Myrichthys maculosus

(Cuvier, 1816)

Tiger Snake Eel

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to the central Pacific Ocean, however, not including the Hawaiian Islands.

Size: 40 inches (100 cm)

Natural Environment: Burrows into sandy flats on shallow coastal reefs and reef flats at depths to about 3 to 800 feet (1 – 240 m) and basically feeds on small fishes and crustaceans, mostly in evening hours.

General Husbandry: Has white body with many large brown patches. Not collected for the trade.

Taxonomy:

Order: Anguilliformes

Suborder: Congroidei

Family: Ophichthidae

Subfamily: Ophichthinae

Genus: Myrichthys

FYI: Those in this genus are termed ‘Snake Eels’ and are nasty looking and quite secretive, residing buried in the sand or mud with only their head showing while awaiting a tasty meal to come close enough to be captured and eaten. They require at a minimum, very deep fine sandbeds, e.g., 6 – 10 inches (15 – 25 cm), more if a large species, and tankmates large enough not to be eaten. Basically unsuitable for the average home aquarium as they require live foods and an environment tuned to their needs, e.g., far more area than what would be given a moray eel two to three times their size, and containing little decor.

Shown here for identification only.