Pls help with Eel ID

[chunky_homer]

I just saw this that looks like a banana going bad, with brown spots all along it's yellow body.

It doesn't look like the Dwarf golden Eel but I think it may be a Golden Moray, not sure though. That's what they are selling it as.

Though I would ask before dropping $400 on it. It's about a foot long.

Does anyone know the temperment of these eels? I've got a snowflake about a foot long and don't want anything that may kill it.

Thanks in advance, Homer.

 

[Moonstream]

I dont know much about eels, but it would be fare easier for other people to ID if you had a picture...

 

[chunky_homer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12308436#post12308436 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Moonstream
I dont know much about eels, but it would be fare easier for other people to ID if you had a picture...

I know, but thought it was pretty clear cut, it being a golden moray and all. I just wanted to research the cost of one, more than anything. Didn't realize until I started checking out images of "golden morays" that I saw that they do not look like what I saw.

Thanks for the tip, I'll be bringing my camera from now on.

Homer

 

[Chibils]

Did it look like this?

www.masla.com/images/00eel.gif
If so, that's actually called a banana eel (hence the name).

Another eel that fits the description (I just found this coincidentally while browsing reefhotspot is:

Gymnothorax fimbriatus

 

[rssjsb]

I'm guessing it's gymnothorax miliaris, otherwise known as a golden-tail moray. There's also one on LiveAquaria Divers Den right now. Like a snowflake, they eat crustaceans and will also eat small fish. How big is the one at the lfs compared to your snowflake? I've got one with a slightly smaller snowflake in a 20 gallon QT tank right now. If they're both small, it will probably be ok. The best way to introduce morays to one another is when they're small.

 

[Chibils]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12309844#post12309844 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rssjsb
I'm guessing it's gymnothorax miliaris, otherwise known as a golden-tail moray. There's also one on LiveAquaria Divers Den right now. Like a snowflake, they eat crustaceans and will also eat small fish. How big is the one at the lfs compared to your snowflake? I've got one with a slightly smaller snowflake in a 20 gallon QT tank right now. If they're both small, it will probably be ok. The best way to introduce morays to one another is when they're small.

That was my first instinct as well, but the OP said he had looked at pics of golden morays and it wasn't right.

Here's the diver's den pic:

 

[chunky_homer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12309339#post12309339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chibils
Did it look like this?

www.masla.com/images/00eel.gif
If so, that's actually called a banana eel (hence the name).

Another eel that fits the description (I just found this coincidentally while browsing reefhotspot is:

Gymnothorax fimbriatus

Thanks Chil ....

I thought it was a banana eel too, but it seems the one for sale has more brown along its body than a b/e would generally have ....

still not sure exactly what it could be.


thanks again, Homer.

 

[chunky_homer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12309844#post12309844 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rssjsb
I'm guessing it's gymnothorax miliaris, otherwise known as a golden-tail moray. There's also one on LiveAquaria Divers Den right now. Like a snowflake, they eat crustaceans and will also eat small fish. How big is the one at the lfs compared to your snowflake? I've got one with a slightly smaller snowflake in a 20 gallon QT tank right now. If they're both small, it will probably be ok. The best way to introduce morays to one another is when they're small.

rssjsb ... i thought about it being a yellow tail but their asking price was so far beyond what a yellowtail would cost that I ruled that out based solely on price alone.


Thanks, Homer.

 

[chunky_homer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12310258#post12310258 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chibils
That was my first instinct as well, but the OP said he had looked at pics of golden morays and it wasn't right.

Here's the diver's den pic:

U know what, this is probably the closest I've seen to the actual eel i'm considering. I would have to say, that if it had more brown spots then would be right on.

The more I look at pics of the golden eels the more I'm beginning to think that's what it is. I guess the one at the vendor just happend to have more brown than usual, dunno.

Does that sound about right to you all?

Thanks, Homer.

 

[chunky_homer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12309844#post12309844 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rssjsb
I'm guessing it's gymnothorax miliaris, otherwise known as a golden-tail moray. There's also one on LiveAquaria Divers Den right now. Like a snowflake, they eat crustaceans and will also eat small fish. How big is the one at the lfs compared to your snowflake? I've got one with a slightly smaller snowflake in a 20 gallon QT tank right now. If they're both small, it will probably be ok. The best way to introduce morays to one another is when they're small.

MY snowflake is about a foot long and the "golden" looks to be a tad bigger, definitely thicker. Do you think this would be a problem?

I really like my snowflake but the "golden" is just absolutely beautiful and would love to havfe this guy in my tank.

thanks, Homer.

 

[LukFox]

What did its eye look like? Was it a black pupil with a yellow iris? Or was it a black slit through a purple/blue eye?

