Pisodonophis cancrivorus

(Richardson, 1848)

Longfin Snake Eel

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to French Polynesia, and north to Ogasawara Islands and south to Australia.

Size: 40 inches (100 cm)

Natural Environment: Burrows into sandy and muddy inshore lagoon areas and estuaries at depths to about 3 to 80 feet (1 – 20 m) and basically feeds on small fishes and crustaceans in evening hours.

General Husbandry: Quite drab, having a light greyish to brownish body. Not collected for the trade.

Taxonomy:

Order: Anguilliformes

Suborder: Congroidei

Family: Ophichthidae

Subfamily: Ophichthinae

Genus: Pisodonophis

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 reef or fish-only 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.

Generally a food fish in the local areas.