Concern for Hawaiian Dragon... beh., hlth.   1/24/07
I purchased a 20" dragon for my LFS and he is currently in QT at the LFS.  I go up there almost everyday and feed on Wed and Sat (grouper, snapper, shrimp).  I have noticed that sometimes he is only using one pouch to breath.
<Not atypical... not a large concern>
I have smaller eels at home and they have never done this so I am really concerned.  The guys at the LFS don't know a whole lot about eels and I am getting scared.  Please Help!!! Thanks D
<I would not hold off on buying, moving this Moray on this basis, and would feed it more like twice a week at this size. Bob Fenner>

Slender Tail Moray In Hiding - 10/21/16
First off I would like to say thank you for this site, it has kept me from making many bad decisions.
<<We're happy you have found it to be useful>>
I have recently bought a slender tail moray eel (Gymnothorax gracilicauda).
<<Neat!>>
According to fishbase he only grows to 12 1/2 inches,
<<Give or take...yes>>
hopefully small enough for my 30 gallon.
<<With good filtration/maintenance and a dearth of tankmates, should be fine I think>>
My problem is I never see him; he hides deep in my live rock coming out only at night.
<<As is their nature>>
I've only had him for a week though; do you believe he will become more active as he grows accustomed to his surroundings?
<<Indeed...will likely eventually take up a station where it can "keep an eye" on the goings-on about its tank>>
Also feeding is a problem due to his nocturnal nature.  He doesn't see what I drop in the tank.
<<But does the eel feed during the night?>>
Any tips on training him to eat from my hand/tongs or feeding him during the day?
<<Its not unusual for the eel to fast while it get s accustomed to its surroundings...but...did you see the eel eat before you made the purchase?   I'm guessing not...>>
Any help is much appreciated.
<<Try enticing the eel with movement (a piece of food on a feeding stick) late in the evening with the lighting dimmed but not off.  Soak the offering in Selcon or Vita-Chem to add some "aroma" stimulation.  If the eel continues to ignore you then consider obtaining some live feeders (ghost shrimp...though I don't know if this species doesn't prefer piscine fare) to try to entice it to feed, but keep up with the late evening feeding-stick ritual...the eel should eventually learn your presence means food>>
Sincerely,
James
<<Regards, EricR>>

Moray behavior   8/2/06
Is it true fish can not feel pain?
<Not true... Fishes have the nervous, neural make-up for this sensation, and obviously do feel pain>
Is it known if they can taste?
<Can taste... some have very fine senses of such... even on the outsides of their bodies...>
Just curious. My albino moray went after some live food last night while he was curled up and he bit his own tail. I felt sorry for him (poor little guy) but I guess from what I have read about eye sight this could be common behavior in captivity since their sight is so bad and being fed live food.
<Yes, does happen>
I have also heard being albino by nature would decrease his ability to see.
<Yes>
I feed him guppies and ghost shrimp. He seems to prefer guppies. Are albino morays rare I have not found much information on
them? Thank you.
<Are rare indeed. I have never seen one in the wild... diving thousands of times... Bob Fenner>

Moray growth cycles   7/16/06
I was looking for information on moray eel growth.
I bought a "freshwater" snowflake eel of the Gymnothorax tile variety that I have placed with my albino moray which due to information I have researched I am assuming it is Echidna rhodochilus. The moray "trademark" of opening and closing its mouth to breathe is not happening with my albino. The snowflake is breathing in such a manner and I was told by the owner where I buy my fish food that he was a very beautiful and healthy moray as I had just bought him from another shop and went to get some food from my favorite shop on my way home and showed them.
Does anyone know the growth cycles of morays?
<Mmm, yes... there are some very nice/useful graphs/charts of time versus SL (standard length) for many species available on fishbase.org>
I know they are born in one form called leptocephalus and around 3 yrs. change into elvers. Are there species of moray that do not breath the same way or do they eventually over time grow and change into breathing this way?
<Mmm, some "gasp" more than others in general...>
They are both approximately the same length except the snowflake is flat on the sides with fins to the tail while the albino is more or less round behind the neck with a tail that comes to a point with no fins which seems closest to the pics I have seen of the Echidna rhodochilus of the various morays I have so far researched.
<Mmm: http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=11709&genusname=Echidna&speciesname=rhodochilus
unfortunately this is one of the species that does not have "Growth" data on fishbase... Rats! Neither is there such presented for G. tile... These are typically slow growers in the wild and captive conditions (actually, likely less than one percent live a year... due to unstable, unsuitable environment mostly). Bob Fenner>

