Eel ID

Hoochee · Jul 10, 2022

This was sold as a snowflake eel, but pretty sure it’s not - eyes not yellow which is a typical clear indicator, and it’s about 15” long and doesn’t have expected coloring. I know there are anomalies but don’t think this is one. Thoughts?

Indian mud? Mediterranean?

TastesLikeChicken · Jul 10, 2022

That is no snowflake eel. Who sold this, the LFS?!

AydenLincoln · Jul 10, 2022

I think it’s a spotted moray eel they come in a variety of colors and patterns. https://www.fishkeepingworld.com/moray-eel/

AydenLincoln · Jul 10, 2022

It could also be this and I’m thinking it looks like this. https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/gymnothorax-tile-2/

TastesLikeChicken · Jul 10, 2022

Hopefully it won’t grow to 8 feet long and bite someone’s arm off. I’m sorry, I know I’m not helping but I couldn’t resist.

AydenLincoln · Jul 10, 2022

I most definitely found it!! It’s often sold as a snowflake eel but really is an Indian eel. Sorry for the posts you got me curious. They live in freshwater/brackish waters and I’m telling you right now they aren’t beginner species. Take it back or donate it to an aquarium lol they aren’t fully saltwater animals and when young live in freshwater.

vetteguy53081 · Jul 10, 2022

Hoochee said:
This was sold as a snowflake eel, but pretty sure it’s not - eyes not yellow which is a typical clear indicator, and it’s about 15” long and doesn’t have expected coloring. I know there are anomalies but don’t think this is one. Thoughts?

Indian mud? Mediterranean?

Gymnotorax richardsonii AKA Richardson Moray. Eats crabs and small fish and not a beginner eel by any means

AydenLincoln · Jul 10, 2022

vetteguy53081 said:
Gymnotorax richardsonii AKA Richardson Moray. Eats crabs and small fish and not a beginner eel by any means

What he said ^

Hoochee · Jul 11, 2022

vetteguy53081 said:
Gymnotorax richardsonii AKA Richardson Moray. Eats crabs and small fish and not a beginner eel by any means

I find very little about them related to reef tanks, but a good bit in more scientific or similar publications.

Why not a beginner eel? Personal experience or do you have an online resource?

It’s been an excellent resident the last ~2 months, voracious appetite (follows what I read about them). No problems at all.

Full grown the Richardson is supposed to be about 12+ inches, he’s pushing about 15. That’s why thought Indian mud, or less likely a Mediterranean.

TIA

Jay Hemdal · Jul 12, 2022

AydenLincoln said:
I most definitely found it!! It’s often sold as a snowflake eel but really is an Indian eel. Sorry for the posts you got me curious. They live in freshwater/brackish waters and I’m telling you right now they aren’t beginner species. Take it back or donate it to an aquarium lol they aren’t fully saltwater animals and when young live in freshwater.

Those are super-common in the trade, so that I think that is what it is. They did get the salinity thing a bit backwards: they imply these eels "can" live in full saltwater when adults, when actually, they "cannot" live in pure freshwater as adults. Many people have bought these for their FW tanks, only to find that they stop eating and die as they grow. They do best in full seawater.

Jay

AydenLincoln · Jul 12, 2022

Jay Hemdal said:
Those are super-common in the trade, so that I think that is what it is. They did get the salinity thing a bit backwards: they imply these eels "can" live in full saltwater when adults, when actually, they "cannot" live in pure freshwater as adults. Many people have bought these for their FW tanks, only to find that they stop eating and die as they grow. They do best in full seawater.

Jay

You know I did see some conflicting answers on what type of water they live in lol and going back it maybe doesn’t sound as clear as I thought it would be. The second link I posted is correct then.

lion king · Jul 12, 2022

There are many brackish fish, if not all in some lfs, sold as fresh water fish. And as they mature if not acclimated to higher sg will not live long. Some of these fish include the archer, the mono, the green spot and figure 8 puffers, and even the molly, Some of these like acclimated to full salt frequently and while better than full fresh, will also decrease their lifespan. Mollies do best in 1.010-1.015, and even breed in the wild in as high as 1.017.

That is the eel @AydenLincoln identified.

Hoochee · Jul 12, 2022

Indian mud was one I identified in my original post. Seemed the best match. I’ll go with that given he’s larger than a Richardson.

The Indian Mud is known as a freshwater Snowflake Eel, but that’s not how this was sold.

Thanks.