Oddball Tyre Track, do their patterns change?

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David R

David R

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Apr 26, 2005
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Firstly, apologies for the terrible pics, I'll try get some better ones when it settles into the tank.

I spotted this guy in a tank full of kuhlii loaches and other spiny eels, its the smallest tyre track I've ever seen (only about 8cm) but has a very unique looking pattern, instead of tyre tracks it has horizontal stripes on around the first half of its body. Has anyone seen one like this before? I'm hoping the pattern doesn't change as it will look cool once it gets bigger.

eel1.JPG

eel2.JPG

eel3.JPG
 
Are you sure that is a tt and not a zigzag?
 
Never heard of it, did a google search, so by "zig zag eel" you mean Mastacembelus armartus (as opposed to M. favus for tyre track)? I can't see much difference with the pictures I found, and from what I learned reading fishbase.org M. armartus gets to around 90cm while favus only gets to 70cm.

Regardless, it doesn't have much zig zag in the stripes, I wish I could get a petter pic of it.
 
I'll look it up, but I though the tt was an armartus and the zigzag is something that starts with "cir".

Edit: circumcinctusis what I though the zig zag was, and they stay pretty small. Seems after a quick search on google there is alot of varied info regarding the armartus, some say TT some say ZZ. Looks like time to do some researching.
 
:ROFL: ya right now I'm not sure what I'm thinking. The zigzags they sell around here look very similar to tire tracks, but they only get to be 8" long from what I remember. I'll have to do some research on this just to clear my head.:nilly:
 
Did you check out the sticky in this section? I like it, it agrees with what I know:) Seems like there are 15 or so varietys of spiney eels so getting an exact ID may be a challenge. Looking forward to pics of your guy once it gets settled. Below is what is sold as a zz around here.

eel_zigzag_01b_medium.jpg
 
Well it certainly isn't one of those!

I just read the sticky;
Armatus has the light coloured belly and getts bigger.
Favus has the pattern all the way around and doesn't get as big.

I'll have a close look to see if the pattern goes all the way around, it certainly looks tyre track-ish on the last 1/3 of its body. Will try get some better pics tonight.
 
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