Caviar, Roe, Strawberry, and Vanilla Bean.
The eel pit is also home to several sunfish and catfish. Unlike the other fish inhabiting the cistern, the catfish typically remain grouped toward the rear of the enclosure.
During a visit from LINK nky, a sunfish was observed darting forward to snatch prey before quickly retreating into the darkness.
However, the primary attractions remain the American eels, particularly the largest, Crunchwrap, along with the other two, Shaqeel and Mentally.
With colder weather approaching, Tobler says the underground environment remains stable.
“The water stays within the 50s during all winter long,” said Tobler. “All the fish and eels do perfectly fine.”
During the visit, Tobler showed feeding time by offering dozens of thawed shrimps to the eagerly waiting fish and eels below.
More than just an eel pit
Tobler’s dedication to animals goes beyond the confines of the cistern.
On his property, he cares for a variety of aquatic and reptilian species, including one of his favorites, an Australian Lungfish named Mango, whom he describes as, “considered the ultimate achievement in fish keeping.”
His collection features lizards, turtles, crawfish, scorpions, spiders, and shrimp.
When LINK nky spoke to him, Tobler showcased several animal species from his collection, including a Blue-Tongued Skink, a Desert Hairy Scorpion and a Caiman Lizard.
Tobler explained that his fascination started early in his life. “It began in childhood with catching frogs and creek fish,” he said.
When he’s not tending to the “eel pit”, Tobler often travels.
He regularly visits Red River Gorge and the Florida Everglades, and has also explored Costa Rica, Indonesia, and Singapore, catching a variety of fish species.
When asked about his favorite TikTok video he’s made, Tobler didn’t hesitate: “Finding flying cave isopods in an abandoned well in Boone County.”
Explore the “eel pit”
With millions captivated by the unusual habitat beneath his garage, Tobler continues to share discoveries and daily life with his aquatic and reptilian companions.
Click through to check out what we saw when visiting the eel pit:
Other creatures in Tobler’s collection, a picture showing a group of gar, provided by | Riley Ginn 
Picture shows a sturgeon, provided by | Riley Ginn 
Picture shows a Blue-Tonged Skink, provided by | Riley Ginn 
Picture shows a Caiman Lizard, provided by | Riley Ginn 
Picture shows a blue crayfish, provided by | Riley Ginn 
Picture shows a pink pufferfish, provided by | Riley Ginn 
Picture shows a Desert Hairy Scorpion, provided by | Riley Ginn 
Picture shows a baby tortoise, provided by | Riley Ginn