what the heck kind of Eel did I get???

[NaturalGothic]

Hey guys
I received an eel order this morning; the label claims it’s a dwarf golden moray eel. Looking at it, however, I’m not sure that’s right. Anyone have any ideas what he might be?

 

[Sharkbait19]

An awesome one!
Following to hopefully find out!

 

[Goaway]

non dwarf golden eel. Most likely.

 

[KrisReef]

Golded spotted eel?

Golden Spotted Eel

Visit the post for more.

harrysmarinelife.com

Myrichthys ocellatus

 

[Goaway]

That's what he looks like to me @ kriss.

 

[JGT]

Def not a golden. Looks like a chain link or snowflake.

 

[JGT]

That's what he looks like to me @ kriss.

Golden spotted looks right.

 

[Goaway]

Time for someone to get a refund. Still a beautiful eel.

 

[Stuartmercer]

Eels are interesting... FOLLOWING!

 

[tehmadreefer]

Or a sharptail eel. Though sharptails are very rare in the hobby. But these have white spots not black like yours.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I just noticed that it has pectoral fins. Most morays I believe are known for lacking pectoral and/or pelvic fins, so it may not even be a moray.

 

[Thomas Jedlicka]

I just noticed that it has pectoral fins. Morays I believe are known for lacking pectoral fins, so it may not even be a moray.

Agree

 

[Goaway]

I just noticed that it has pectoral fins. Most morays I believe are known for lacking pectoral and/or pelvic fins, so it may not even be a moray.

Which matches the golden spotted eel. It's not a moray.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I agree. I was just doing some research, and agree that this is a probably golden spotted snake eel, Myrichthys ocellatus. They do have pectoral fins, and somewhat resemble this eel. Yours may just be a juvenile.

 

[tehmadreefer]

I just noticed that it has pectoral fins. Most morays I believe are known for lacking pectoral and/or pelvic fins, so it may not even be a moray.

It’s in the snake eel family, not moray.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Some extra information:
- Part of a class of snake eels, also known as worm eels
- These eels reach around 3 and a half feet
- They are found among reefs, dwelling in the sandbed and rocks
- Their main diet consists of crabs, stomatopods (mantis shrimp), and echinoderms.

They seem to be similar to morays in care, but are more active swimmers. Perhaps someone with experience in these guys can chime in.

 

[Goaway]

Large spotted snake eel from Indonesia. How about these?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Golden spot eel it is which grows to 3ft and feeds at night and unlike most morays, it eats starfish, urchines, sand dollars and sea cucumbers as well as crabs and even mantis shrimp.

 

[Sharkbait19]

After more looking, this could be a cousin of the gold spotted snake eel, myrichthys pardalis. A snake eel, nonetheless, and is pretty much the same. Just different in patterning.

 

[revenant]

Or a sharptail eel. Though sharptails are very rare in the hobby. But these have white spots not black like yours.

maybe it's a juv and will change? The black disperses and the spots end up white?

edit: does look like the ones @Mibu posted a pic of.