Moray Eels
by Krysta CardinaleMoray eels are considered large cosmopolitan eels, and have a snake-like appearance. They swim by flexing their whole body in a slithering like motion. Morays have the ability to tie and un-tie themselves into knots, which gives them leverage while fighting their live prey. There typical habitat consists of tropical and subtropical coral reefs. This is because they spend most of their time inside crevices and coves.
Many people make the mistake of putting Moray Eels into their aquariums and not knowing how to take care of them. All morays are aggressive dark water dwellers. They should be handled carefully, and the lights should not be kept too bright in the tank. These eels are carnivorous so they will eat other fish in the tank.
Physical Information on Moray Eels
Most morays grow to be a length of about five feet; however the slender giant moray can be as long as thirteen feet. This species have small circular gills on their flanks far posterior to the mouth. This is why it looks like morays have their mouths open all the time; it’s in order to breathe. They also secrete mucus over their skin, which has no scales. It serves as a defense in some types of morays by containing a toxin.
Morays have a dorsal fin right behind their heads. It is along their backs and joins with the caudal and anal fin. Many of the species lack a pelvic or a pectoral fin. They have very small eyes. Morays relay on their heightened sense of smell for hunting. Their diet consists mainly of fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Larger moray eels and Grouper fish are their only real predators.
Another feature that morays have is their patterned body. This pattern serves as a camouflage. It can also be found on the inside of their mouths since they keep their mouths open to breathe. Moray eels have wide jaws and large sharp teeth.
Types of Moray Eels
There are literally about 200 different species of moray eels in 15 genera. The three most popular eels would be the green, snowflake, and fresh water moray eels.
• Freshwater Moray Eels- These eels are primarily a brackish water moray that does enter freshwater, and can adapt to marine conditions as well. There are ten types of Freshwater Moray Eels. They primarily inhabit swampy waters or running streams or rivers. These fresh water moray eels can also be found inhabiting marine bays and waters as well. These ten eels that can live in both fresh or brackish waters and marine waters include the Seychelles, Whiteface, Dark, Fimbriated, Spotted Freshwater, Slender Giant, Unicolor Snake, Tidepool Snake, and the Freshwater Moray Eels.
• Snowflake Moray Eels- These are the most popular saltwater moray eels to be raised in aquariums. However, there is no report of successful breeding of them. It has no pelvic or pectoral fins giving it its infamous strong and slender appearance. Snowflake Moray Eels get their name for the black and white spotted pattern covering their bodies.
• Green Moray Eels- They are saltwater moray eels also known as Green Eels. They can are yellow-green in color, and can grow up to seven feet in length. Green Moray Eels are often found in Australian coastal waters from southeastern Queensland to Shark Bay, Western Australia, and northern Tasmania. They are often found in rocky and weed covered waters.
