Viper moray question – 07/15/09
Hello (Marco, I assume?),
<How did you know? Hi Pat.>
I am currently looking at an animal labeled as a Viper Moray...the size, description, and attached photo seem indicative of E. nigricans, but I'd like to get your opinion as I have no desire to take on an Enchelynassa canina.
<It is an Enchelycore for sure, no Enchelynassa. Very likely E. nigricans… or a Pacific species (isn’t the ocean where the animal comes from known to the current keeper?)… like E. bayeri, hard to tell from the picture.>
As to the former in captivity, do you have any experience?
<Yes… similar to other larger Enchelycore species.>
Please note that this picture was not taken by me and I am not representing it as my own....I don't know if that dictates whether or not you are able to post it.
<Nor do I.>
In case you recall, the E. lichenosa is doing fantastic...
<Great to hear.>
I'm in the middle of planning a tank upgrade as we speak and hoping against hope that I'm able to find a E. anatina some time after that.
<You know these two cannot be kept together? The E. anatina will need colder temperatures. You’d likely have to catch one yourself or know someone from the Northern subtropical Atlantic (esp. Canary Islands) to help you out.>
Thanks, Pat
<Welcome. Marco.>
Viper moray pic
Sorry, forgot the pic in the last email.
<Got it. Thanks. But since we cannot post it, I'll delete it. Marco.>

Re: Viper moray question, ID, sys. II - 07/15/09
Hi Marco,
<Hello Pat.>
Thanks as always...the person I'm thinking of buying this guy from will likely not know where it came from...I'm assuming that depending on locality it is either bayeri or nigricans?
< A good picture of the head showing details of the nostrils, pores and teeth would help, but so far E. nigricans seems more likely.>
Oddly enough, he did in fact have a fangtooth (first I have heard of in the US) in the same tank as the 'viper'.
<Excuse my doubts. Was it really E. anatina? Picture?>
I understand that they enjoy some level of popularity in European aquariums and have read several accounts of them being successfully kept at 72-75F.
<I must have missed something here. Those very few aquariums I am aware of all have them at colder temperatures.>
My understanding is also that they range about half way down the western coast of Africa, and when they do come in, this is where they are collected (along with a couple Muraena species that I see from time to time).
<Ascension, Cape Verde and St. Helena are the most “tropical” places, where E. anatina can be found, but the water is colder over there than in American waters of same latitude. I am not aware of occurrences of this species in the tropical parts of the Eastern Atlantic a little North of the equator with typical marine tank temperatures. The guide on Eastern Atlantic Muraenidae by Böhlke seems to confirm this.>
Is this all hogwash?
<If there is any good proof I’d enjoy to stand corrected.>
Because the animal comes first, as a back up I was thinking of converting my current tank (150 'cube') to coldwater for the anatina as well as an E. ramosa (at five feet max length I don't know if the 3x3x3 would do it in the long run, though).
Thanks as always for your input Marco!
-Pat C.
<Anytime. Cheers. Marco.>

Re: Viper moray question - 07/16/09
Hi Marco,
<Hello Pat.>
If you'd like I can try to locate some of the material I've gone through regarding E. anatina;
<Ah, very good. Thanks.>
I've included some of the easier to find links below. The maps appear to indicate that they are found in warm water regions along the west coast of Africa, and one source indicates that they are found in the Bahamas, albeit as a deep water species...
<There is an old report (1880) of one at the Bermudas, maybe you mean that one. About the links below: the first link shows very few locations to me, none in tropical waters. The second link shows only the rough areas… click on the species name and you’ll come to Fishbase where the more accurate locations are named: you’ll see they are the ones I included in earlier mails. Also click at occurrences to get a few more definite and even more accurate locations.>
I can't find that article but the second link seems to back that up.
As I said, the animal comes first and foremost, and I've been interested in setting up a coldwater system for some time, so perhaps this is a good excuse...it appears as though the Canaries maintain in the mid 60s F...is that correct?
<I’d aim for 16-20°C (61-68°F) with an exceptional maximum of 24°C (75°F) in summer.>
Do you think that E. ramosa and E. anatina could make good tank mates?
<Possible, may work best in a large system. Given how rare both appear in trade, maybe this would be the first try.>
Without abusing my question asking privileges, do you have experience with any other Enchelycore species?
<Taxonomy: yes; Aquarium care: limited, mostly second hand information from public aquariums and a few keepers visited. E. carychoa needs to be added to the ones discussed so far from my side. That’s one I could think about having at home myself.>
Map: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20m?kind=Enchelycore+anatina
FAO: http://www.fishbase.gr/Country/FaoAreaList.php?ID=8087&GenusName=Enchelycore&SpeciesName=anatina&fc=56&StockCode=8397
I'm working on getting more pictures, hopefully a few clear ones of both the 'viper' and 'fangtooth', I will pass the latter on to you for your input.
<Great!>
I'm well aware that when it pertains to the exotic animals in this, or any fauna hobby, people can get selective in their research and ignoring sound advice against certain animals...you must run into that quite a bit...please note I am not one of these and I do want to provide, and am capable of delivering an adequate environment for these creatures.
<From time to time people in Europe have brought home small Muraena helena (a species that occurs in much of the range of E. anatina) and had quite bad results in tropical tanks. It is good you are willing to do better and can provide a cooler tank.>
Thanks! Pat.
<Cheers. Marco.>

