Help me confirm my hunch? Kidako eel?

[Alpha_The_Wolf]

I'm pretty sure it's Gymnothorax kidako.

 

[fishguy242]

@Slocke ?

 

[Slocke]

I'm pretty sure it's Gymnothorax kidako.

I think that is kidako but @lion king would be who I'd most trust!

 

[lion king]

Yep I think so. Do you have a line on it. How much?

 

[Alpha_The_Wolf]

I'm not hip to your lingo, line on it?

If its what i think it means, nah. It's home with me, got it for $90

Didn't know what they had

 

[lion king]

When I said "did you have a line on it"; I meant have you seen it available, they used to be considered rare. They used to go for several hundred dollars. They do have a nasty reputation when mature so there's that, very nasty.

 

[Alpha_The_Wolf]

When I said "did you have a line on it"; I meant have you seen it available, they used to be considered rare. They used to go for several hundred dollars. They do have a nasty reputation when mature so there's that, very nasty.

gotcha gotcha! You got any lines on anything uncommon/exotic?

So I've never seen this particular species for sale anywhere legit. there are a couple of abandoned sites that say they have some but they are always out of stock and expensive!

For example :https://www.sharkandreef.com/japanese-kidako-eel-gymnothorax-kidako/



Interesting, what do you mean "used to be" what happened? I thought it was interesting how it also gets called "the common moray".

 

[lion king]

gotcha gotcha! You got any lines on anything uncommon/exotic?

So I've never seen this particular species for sale anywhere legit. there are a couple of abandoned sites that say they have some but they are always out of stock and expensive!

For example :https://www.sharkandreef.com/japanese-kidako-eel-gymnothorax-kidako/



Interesting, what do you mean "used to be" what happened? I thought it was interesting how it also gets called "the common moray".

I say "used to be" because I haven't heard of them in years, and if you paid $90, that certainly wouldn't indicate rare or desirable.

Fish from the region these eels come from generally have aspects which make them more expensive. Collecting is more restricted and export/import cost are expensive. The pic you posted does look like a kidako to me but they are also often misidentified with a skeletor eel. In the past this eel was also line caught and didn't live long after collection. A low price on an otherwise rare and more expensive species is generally a red flag. Sometimes pointing to signs of terminal poor health.

So you have the eel, is he eating. This is only the 1st indicator, but an important one.

 

[Alpha_The_Wolf]

I say "used to be" because I haven't heard of them in years, and if you paid $90, that certainly wouldn't indicate rare or desirable.

Fish from the region these eels come from generally have aspects which make them more expensive. Collecting is more restricted and export/import cost are expensive. The pic you posted does look like a kidako to me but they are also often misidentified with a skeletor eel. In the past this eel was also line caught and didn't live long after collection. A low price on an otherwise rare and more expensive species is generally a red flag. Sometimes pointing to signs of terminal poor health.

So you have the eel, is he eating. This is only the 1st indicator, but an important one.

Ah, makes sense. All the information I was able to find was coming in from last decade (2011-2013) and I've only been at this for 2 years.

I figured they were rare enough that people just sorta let it be on restocking, considering the cost / current economy. I love having such niche pets but it can be trying at times to get accurate information.

The eel was misidentified (as they usually are) by the vendor so it worked out in my favor. Pretty concerning considering they are supposed to be subject matter experts.

Only arrived yesterday, so I haven't feed em. Unfortunately, what I did actually order was supposed to be around 18". This guy is closer to 4-5". So he cant hang with the crew.

I'll likely make him a solo habitat in the extra 150 gallon, and give him somewhere to grow safely.

 

[lion king]

Ah, makes sense. All the information I was able to find was coming in from last decade (2011-2013) and I've only been at this for 2 years.

I figured they were rare enough that people just sorted let it be on restocking, considering the cost / current economy. I love have such niche pets but it can be trying a times to get accurate information.

The eel was misidentified (as they usually are) by the vendor so it worked out in my favor. Pretty concerning considering they are supposed to be subject matter experts.

Only arrived yesterday, so I haven't feed em. Unfortunately, what I did actually order was supposed to be around 18". This guy is closer to 4-5". So he cant hang with the crew.

I'll likely make him a solo habitat in the extra 150 gallon, and give him somewhere to grow safely.

If he doesn't eat right away, offering him something live like guppies and ghost shrimp. If he doesn't eat treat with general cure. It is very important to quickly determine if they need to be treated for internal parasites, which can be very common for eels. Regardless of the myth of hunger strikes in eels, new additions really need to be quickly accessed and eating to indicate good health.

Keeping this eel in the 150g as a species is likely a good decision. You could include some corfu damsels for movement if you choose. Damsels are elusive and tough enough some will likely live a long life.

 

[Alpha_The_Wolf]

If he doesn't eat right away, offering him something live like guppies and ghost shrimp. If he doesn't eat treat with general cure. It is very important to quickly determine if they need to be treated for internal parasites, which can be very common for eels. Regardless of the myth of hunger strikes in eels, new additions really need to be quickly accessed and eating to indicate good health.

Keeping this eel in the 150g as a species is likely a good decision. You could include some corfu damsels for movement if you choose. Damsels are elusive and tough enough some will likely live a long life.

I'll offer him sustenance after work!

Good advise on the damsels. I had a chunky pair of Domino's that would elude the eels without issue lol.

I'm thinking I'll let him rock solo in there, maybe with a few other undersized eels in the future. Maybe migrate him to a 500/1000 gallon group home when he's closer to 2/3'

right now he's only about 5"

 

[lion king]

Correction, the eel is commo ly misidentified with the chainlink eel, not the skelator. And when I said the myth of hunger strikes, I mean the myth that hunger strikes are normal.

 

[Alpha_The_Wolf]

Looks like that 150g, might turn into a Kidako resort, gotta order more.