View Full Version : Snake/Eel ID needed
Eclipse
10-11-2007, 7:31 PM
First post... :D I will be posting my tank and what not later tonight.
Ok I have had this guy for a while now, around 3 months and NO ONE has a clue what he is. One guy says a ribbon eel (i don't think so because of the appearance of scales rather than smooth skin, and small snake like eyes), one says a Sea Snake (don't think it is because I have only seen him come up for air one time since he has been in the tank).
The story:
I go to the same LFS all the time because they are a bunch of nice guys, and seem to know what they are talking about...good prices and pretty decent selection as well. Since they know me they told me about this "thing" they had and weren't sure if they were aloud to sell it or not, at that point I became 100% interested since it could be something rare in the trade and I try to get fish/eels that are a little different ( either personality wise or semi rare). He is ALWAYS under the substrate and has only come out one time since I have placed him in the tank, never sticks his head out or anything (thats why I took pics before putting him in the tank, since i doubted i would see him again).
From the little I saw he has small snake like eyes, skin that appears to have scales rather than being smooth (like a ribbon eel), and a webbed tail in the shape of a paddle.
Here are the pics I have:
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s32/eclipseevo98/1071.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s32/eclipseevo98/1070.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s32/eclipseevo98/1069.jpg
loconorc
10-11-2007, 7:32 PM
Youve got to be really... disconnected, to think thats a sea snake.
loconorc
10-11-2007, 7:36 PM
http://www.divetrip.com/wakatobi/snake01b.jpg
THATS a sea snake, and no LFS will ever carry one, ever.
Eclipse
10-11-2007, 8:01 PM
Lol I know its not a sea snake, but still doesn't tell me what it is...Also they didn't "carry" it, they were changing tanks and he was in the substrate, they had never seen him before.
Bsixxx
10-11-2007, 8:02 PM
its an eel from what i can see
Eclipse
10-11-2007, 10:11 PM
its an eel from what i can see
Ya but what kind? :D
loconorc
10-11-2007, 10:13 PM
Get better pics.
Not a snake eel, not a moray, not a ribbon, not an american, no idea. But its an eel.
Eclipse
10-11-2007, 10:33 PM
Get better pics.
Not a snake eel, not a moray, not a ribbon, not an american, no idea. But its an eel.
Hmm I took pics of all parts of the body, what else would you suggest? I will go find him and dig the little guy up once you let me know....although it will be a pain to make sure no one eats him in my pred. tank lol.
BIGgourami
10-12-2007, 12:15 PM
golden tulip moray?
smaller SW moray, yellowish in coloration
a nice species if it's what it is
VLDesign
10-12-2007, 3:15 PM
Based on the shape of the tail alone it's a sea snake. Then to add your comment about the texture being scale like that makes me thing it's a sea snake. Then if you also notice it's head is out of the water. Eels so not do that. Snake eels must surface for air and that is the final nail in my decision that it's 100% a sea snake.
Not sure exactally which on as there are currently, 17 genera that are described as sea snakes, comprising 62 species.
Most snake eels grow to an average of 4-5 feet in length. Seeing how small he is it's possible he has yet to develop any distinct markings.
Yellow Bellied Sea Snake:
http://www.susanscott.net/images/07-15_yellow-bellied%20sea%20snake%20by%20Hal%20Cogger.jpg
Olive Sea Snake:
http://www.underwaterplanet.com/Olive%20sea%20snake.jpg
VLDesign
10-12-2007, 3:17 PM
Youve got to be really... disconnected, to think thats a sea snake.
Not really.. You just need to look at it and know what you're looking at first before jumping to conclusions.
Twitterbait
10-12-2007, 5:55 PM
I can go either way. a couple ways to tell:
1. let it bit you and if you die then it was a snake (not recommended). sea snakes are very poisonous... from what i have seen and heard.
2. all reptiles shed their skin. if it sheds and you find the skin then it is a snake.
stonecat
10-12-2007, 6:28 PM
it is not a sea snake, it is some sort of moray, as for it coming up for air, morays do this in the home aquraia. I had a purple mouth that did that all the time. he was mostly looking for food. i would say that the chances of you getting sea snake is highly unlikely. considering that mosts zoos and aquariums have problems keeping them. i would say that it is a moray but not one that is normally considered for pets.
alcohologist
10-13-2007, 5:30 AM
are there any signs of gills being present? that'd confirm the type of animal this is.
VLDesign
10-13-2007, 9:48 AM
Turn your camera on Macro mode and geta close up of it's head.
loconorc
10-13-2007, 11:43 AM
IT IS NOT A SNAKE! Every part of the body is totally wrong. Okay, lack of limbs does not instantly mean its a snake. Its some sort of eel, and there is a eel-like fish I remember called a Gunnel I beleive that looks rather like that.
IT IS NOT A SNAKE.
