Freshwater Moray Eel

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Muddy estuaries and coastal rivers of the Indo-West Pacific. Moves into freshwater but returns to the sea.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Family Muraenidae. Elongated, serpentine body lacking pectoral and pelvic fins. Grows up to 60 cm.

Social Behavior: Shy, nocturnal, and reclusive. Spends daylight hours hidden in caves, emerging at night to hunt by scent.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Dark brown to black body covered with tiny yellowish-white speckles. No known external dimorphism.

Aquarium Setup: Provide long plastic PVC pipes or rock caves where it can conceal its entire body. Substrate should be soft sand.

Diet and Feeding: Carnivorous predator. Feed whole dead fish, river shrimp, and earthworms. Hand-feed using long tweezers.

Water Quality: Must be kept in brackish (1.010-1.015 SG) or full marine water. Maintaining them in freshwater causes organ failure.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Keep only with large, active brackish species like monos or scats. Small tankmates are food.

Aquarium Breeding: Not bred in captivity. Wild spawning occurs in marine coastal waters with pelagic larval stages.

Risks and Diseases: Exceptional escape artist. Can squeeze through tiny filter outlets or wire holes. Seal the tank completely.