Re: moray growth cycles   7/18/06
Thank you for your quick response. I have read that morays can live over 30 years.
<Yes, there are public aquarium records of this and longer lifespans>
Based on your information and my observations, I am almost certain my albino will have no problem making it over a year and would
not be surprised to have him around for a long time.
When I first got the snowflake he went right into hiding and did not venture out for a week. My albino would not go into this area while it was hiding
<Muraenids are by and large non-social species... Don't associate with conspecifics or other members of their family>
and only my leopard bushfish and butterfly goby would go into the area with him. After he finally ventured out my albino went back into the area but so far the snowflake has been staying out and not even trying to hide except when the lights are turned on abruptly. For the week during the snowflakes hiding period the albino seemed like it did
not bother him he seemed so easy going and seems not to let stress get to him. I have had the albino now almost 6 months but only about 8 days for the snowflake. If the snowflake can settle down like the albino he may live a long time too. The main factor is now they are in a 10 gallon tank
<Way too small...>
with plans to get a 125 gallon in the near future but may get a 55 first then transfer to the 125. I have other fish that I will eventually need a 55 for that are freshwater only.
I appreciate your help.
<Welcome. Keep monitoring your water quality, and keep that lid tight! Bob Fenner>
 

Re: Moray ID, beh.    7/13/06 Hi Bob!    <Art>   As requested, I tried my best on getting the best SIDE shot you asked for. Though the lighting might not help since the bulb I have in my tank is color blue. To help you distinguish it further the moray I have has a brown skin from snout to tail and fades to white around its belly with yellowish spots. In image IMG_0591 you may notice an elongated nostril (which may suggest the moray I have is in the Gymnothorax eurostus species). If you really cant distinguish it I might rule out that it is a stout moray;)    <Is there a gold/ish rim about the eye? The head here reminds me of Gymnothorax miliaris: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/morays.htm>   Anyway, I would also like to ask if its normal to morays to be shy? <Oh, yes... most species are extremely so, particularly "when new"> Since mine is hiding under and behind its rocks all day long. The only time I see it out is during night time and in under poor light condition since I don't want to startle it. Lastly, what is the indication when a moray does not gape/open its mouth from time to time? <That there is sufficient oxygen... little stress...> Because one thing I know about Moray is that they open their mouth to breath. I catch mine usually like its in suspended animation. The only consolation I get from my moray is that it is able to hunt from time to time.      Thanks again.      Arthur <Appears healthy from your photo, description. See fishbase.org re this species as well. Bob Fenner>

Green moray eel ... sys., beh.   3/15/06
Bob, <James with you today.>  I was hoping you could help me out with a green moray. I recently was given one, the past owner was going to put it down as he could no longer house it. I realize this eel is best left in the sea, <Yes it is.> however since it wasn't I didn't want to see it put down. It has been in captivity for about 6 years and is over 3' long (I think, no way I am trying to measure it) <Scary man, can inflict very nasty bites, very aggressive.> It is currently in a 125, which seems a bit small for it, but since it isn't an active swimmer I wonder if I am ok for now. Here is where I hope to get some guidance.
How fast can I expect it to grow to the max size 8' <All depends on tank size, diet, water quality, etc.  Most rarely exceed six foot in home aquariums.>
Min tank size, and any care info you can give.  <Well, the 125 is too small.  I'd be thinking at least a 220 minimum.  As for diet, they eat most anything, fish included.  Do google our site for more info on care/requirements.>  I realize this will be a huge undertaking, I think I am up for the challenge. I have the space to house such a tank. Just need some guidance. <Don't think I'd want this undertaking, I certainly wouldn't want to clean that tank with my hands in the water.:)  James (Salty Dog)>
Thanks  <You're welcome>