Well, my best guess is that it is one of moringuidae (worm and spaghetti eels) as the length to thickness ratio is about right. Which species? That I couldn't tell you but maybe either the java (Moringua javanica) or the Bengal (M. arundinacea).
VLDesign
10-13-2007, 7:17 PM
IT IS NOT A SNAKE! Every part of the body is totally wrong. Okay, lack of limbs does not instantly mean its a snake. Its some sort of eel, and there is a eel-like fish I remember called a Gunnel I beleive that looks rather like that.
IT IS NOT A SNAKE.
Lol says the expert...
alcohologist
10-14-2007, 1:52 PM
it's defn not a gunnel. i'm assuming you mean those "blenny-eels". i think it looks more eel than snake. but i'm not going to assert anything, as i really don't know what it is.
VLDesign
10-14-2007, 2:14 PM
we wont know for sure I guess until some better close up pictures of teh head and neck area are shown.
Can you get a side shot of it ? I don't know what it is but, I kind of have a huntch that it's one of the garden eels from the fact that it lives in the substrate. It's eyes are so small though if you could try for a side angle shot I'll have one of my mates look at it.
ShadowBass
10-15-2007, 2:36 AM
I'm thinking if it was a snake your LFS would have seen it before since they have to come up for air periodically.
I dunno what kind of eel it would be though, never seen that kind before.
Eclipse
10-15-2007, 3:35 AM
I don't think it is a sea snake simply because out of the time he has been in the tank he has only come out once. Also Garden eels tend to sit there with their heads out most of the day...he is never out, also like you said he has tiny eyes.
Give me some time to try and catch him again, i will have to dig through my sand for him and try and stop the fish from eating him...or my arm for that matter. I'll drop him in a bucket and try to get a couple more pics of the face, possible gills, skin texture and/or tail again. My camera isn't that good but i will do my best.
Eclipse
10-15-2007, 3:42 AM
Well, my best guess is that it is one of moringuidae (worm and spaghetti eels) as the length to thickness ratio is about right. Which species? That I couldn't tell you but maybe either the java (Moringua javanica) or the Bengal (M. arundinacea).
Alright I just googled what you thought it was and I am pretty sure that is actually what it is, I will still look at it tomorrow just to double check but nice find.
:thumbsup: I did eliminate the javanica, that has a black tail.
Twitterbait
10-18-2007, 5:26 PM
I know one thing for sure...
It aint a monkey... :p
Eclipse
10-19-2007, 9:29 PM
Ok well I'm going to have to settle for what was started previously because I cant catch the guy right now without almost losing a chunk of my arm/fingers from the fish. This little guy can burrow through the sand link those worms in "tremors." So I end up chasing him through the sand into other fish that don't like to be bothered lol. Not to mention he is a pain to find once you lose him.
Ok well I'm going to have to settle for what was started previously because I cant catch the guy right now without almost losing a chunk of my arm/fingers from the fish. This little guy can burrow through the sand link those worms in "tremors." So I end up chasing him through the sand into other fish that don't like to be bothered lol. Not to mention he is a pain to find once you lose him.
That is pretty classic behavior for most of the moringue eels, they even have a specialized skull structure for burrowing.
liberator177
10-21-2007, 1:21 PM
i have seen these at a store labeled as "paddel tailed eels"
Adjoint
01-27-2008, 6:37 PM
Hi , i'm a new member from france.
I have the same in my tank , it's Moringua Raitaborua
http://dbfury.free.fr/adjoint/photaqua/PIC-0023_filtered.jpg
BIGgourami
02-25-2008, 4:13 PM
sorry to bust on anyone who still cares about this thread, it's like 6 mo. old now but that its definately an ell, you see the swelling around the 'neck' region, that's it's gills, VLDesign i'm usually with you on stuff but you are soooo wrong here.
i still stand by my guess of golden tulip moray.
serafino
03-29-2008, 5:38 PM
I agree with BIGgourami. Its definitely not a sea snake. For a couple of reasons the swelling around the neck as mentioned. Someone else has one! Also sea snakes I agree with BIGgourami. Its definitely not a sea snake. For a couple of reasons the swelling around the neck as mentioned. There are 17 types of sea snakes and none of them have any of the phenotypes that one does. Its definitely an eel of some sort.
Tulip_Sniper
04-01-2008, 9:45 PM
i agree with guppy looks like a Moringua raitaborua aka Purple Spaghetti-eel
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/Eels/Images/PurpleSpaghetti(Paddletail)EelWFE_Ap4C.jpg
ladyshark
04-18-2008, 9:53 PM
Its got that thicker area just behind its head (sorry don't know what its called, but its how eels breathe). My guess is a dwarf golden eel?? It definitely looks like a younster. Cool fish!
young_skywalker
05-11-2008, 8:36 PM
it's definitely an eel but I don't think it's a dwarf the golden dwarves only get about 12" and it looked bigger than that in the pic. how big is it exactly?
looks like Muraenichthys tasmaniensis to me (tasmanian golden eel)