I am curious. While I was in a local river in Colts Neck, NJ 07722 a I found an eel of some kind. It was about 6-7 inches long and about as thick as a pencil. It didn't seem to have well developed eyes if at all. It was pinkish brown. Any idea what it might have been?
I do have a video of it but would rather not post it if it is an easy ID due to the size of the video.
Eel in NJ?
Started by
Guest_zapins_*
, May 27 2013 01:48 AM
7 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_Subrosa_*
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Posted 27 May 2013 - 05:09 AM
Sounds like a Brook Lamprey.
#3
Guest_gerald_*
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Posted 27 May 2013 - 12:01 PM
American eels have small eyes, pectoral fins, a normal fish-like mouth with hinged jaws, and one gill opening on each side.
Lamprey juveniles have undeveloped eyes, NO pectoral fins, a sucker disk type mouth, and seven tiny gill holes on each side.
Lamprey juveniles have undeveloped eyes, NO pectoral fins, a sucker disk type mouth, and seven tiny gill holes on each side.
#4
Guest_zapins_*
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Posted 27 May 2013 - 11:16 PM
Hmm. I thought it was a worm at first. I looked up the Brook Lamprey but it seems to have holes on the sides of its head, the thing I saw didn't have very visible holes or fins of any kind.
Skip to 1:45 for a closer view of its head.
Skip to 1:45 for a closer view of its head.
Edited by zapins, 27 May 2013 - 11:17 PM.
#5
Guest_gerald_*
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Posted 28 May 2013 - 09:05 AM
It's a lamprey - you can see the single nostril along the midline, rather than paired nostrils like eels and other fish.
I can't see any gill holes either in the video, but they must be there. Sea lamprey and American brook lamprey are the likely ones in that area.
I can't see any gill holes either in the video, but they must be there. Sea lamprey and American brook lamprey are the likely ones in that area.
Edited by gerald, 28 May 2013 - 09:07 AM.
#6
Guest_fritz_*
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Posted 28 May 2013 - 01:40 PM
Based on the amount of pigment above the gill pores and in the caudal fin, it is most likely a sea lamprey ammocoete
#7
Guest_zapins_*
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Posted 28 May 2013 - 05:33 PM
So cool!
I take it if its a sea lamprey I can't keep it indefinitely in an aquarium?
I take it if its a sea lamprey I can't keep it indefinitely in an aquarium?
#8
Guest_Skipjack_*
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Posted 28 May 2013 - 05:54 PM
Sure if you provide it a steady diet of the right fish, but good luck getting it out of the larval stage.
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