Can you identify this moray?

[JohnS323]

Stumbled on this thread trying to ID an eel that I recently purchased that I believe to be mis-id'd. Any thoughts you could provide would be greatly appreciated!

 

[SueMermaid]

Where'd you see this guy?

 

[justleesa]

if I understood right, John bought it. So I guess he has it in his aquarium?

 

[JohnS323]

Yes. He's currently in my home aquarium.

 

[justleesa]

what is the "wrong" ID?

 

[JohnS323]

The wrong ID was given as a Dwarf Golden Moray. Missing the stripe in the eye for that, if I'm not mistaken.

This eel is approximately 12-15". The previous owner had him for 2 years. The owner before that may have had him for up to 3. He's grown less than 3 inches in the last two years.

 

[Lil' Irish Temper]

Looks like a Golden Yellow Moray (Gymnothorax miliaris) from Brazil

But I could be wrong, Wouldn't be the first time

Being all yellow like that is rare. But it can have brown spots anywhere on its body (ie around eyes, on back.

 

[SueMermaid]

Here's a photo of a dwarf moray (G. melatremus) without the eye stripe.
http://species.fishindex.com/photo_31412gymnothorax_melatremus.html

 

[justleesa]

He's grown less than 3 inches in the last two years.

Interesting...do they grow to fit in their surroundings? Like Bonsai?...a bonsai eel....lol

 

[JohnS323]

That Yellow Golden Moray is the closest that I've seen in color (bright banana yellow) and the eye also looks strikingly similar down the the seriously yellow eye color. I guess I can count on his ultimate size being between 24" & 30" then. Thanks for your help! Wonder how fast they grow...