Identify what spiny eel this is

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BillPall

Feeder Fish
Mar 1, 2025
3
3
3
31
UK
Hi everyone. I just bought this eel labeled as mastacembelus alboguttattus (starlight eel) which I don't believe it is now after seeing it under better lighting.

It looks more like a Macrognathus tapirus (Tapir Spiny Eel)

Or maybe a peacock eel. But I'm not certain as I have one peacock eel which is a lot smaller and thinner, it's spots on the dorsal fin are more visible as well as it is a lot lighter in colour

Or it might be a Bangka Spiny Eel (Macrognathus aculeatus 'Bangka')

Can anyone confirm? My concern is whether it will grow towards the 90cm mark. I bought it believing it will max out at 50cm according to research.

Right now it's around 22cm.

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Looks like m tapirus. If so then 15in.
 
Looks like m tapirus. If so then 15in.
Thanks for the response. It does look like a tapirus. Unless anyone else believes it to be anything else, I'm gonna have to assume that this is what it's species is called.

Glad it only reaches 15 inch. Gives me an excuse to get another different eel to put in the tank.
 
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It’s not mastacembelus alboguttattus and in my opinion (no expert) it’s not macrognathus tapirus. If I were to ere towards anything at the minute I think I would be considering macrognathus alba (spotless spiny eel).
But as I say, not an eel expert.
Got an image or a link you're using to assume its a macrognathus alba? All the images I'm seeing look more like peacock eels and nothing similar to the eel I've got? At the very least I know its a macrognathus as this species' rostrum is longer and thicker than the Mastacembelus.
 
Got an image or a link you're using to assume its a macrognathus alba? All the images I'm seeing look more like peacock eels and nothing similar to the eel I've got? At the very least I know its a macrognathus as this species' rostrum is longer and thicker than the Mastacembelus.

Search for albus instead of alba.
 
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