$400 is a reasonable price for a miliaris, and if the place is normally overpriced, even for a melatremus. The brown spots sound more melatremus, though. Miliaris, from what I've seen, have black spots that are more blotchy. Melatremus have fine brown spots if they have spotting, like this:

The dwarf can come in white, gold, brown, or butter, and have varying degrees of spotting.

 

[criccio]

Keep in mind that G. miliaris can vary from the (Brazilian) yellow to the (standard) brown/yellow speckles, with many patterns in-between. Just do a google image search, you'll get the idea.

It is a pretty docile eel, as eels go, but it will munch crustaceans and possibly smaller fish that may resemble silversides in size.

 

[rssjsb]

Mine was $400 from the Divers Den at LA. It's a beautiful golden color with only one brown spot on its side - I couldn't resist. Criccio is right that there is a lot of variation among miliaris specimens. They can be solid yellow, yellow with lots of brown spots, or uniformly speckled with brown/black with only a yellow tail (hence the common name).

I don't know how the two eels you're considering combining would do together, but my two, which are both around 9", have been fine together - even when they're "arguing" over a piece of squid. The miliaris is definitely thicker than the snowflake.

 

[FishyMel]

I've had a g. milliaris for the past 3 years. Tough eels, I cycled my tank with him. At the time he was 8 inches and as skinny as 2 pencils, now he is 28 inches long and a monstrous size. As far as compatibility he has yet to eat any fish tank mates and doesn't try. One time though he did take out a large red hermit after a molt so don't plan on shrimps or crabs. Also something to note is he is really graceful, and never knocks over any rocks even though I'm sure he is capable.

 

[rssjsb]

What fish do you have with your eel, FishyMel?

 

[chunky_homer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12310566#post12310566 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LukFox
What did its eye look like? Was it a black pupil with a yellow iris? Or was it a black slit through a purple/blue eye?

$400 is a reasonable price for a miliaris, and if the place is normally overpriced, even for a melatremus. The brown spots sound more melatremus, though. Miliaris, from what I've seen, have black spots that are more blotchy. Melatremus have fine brown spots if they have spotting, like this:

The dwarf can come in white, gold, brown, or butter, and have varying degrees of spotting.

Eyes were dark without any blue.

The one that closest resembles the one that's mentioned above, at divers den.

It just seems like the one I saw has very unusual markings, Hmmm sounds like I'm talking myself into spending the $400 bucks!

We'll see ... thanks for the help!

 

[chunky_homer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12311768#post12311768 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by criccio
Keep in mind that G. miliaris can vary from the (Brazilian) yellow to the (standard) brown/yellow speckles, with many patterns in-between. Just do a google image search, you'll get the idea.

It is a pretty docile eel, as eels go, but it will munch crustaceans and possibly smaller fish that may resemble silversides in size. [/QUOTE


Thanks Chris. I did a search and most on the ones I've seen in images have been more mustard than the one I saw, but I guess the key must be in the eyes.


I'll call the store tomorrow and get visual confirmation, thanks again Chris.

 

[chunky_homer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12312278#post12312278 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rssjsb
Mine was $400 from the Divers Den at LA. It's a beautiful golden color with only one brown spot on its side - I couldn't resist. Criccio is right that there is a lot of variation among miliaris specimens. They can be solid yellow, yellow with lots of brown spots, or uniformly speckled with brown/black with only a yellow tail (hence the common name).

I don't know how the two eels you're considering combining would do together, but my two, which are both around 9", have been fine together - even when they're "arguing" over a piece of squid. The miliaris is definitely thicker than the snowflake.

Yeah, it is truely a beauty.


It really looks like I'll be forking out the cash to buy that bad boy. My only fear is that it wont get along with the snowflake. The Golden is so much thicker than the snowflake that I'm afraid it's just going to make a scooby snack out of it. That would hurt, and really suck.


Other than that, I feel the yellow headed goby, lubbocks wrasse, and lawnmower blenny should all do just fine.


The shrimp I had in there earlier has already disappeared so I wont have to worry about that anymore.

Thanks for the help!

 

[chunky_homer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12315383#post12315383 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FishyMel
I've had a g. milliaris for the past 3 years. Tough eels, I cycled my tank with him. At the time he was 8 inches and as skinny as 2 pencils, now he is 28 inches long and a monstrous size. As far as compatibility he has yet to eat any fish tank mates and doesn't try. One time though he did take out a large red hermit after a molt so don't plan on shrimps or crabs. Also something to note is he is really graceful, and never knocks over any rocks even though I'm sure he is capable.

Have you had any problems with escape attempts? This would be my second concern. So long as it doesn't kill my snowflake or escape, then I'll be cool.

Thanks Mel, Homer.

 

[FishyMel]

No, I've even accidently left the hood open and not even an attempt