Eel – Blue Ribbon

Blue Ribbon Eel Care Tips:

Minimum Tank Size: 100 Gallons

Max Size: Up to 40″ (3.3′)

Diet: Carnivore (Known to eat small fish)

Temperament: Aggressive

Lifespan: Up to 20 years

Scientific Name: Rhinomuraena Quaesita

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes with caution (Will eat shrimp)

Approx. Purchase Size: 2-3 feet

The blue ribbon eel, scientific name Rhinomuraena Quaesita is an aggressive fish. Their minimum tank size is 100 gallons. They can reach up to 3’ 3” and can live up to 20 years. Ribbon eels will stay thin as they grow in length. Blue ribbon eels are carnivores, they should be direct fed with long tweezers with small chunks of fish or silversides. Their food should not be much bigger than their head, large pieces can cause eels to choke. Eels should be fed every 2-3 days minimum. In a new environment eels can go on “hunger strike” and refuse to eat, continue to keep trying the following day if the eel won’t eat the first day. Blue ribbon eels can be kept singly, in pairs (if they are the same size roughly), small groups and they can also be housed with many other eels (as long as their similar in thickness). Blue ribbon eels are coral safe and invertebrate safe with caution. Blue ribbon eels will prey upon ornamental shrimp and small fish. Feeding more often can keep their aggression level down. Blue ribbon eels will find a cave, a rock or a tube to stay in most of the time as their “house” they will often be seen sticking their head out of their cave during the day, when they are hungry they will be running around the tank. Eels are escape artists, they require a tight fitting lid (with no holes), eels can climb out of the water, lowering the water level in the tank 1-2” can also help keep the eel from escaping. Eels can live out of water for roughly 12 hours so if they are found on the floor put them back into the tank. Searching for and finding your eel every morning and every night can help ensure they are not on the ground for 12 hours.