Eel Help Please!; ID – 07/13/09 My name is Terry and I'm from Deland FL. I think you have one of the best web sites for CORRECT information!! <Thanks!> A few nights ago I lost my 3.5-4 ft zebra eel due to old age. I was in a LFS today and I came a cross this eel. The store owner really didn't know what type of eel this is or anything about him/her. My wife liked the colors of it and talked me into buying it. Can you please identify what species of moray this it? <Gymnothorax eurostus also known by the common names Stout moray, Salt’n Pepper moray, Abbott’s moray and a few more…> He is about 13-16 inches and very active. I think it is a golden tail moray, but I'm not sure. <No, definitely not.> Any information would be extremely appreciated. <A fish and crustacean eater par excellence, will reach 2 feet.> I have him in a 100 gal with a refugium, Coralife uv, Coralife supper skimmer, two 1200 wave makers, two 1300 wave makers, 80-100 lbs of live rocks. My levels are zero except my nitrates 20-40, ph 8.2-8.3, salt 1.025 and temp 82. I have a 3.5 clown trigger and a 3.5 undulated trigger. <I do hope they work well together, I would not vouch for any of your fish to leave the other two in one piece in the long run.> Thank you for taken the time to read my e-mail. <Anytime. Take care. Marco.>

Re: Eel Help Please! 07/14/09 Thank you once again for all your help and advice. The Gymnothorax eurostus eel does not need any special care other than the proper diet and a good environment? <No, basically that's it with a good environment consisting of many things like good water quality, many caves, no moray eating tankmates, but also an escape-proof setup. See here and in the linked FAQs above: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/morays.htm .> Thanks again Terry <Welcome. Marco.> Re: Eel Help Please!; G. eurostus – 07/15/09 Thank you once again for your good advice and also the great link! <Welcome.> You said eel eating tank mates, you mean triggerfish? <Some develop the bad habit to bite moray eel fins.> I'm trying to get my eel on a feeding schedule but he/she seems to want to eat all the time. I feed my two triggers once in the morning and once at night time (small portions) and the eel goes crazy in search for food. Should I be careful on how often he eats? <Yes.> My zebra ate every other day (a couple shrimp or cam strips, or krill). I have read that you should feed twice a week as much as they want to eat. Is that the same for juveniles? <Not as much as they want to eat… they’ll grow too fast and become too fat. A healthy diet does not include eating until you are absolutely full. In nature by far not every hunt is successful, which is also proved by moray eel stomachs being empty most of the time. I’d feed every other day pieces, which together are as large as the entire head of the eel.> My new eel acts completely opposite from my zebra, he/she is out all day and night, he swims around my tank, while my zebra just came out late at night and stuck him head out of his cave, really never swam around the tank other than feeding time. <May change when settled in in a few weeks.> Thank you again and sorry for all the question, <No need to be sorry.> I just want to make sure I am giving my eel the best treatment that I can. I went and purchased some vite chem. vitamin drops, is there any other you would recommend? <Some far I had no problems with other brands made for aquarium use. Just compare the ingredients if you feel unsure.> I also went and purchased pro salt silversides, clam strips, squid and krill. <Sounds good. Keep the diet varied.> Thank you again. Terry <Cheers. Marco.> Eel aggression and ID – 07/29/09 My name is Terry and I'm from FL, I have wrote to you in the past and you have provided great advice. <Thanks Terry.> I am a great fan of your web site and I must say you provide the best accurate advice. I purchased a 12-16 inch moray eel about a month ago (Gymnothorax pictus, I think that is what it is). <As noted in the last email it is a Gymnothorax eurostus (Stout moray, Salt’n Pepper Moray, Abbott’s moray). Beware, the G. pictus is also called Pepper moray, but is a different species. Your eel definitely is a Gymnothorax eurostus, head shape, eye size and location, what can be seen of dentition and coloration (several color morphs are known of this species) are indicative.> I have it in a 100 gal with a 4" clown trigger and a 4" undulated trigger. It seems to be doing very well, it is always out day and night. It is always swimming though the tank. My question is, when I feed my two triggers my eel gets extremely aggressive, I mean it takes the food out of the triggers mouth, attacks them and just gets really nasty, is that normal? <Somewhat: yes. Could easily be the other way round. As noted in earlier correspondence: I would not vouch for any of your fish to leave the other two in peace in the long run. Your eel is a fish and crustacean eater, and in addition your triggers are not the peaceful side of the spectrum.> Last night I feed my clown a piece of clam strippers and my eel swam out of a cave and crabbed my clowns head and tried to swallow it. It let go and my fish seems to be fine ( still eating and not acting strangers, no marks) but is that a sign that I need to feed more? I'm feeding like every other day and sometimes every other couple days. Any advice would be once again highly appreciated. <You would likely reduce its activities when feeding much more, but feeding too much for longer times will not be healthy for your eel. Too fast growth and fatty liver disease are among common reasons for moray eels dying in captivity.> Thank you, Terry. <Your options are basically: see if the unwanted behavior changes with time when feeding a little more or separating them. Cheers, Marco.>