Marine Eels, Night Time Coloration, and a Defiant Mind  11/29/05
Hi,
I've recently made a home for what I was told was a Mexican dragon eel but with some research I believe he is a Reticulated moray.
<Both are large and messy carnivores.>
I've had him for three weeks and he's been doing great. He was eating the second day I had him home and seems happy with plenty of hiding spots and no tank mates besides three snails. The thing is I came home late at night after being gone for two days and turned on the lights in the living room to check on him and he looked
almost white.
<Turned the lights on the tank in the middle of the night? I would refrain from doing this, could be quite stressful to the animal. Aside form that the coloration sounds normal of night time or hiding/stressed environment.>
All his colors were faded but besides that he acted totally normal. Well as I sat there checking the water levels (which are below) his color slowly started coming back.  Not being able to do a water change at the time I turned off the light and went to bed. I got up a few hours later and turned on the light to check on him and his color was again faded.
<All sounds normal.>
I left the lights on and went back to bed checking on him again in a few hours and he was fine. Also when I got up his color was fine and everything seemed ok. The guy at the store I purchased him from said that eels change color at night to bend in to help in hunting prey.
<And avoid being prey among other things.>
He said he's read this (night color change) and seen it himself but I've never heard of this before. Is there such a thing?
<Yes, I remember as a novice myself seeing my Rabbitfish change black at night, freaked me out but quite normal.>
<<Hee!>>
It seems like its something that should be important information because it really worried me. I've looked over your site and cannot find anything that sounds like this making me feel it's not so common. Oh, the next night I checked on him again in the middle of the night and again his colors were faded, but other than that acted normal. Any help would defiantly put my mind at ease.  I have a 56 gallon tank
<Will need a larger tank as an adult but everything else sounds okay.>
with 70 lbs of live rock, two Maxi-Jet 900 for circulation, and a Aqua C Remora protein skimmer. Salinity 1.022, PH 8.3, Temp 75/77, nitrite 0, nitrate 5, ammonia 0.
Thank you and your site is fantastic.
<Adam J.>

Re: Marine Eels, Nighttime Coloration, A Not So Defiant Mind  11/30/05
Thank you for your quick response it definitely puts my mind at ease.
<We do our best.>
Oh by the way it wasn't the lights in his tank I turned on it was just the lights in my living room were the tank is.
<Ok that's what I thought, just wanted to be sure.>
Again thank you. You guys are great!!!!!
<You are welcome, Adam J.> 

Tesselata Eel Tank Size and Behavior 11/3/05
Hi,
<Hi Kev.>
I am considering keeping a Tesselata moray in a 144 gallon aquarium <Short term I hope, this is a tank buster at a potential 5 feet+ in length.>
am I right in thinking that I wont be able to keep any other fish in a tank this size? 
<Or the eel for its entire life.>
If this is the case, how lively is the eel likely to be? 
<Most morays are rather reclusive and become slightly more active at night or feeding.> 
I don't want a tank that looks empty most of the time.
<Lost of other good choices that could give you much more variety and enjoyment in my opinion.>
Thanks
Kev
<Welcome Adam J.>  

Tessalata eel bit me - is he poisonous
hello
I have a foot and a half long Tessalata eel (Dragon) and he became a little aggressive during feeding time (didn't know where finger ended and food began) and sliced my finger with his teeth.  I didn't know if they are poisonous or not.  I am almost 100% sure they are not but please let me know!!
thanks, Jessica
<Ouch! Not poisonous or venomous, however moray mouths can be dirty microbially... best to wash the wound site with very warm water and disinfect with what you would for any open cut... Keep the wound clean and dry... and have it checked out if it seems to become infected. Bob Fenner>