Eel ID question

oxbeard

oxbeard

Member
I know I'm going to be shot because I don't have a lot of info to go on here. I was at my LFS today picking up some LR and noticed an awesome looking eel. Didn't think about taking pic until I started typing this post.

It is an almost baby blue color with white spots. I was trying to google some info on it but can't seem to find any pics that look like it. Can any of the resident eel experts give an suggestions on a possible ID from my simple discription? :help:
Thanks for any help.
 
dme

dme

Member
There are a good many moray species in which I not seen if this eel is a juvenile still so a bit better detail of the species is helpful other then just its skin coloration and other descriptions of the eel like type of teeth, long or short jaw bone etc. So for color alone, it be nearly impossible to come up with the species you seen.
But as well, a pic would be somewhat more helpful

PS, it seems that I thought I sign out when posting early today, I just not to long ago came home
 
oxbeard

oxbeard

Member
Thanks, I figured it wouldn't be enough to go on. I'm going to try to stop by again in the next few days and get a pic if they still have it. It is about 8" long now, has a long almost pointed jaw. The other noticeable thing I remember it that it seemed to have a 'fin' starting about an inch back from its head and running the length of its body along the crest of its back. This probably isn't the right terminology, but I'm just beginning to try to learn about eels and this one was just fascinating.
Thanks again.
 
dme

dme

Member
It is about 8" long now
I figured as much its a juvenile moray
has a long almost pointed jaw
You left out a descriptions of the eels teeth
I remember it that it seemed to have a 'fin' starting about an inch back from its head and running the length of its body along the crest of its back.
You any idea to how many species that would fit
World wide with every know species number is more then 850 species of even know eel type from freshwater to marine.
This probably isn't the right terminology, but I'm just beginning to try to learn about eels and this one was just fascinating.
You got to learn sometime and the info will not just fall into your lap but beware, there will be conflicting info on many species, specially on the Internet.
I not know how old you are for if your a very young person you could be feeling a bit of a fantasy of eels and if your somewhat not a teen or younger, it could be your not really in knowing to what you want as yet and if you older or more, you should know that its for you. In any case, on any species of subject, you copy info of that species from any location you might find it and you make of some comparison for specially growth size and if the site suggest tank size, etc.
For there is always a difference in facts at many sites and some just copy from the other. And If you are truly serious and after you paste together your thoughts to which info you get is more so to detail of that species, I can follow up on that by giving you my views to the facts. I am in away looking for one special person who not take it so likely for know this, I will ask you questions to what you think or of what you might understand of eel infections and in how they mostly accure.
For one thing that you need to know right at this time is, a moray eel is by far the most hardy marine animal anyone could keep in a tank and if anything be wrong with the eel, they hang in there for a very long time at most before death, in which case they had suffered. You also have the species family groups, 15 to be exact with most of those with a very low number of species in them for there are two family groups with 3 and 4 eel species only.
So you can call this a premiere lesson of interest (I not know about you what you think of that, but to me it makes absolutely no sense at all).
 
unleashed

unleashed

Active Member
best idea i can give you is to do a google search on moray eels I had to search about 25 dif sites in to find an almost ID on my tess but if you can find something simular it may help at least find the genus of the species.
 
unleashed

unleashed

Active Member
Originally Posted by DME
unleashed, can up show me here in what you found?
problem here is they dont let me post most other web sites send me an email DME ill se what i can dig up for eel sites lyndog13@aol.com
 
oxbeard

oxbeard

Member
I really appreciate the help!! I am really out of my element with eels.
DME, I'm actually 33 and have about 10 years experience with freshwater, but have recently left the freshwater behind in favor of saltwater which has always been my goal. I had started a second tank with the goal of a lion and an eel. Had originally been looking at and researching SFE, but after seeing this one I really wanted to check it out. Helps that my wife actually liked this one as well, but I definitely wanted to make sure I had the info about it before I could decide if it was something I could actually take care of in my system.
I realize that the only descriptions I was able to provide wouldn't really narrow it down much, that's why I had actually left them out of the first post. I didn't really notice any details about the teeth however.
I searched several sites last night for pics and will likely do the same today, although I've had no luck so far.
Thanks again for the help.
 
dme

dme

Member
10 years experience with freshwater, but have recently left the freshwater behind in favor of saltwater which has always been my goal.
I would say that it is about time you mixed in a little salt

I didn't really notice any details about the teeth however.
Then the eel must have small sharp teeth in which will place it amoung feeding more on crustacean and small fish when it can catch them.
I searched several sites last night for pics and will likely do the same today, although I've had no luck so far.
Researching takes lots of time for also in search you not type in the same words, you change things with it but always need to include in it the species you wish to learn about and remember what I said on not going by just you first few findings for this is a rather long process in researching and compiling information.
Have you any idea in the amount of hours I had put into research? And when I was younger I done some personal researching by diving and meeting face to face a number of eel species and as well If I seen of some of interest. You can research until your final days and you still will not had learn enough.
But nevertheless, you need to research and ask questions and make your own determination on what you would have to do into accommodating any marine species.
Dragon Moray Eels ><{{{{">
 
ams153

ams153

Active Member
Originally Posted by surfinusa
could it possibly be a blue ribbon eel :thinking:
this is what i was thinking actually!
 
dme

dme

Member
It would help more if oxbeard either take a picture of it are maybe find a picture on line for we could upload a 100 eel pictures and being that as it may, his eel is a young juvenile and a good many eel pictures at their juvenile colors are not available.
 
oxbeard

oxbeard

Member
Well, I have gotten on the right track now. Went back to the LFS this evening to get a photo and the guy who handles all of the fish was available to talk to. His wife was the only one available yesterday and she only handles the business end doesn't know as much about all of the fish. Anyway it is a Green Wolf Eel. I'm not seeing the green part with this one, but maybe where it is not an adult. Maybe something to do with the lighting as well since the tank has not been lighted both times I have seen it. Did get to feed it though, came right up out of the water to take the food.
Well anyway thanks for all of the help. Now I'm off to check out some more info on this one.
 
oxbeard

oxbeard

Member
Originally Posted by DME
At the size you said, noway it can be a wolf eel

Just going on what the LFS guy said, of course I know everyone encourages taking that with a grain of salt.
But I googled green wolf eel, only part of the way through the first page of hits so far, but from the pics I have seen the basic structure of the eel especially face appear to be the same. Although I still think the specimen at the LFS is more blue than green. I must admit though I am still a little confused. Several of the sites I have read so far say that a green wolf eel is not a true eel.
Not real sure what you would consider as wide. The jaw is very long and kind of curls upward at the tip. Almost gives it an appearance of smiling.
 
dme

dme

Member
Several of the sites I have read so far say that a green wolf eel is not a true eel.
Their not a true moray eel.
 
oxbeard

oxbeard

Member
Something else has me confused too. Are there 2 different specimens referred to as a wolf eel? Much of the materials I have seen so far in reference to the green wolf eel have a very similar picture and list it as getting approx 18" long. But I have also found some references to just a wolf eel which looks quite a bit different and appears to get much larger just like in the video you posted DME.
If they are the same, why such a varied description and pics of them. Is one commonly identified wrong?
Thanks again for the help.
edit- - -
Never mind, I just read your post in the other thread DME. Thanks again.
 
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