Mastacembelus oatesii – Oates’ Spiny Eel (~37 cm / ~15″ max) Pleco with a long footprint

with a long footprint

captive husbandry is undocumented and challenges remain unknown

Lifespan: 5–8 years

characterized by a dark body adornedwith vivid yellow to orange spots and stripes

Mastacembelus oatesii – Oates’ Spiny Eel (~37 cm / ~15″ max) Pleco with a long footprintDescription Mastacembelus oatesii is a spiny eel species native exclusively to Inle Lake in Myanmar. Males can reach up to approximately 37 cm in length and feature a broad, short snout with large dark spots along a slender body. It has fewer dorsal and anal fin rays compared to most Mastacembelus speciestypically 4856 dorsal rays and 4660 anal rays, with correspondingly fewer vertebrae . Unlike many of its relatives, the fins are free of spot