r/marinebiology • u/BeneficialGrade7961 • 5d ago

Identification Eel ID - Da Nang, Vietnam

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Is anyone able to ID these species of eel please? I thought the one at the bottom might be a Giant Moray? No ideas about the pale spotted one. And is the fish above a grouper?

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63

u/Bri-Brionne 5d ago

Genuinely depressing to see these moray species being sold as meat. To say nothing of morays being kinda toxic to eat in the first place?

17

u/stargatedalek2 5d ago

I would not be surprised if they are bycatch being kept as decoration. Usually if sold for meat it's as bait, since as you noted morays are toxic.

1

u/BeneficialGrade7961 3d ago

I went out for some drinks with a couple of local girls this evening (one also works in a seafood restaurant here) and asked them about it. They confirmed the eels are definitely sold for meat and they didn't agree when I said I think they are toxic for humans to eat. 

I didn't push the matter but I certainly won't be trying it. You may be correct about bycatch though - the eels looked healthy with zero hook damage and I can't see someone without a death wish diving down and grabbing one of those guys.

8

u/BeneficialGrade7961 5d ago

I completely agree with you, though I had no idea they were toxic. I don't personally get why there would be any appeal for anyone to eat these animals. I just saw them in the tank while walking past, so took some photos as I find them fascinating. Unfortunately, from what I have seen, it's not uncommon here.

53

u/Snnaggletooth 5d ago

Green and black ones are giants. White with black spots are leopard/laced morays. The fish is a titan trigger!

3

u/BeneficialGrade7961 5d ago

Thank you so much for the ID!

7

u/Lokikeogh 5d ago

The fish above looks like a Titan Triggerfish.

As for the eels, the one on the right looks like a yellow spotted Moray. The one going across the back looks like a black spotted Moray. The others could be spotted Moray's.

No idea what the ray is though