Albino eel Muru captures attention at eel frying shop in Nakkila

An unusual sight has emerged from a fishery in Nakkila, as one particular eel has captured attention for its striking appearance. Mikko Vilponen, the CEO of the local eel frying establishment, received a text early in the morning featuring a video of one standout fish among the usual dark-skinned eels. “Typically, the spine of an eel is completely black, but this one was completely white. It looked like a ghost,” Vilponen shared with a laugh.

This albino eel, named Muru, was carefully transported in a bucket to the frying shop but intriguingly will not meet the fryer. Instead, Muru is now residing in an aquarium located in the store’s cold display area, where it will be showcased alongside a few live eels for customers to see. “People have started asking about Muru on social media,” Vilponen noted, indicating the eel’s growing popularity.

Muru seems to be adapting well to its aquarium environment, provided the water temperature remains slightly below ten degrees Celsius. “Initially, it was quite solitary, but this morning it had found companionship with the other eels in the tank. They tend to group together,” Vilponen explained.

While Muru is expected to live in the aquarium for 2-3 months, it won’t require much food, according to Vilponen. Once eels begin their upstream spawning journey, they stop eating and are essentially on a path to death, as they die after spawning.

Researchers are also intrigued by Muru’s rarity, as Vilponen has experienced years of eel fishing without encountering another albino, estimated to occur once in a million captures. After Muru’s time in the aquarium, it will be sent to the Natural Resources Institute for further study to learn about its unusual coloring.