Eel Identification

[ARXC08]

Just rescued this eel from a meijer, which is sort of like a Wal-Mart. The thing was dying and it was only a couple bucks. Quarantined it and now it seems to be doing fine. But anyway i was assured it was a community fish (yeah right) but for now i'm keeping in my community tank. I know this eel probably gonna get a least 8 inches plus. But i plan on moving to a bigger tank, which i will be getting in the future. This eel right now is really small so i got some time. But i'm thinking right now that its either one of these spiny eels Mastacembelus armatus or Mastacembelus circumcinctus

 

[mellowserra]

Is it the picture, or is he two toned with a skunky band going down the length of his dorsal side?

Googled Mastacembelus circumcinctus, common name "Half Banded Spiney Eel," also saw him listed as some sort of zig zag eel.

Nice job with the ID, looks like he'll stay pretty small too

 

[cane76]

my eel looks just like that and was sold to me as a tyre track

 

[Juno]

and in SA they are commonly called zebra spiny eels.

edit: pictures added

here is my zebra spiny. He is fully grown and about 20cm long.

and my juvinle tyre track (rescued from a LFS where he shard a tank with malawi cichilds)

 

[bogwood]

...looks like a 'Spiny' to me... I know someone who has one - keep your tank canopy/lid nice and tight - they are great at escaping from the tinyest hole...

 

[Juno]

the whole family is called spiny eel, whether it's a fire, tyre track, zebra, zig zag, half banded, peacock all from the Mastacembelids group are commonly referred to as spiny eels. that is most common mistake lfs's make. Spiny refers to the whole group and not just one particular fish, and yes they are actually fish not true eels.
the one in the picture looks very much like Mastacembelus Zebrinus or Circumcinctus (a clearer picture would help a lot more with the id) commonly called the Zebra / Zig Zag or half banded spiny eel.

edit: Spelling I can never spell the Latin names correct the first time.

 

[andywg]

A quick point, all eels (even true eels of the Anguilliformes Order and the Family Anguillidae) are technically fish. They come under the Class Osteicthyes (boney fishes) along with most of the fish we keep.