Cool eel, I think.

[monkeyfish]

Found this little guy under a rock when I was trying to get a shot of an angel fish. Think it is a Leopard moray but looks a little funny to me. Kinda looks like a puppet!

So what do you guys think?

 

[monkeyfish]

the pic...........

 

[monkeyfish]

Here is another shot my buddy took of a zebra moray.

 

[ReefGuy]

It looks more like a snowflake moray to me. Or maybe a chainlink.

 

[monkeyfish]

Hmmm, don't think it is a snowflake. I have the Red Sea Reef Guide and it calls the closest likeness the leopard moray. I will check to see what the scientific name is for the one in the book. Maybe that will help ID.

Do juvenile morays have different markings than the adults of the same type? I am sure we have some marine biology types on the board that can help out.

 

[Rick Murchison]

I believe what you have there is a spoon-nose eel. Not sure of the species, for I've never seen one with those markings - but the head and mouth are pretty distinctive.
Rick

 

[monkeyfish]

Mr Debelius seems to think it is Scuticaria Tigrina. I could not find it in the indo-pacific guide I have. Maybe just a regional species. Cool, none the less.

 

[Rick Murchison]

That looks like the guy alright!
Scuticaria tigrina.
I've added him to my list to remember...
Thanks,
Rick

 

[MikeJacobs]

... saw a mini-moray that was completely white yesterday. Maybe 12" or so, but not sure whether this was a juvinile moray or something else. They body was very similar, just downsized.

We've had a 7' moray on the extreme inland edge of our reef for about two weeks, which is unusual, so could that be related? I don't suppose morays live-birth or stay with their eggs until the youngsters hatch, do they?

 

[hyaku]

Eels are sweet.

Heres my pet. If it was not so cold in the sea in my area in winter I would let him go for sure.

I feed him by hand unless the fish are very small He come above the water to take it I forget to feed him once and he "got right out"

http://www.hyoho.com/achan.html

hyaku