Snowflake eel changed color?

[Joey Mig]

Is it normal for a snowflake to loose it's white spots? Mine has turned solid black with gold markings

 

[Fishnut]

No, posts photo

 

[Joey Mig]

Sorry for pic couldn't get him out of rock ...will try when I feed tomorrow

 

[Joey Mig]

bump

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I've kept snowflakes and never seen anything like that. Following

 

[Garia666]

Mabye it lost it’s juvenile colors which was sold to you as an snowflake eel?

Gymnothorax polyuranodon

a freshwater version?

 

[Joey Mig]

it appears to have different markings and if it is, I have had it over a month and it is in a saltwater tank. also I see the freashwater ones online for about $100 and i only paid $35 for it.

 

[Chad Sepulvado]

Following

 

[Joey Mig]

sorry the pics suck but I was trying to feed with one hand and take pics with the other

 

[lion king]

Wow very interesting, if he's healthy and doing well, he looks great. I've never seen one so black either, definitely looks like a snowflake. @Bob Loblaw

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Genetics; you lucked into a unique color morph. Not exactly common but I've seen them do a "backwards morph" where the white fades out to black/gold although it's always been in larger ones. Your $35 turned into 10x that amount with the change.

 

[WMR]

+1 with @Bob Loblaw & @lion king, dark color variant of snowflake moray. Nice looking one

 

[Joey Mig]

He has been eating and acting fine. he is in my 38 gal right now but when i eventually get my 75 gallon setup he will be moving over to that.

 

[Joey Mig]

Genetics; you lucked into a unique color morph. Not exactly common but I've seen them do a "backwards morph" where the white fades out to black/gold although it's always been in larger ones. Your $35 turned into 10x that amount with the change.

I sat for bit then thought " wow 10x the amount that would help get the new tank setup and get me another snowflake. " The girlfriend got all upset at me but i thought let me just test the water. I took the pics up to the LFS where I got it from and showed them. Their response was " It is a predator , it is just camouflaging itself to match your sand. They do that. "

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Perhaps but each one I've ever seen, until now, has been with white sand.

 

[Squeaky McMurdo]

They say that, but I bet if you did trade it back to the LFS, they would turn around and sell him for more than a regular one