Snake Eels burrow into soft substrate, remaining hidden during the day and then come out at night to hunt. They will bury themselves into the substrate with just their heads sticking out. They can burrow very fast and do it with the tips of their tails.
The Banded Snake Eel is yellowish white to white with 25 to 32 narrow black rings. Black spots may appear between the rings as the eel ages.
Scientific/Common Names & Information:
The scientific name for the Banded Snake Eel is Myrichthys colubrinus. Banded Snake Eels are a member of the Ophichthidae Family, the Snake Eels. There are more than 500 species of eels (fresh and saltwater) belonging to 20 families. The moray eels (Family Muraenidae) are the most common and the ones usually found in the home aquaria trade. They are in the Order Anguilliformes (eels and morays) and the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes).
Other common names for the Myrichthys colubrinus are:
Banded snake eel, Limwaremwarebuul (Micronesia)
Broadnose worm eel (US)
Gatamea (Samoa)
Geringde-slangpaling, Ringed snake-eel (South Africa)
Hagman-lisadso (Marshall Island)
Harlequin snake eel (Australia and Papua N. Guin)
Korallankerias (Finland)
Murène serpent annelée (Maldives)
Puhi popooru (Tahiti)
Shima-umihebi (Japan)
In The Wild:
The Banded Snake Eel is native to the Indo-Pacific region. They are found from the Red Sea south to Delagoa Bay of Mozambique and east to the Society Islands of French Polynesia.
In nature, they are found in shallow sandy flats and seagrass beds and are considered reef-associated. They feed on small fishes and sometimes invertebrates.
Home Aquaria:
These eels will usually stay near the bottom of your tank, burying themselves into your tank's substrate (make sure you've got a thick substrate!). Remember, the eel will bury itself with only it's head sticking out so make sure you know where the eel is before going into your tank and make sure you remember to feed your buried friend!
Food is found mostly through their sense of smell. Their eyesight is poor (but they are not blind) so watch your fingers! You must give them plenty of room, a place to hide and plenty of food. The Banded Snake Eel will get along with other tankmates as long as they aren't small enough for it to eat.
This eel doesn't require anything special as far as lighting, water movement, and temperature - normal saltwater tank parameters should be maintained. Adult Banded Snake Eels can grow to 30 inches (75 cm). Because of their potential size, a 60 gallon tank is the minimum size recommended.
