Gold Spotted Snake Eel

Also known as the Spotted Snake Eel or Magnificent Snake Eel

The Gold Spotted Snake Eel is a beautiful and distinctive species that brings striking spotted patterns and fascinating burrowing behavior to marine aquariums. Native to the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea to Hawaii and French Polynesia, this elongated eel features a pale body adorned with golden-yellow to brown spots creating an eye-catching appearance. With more moderate care requirements than ribbon eels and intriguing sand-dwelling habits, Gold Spotted Snake Eels make rewarding additions for intermediate to advanced aquarists with appropriate sandy substrates and secure systems.

Key Features

• Scientific Name: Myrichthys maculosus
• Common Names: Gold Spotted Snake Eel, Spotted Snake Eel, Magnificent Snake Eel
• Adult Size: 24–30 inches (60–75 cm); commonly 20–26 inches in aquariums
• Lifespan: 8–12 years with proper care
• Temperament: Peaceful but predatory; will consume small fish and crustaceans
• Reef Compatibility: Not reef-safe – predatory toward small fish and invertebrates
• Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons minimum (125+ gallons recommended)
• Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced – requires specialized substrate and secure tank

Habitat & Tank Requirements

Natural Habitat: Found on sandy bottoms near coral reefs, lagoons, and seagrass beds at depths of 3–100 feet. Spends most time buried in sand with only head visible, emerging at night to hunt.

Tank Environment:

• Deep sand bed essential (4–6 inches minimum of fine sand)
• Smooth rockwork without sharp edges
• Open sandy areas for burrowing
• Extremely secure, tight-fitting lid with no gaps (expert escape artists)
• All openings sealed (overflows, return lines, equipment holes)
• PVC tubes or caves as additional shelter
• Peaceful to semi-aggressive tankmates

Water Parameters:

• Temperature: 74–80°F (23–27°C)
• Salinity: 1.023–1.025 specific gravity
• pH: 8.1–8.4
• Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: <30 ppm
• Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH

Diet & Feeding

Recommended Foods:

• Fresh/frozen fish, shrimp, squid, scallops (primary diet)
• Silversides, krill, chopped seafood
• Live feeder fish or shrimp (quarantined, occasional – helpful during acclimation)
• Marine carnivore pellets (once established)
• Whole meaty foods preferred

Feeding Schedule:

• Feed 2–3 times weekly for adults
• Juveniles require more frequent feeding (3–4 times weekly)
• Often feeds at night or during subdued lighting
• May require target feeding near burrow initially
• Use feeding tongs for safety
• Generally easier to feed than ribbon eels

Behavior & Compatibility

Tank Mates:

• Compatible with: Large tangs, large angelfish, large wrasses, triggerfish, pufferfish, lionfish, groupers (similar or larger size)
• Caution with: Fish small enough to swallow (under 3–4 inches), slow-moving species
• Avoid: Small fish, ornamental shrimp, small crabs, hermit crabs, aggressive species that may harass

Social Behavior:

• Primarily nocturnal; most active at night
• Spends daylight hours buried with head protruding
• Generally peaceful toward fish too large to consume
• Solitary; only one per tank unless system is 250+ gallons
• May become bolder and more visible once established
• Fascinating burrowing and hunting behavior
• Powerful escape artist – secure lid absolutely essential

Reef Compatibility: Not reef-safe; will consume ornamental shrimp, small crabs, and small fish. Generally ignores corals but may disturb sand beds around coral bases. Best suited for fish-only with live rock (FOWLR) systems.

Color & Development

Coloration: Pale cream to white base covered with golden-yellow to brown spots of varying sizes distributed over the entire body; spots may form irregular bands or chains; head often shows denser spotting; ventral surface lighter; distinctive spotted pattern highly variable between individuals.

Color Intensity:

• High-quality diet maintains vibrant spot coloration
• Spots remain distinct throughout life
• Stress may cause temporary pattern fading
• Background color may darken slightly with age
• Spot intensity varies based on individual and geographic origin

Size & Growth:

• Juveniles typically available at 8–12 inches
• Moderate growth rate: 4–6 inches annually
• Reach 18–24 inches within 3–4 years
• Growth slows after reaching 20 inches

Why Choose a Quarantined Gold Spotted Snake Eel?

A properly quarantined Gold Spotted Snake Eel is a healthier, acclimated specimen that has been observed, treated, and conditioned for aquarium life. Our quarantine protocol includes 4–6 weeks minimum observation, preventative parasite treatment, dietary conditioning to accept frozen foods readily, stress reduction and acclimation to captivity, and secure housing to prevent escape attempts during quarantine.

These attractive eels combine beautiful gold-spotted patterns with intriguing burrowing behavior, making them captivating additions for intermediate to advanced aquarists. Their peaceful temperament toward appropriately sized tankmates, more reliable feeding response compared to ribbon eels, and unique sand-dwelling lifestyle create engaging observations. Perfect for sandy-bottom FOWLR systems where their distinctive spotted appearance and fascinating behavior can be appreciated by those prepared to provide deep sand beds and escape-proof housing.